Roth, Henrietta Wenker (1865-1949)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Sep 29 p. 5

Birth date: 1865 Jan 7

text of obituary:

. . .

— Mrs. Henrietta Roth of Salem, Ore., widow of the late Rev. John Roth, passed away at the Bethel Deaconess hospital here on Wednesday morning, Sept. 21, after being a patient at the hospital for a few days. Mrs. Roth had been visiting in the Whitewater community when she became ill. Funeral services were held at the Swiss Mennonite church, Whitewater, on Thursday afternoon, Rev. Walter H. Dyck officiating, and the body was then sent to Oregon for burial.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Oct 13 p. 3, 7

text of obituary:

MRS. HENRIETTA ROTH

Mrs. Henrietta Roth, nee Wenker, foster daughter of Rev. and Mrs. David Gerber, was born on January 7, 1865, in Valangin, Switzerland.

Her childhood days were days of dire poverty and need. At a very early age she was adopted by Rev. and Mrs. Gerber who gave her a parental home. Here she grew to young womanhood. Her educational opportunities were very limited, but she utilized them to the full and thus acquired a good and practical education. Even more important, early in life she made her peace with God.

On February 21, 1885, she was united in marriage to John Roth. For two years they made their home in Switzerland, then sailed to America, hoping for better opportunities for themselves and their posterity. Together with their older children they shared the hardships and deprivations of the early pioneers. Their faith in God was the stabilizing influence in their lives.

Only three years after their arrival in the Whitewater community, the then newly organized Swiss Mennonite church called Mr. Roth to be their minister. Thus her tasks were multiplied, housewife, mother and pastor’s wife.

God gave her unusually good health and strength and she spent herself for the children, church and community. That her efforts were greatly appreciated is evidenced by her large host of friends.

In spite of her unusually good health and strength. God saw fit to temper and mellow her life with many tears and much sorrow. Five children and her husband preceded her in death. Her implicit faith and Godly sorrow refined her soul and prepared her to join with others who “have finished their course."

In 1927 they moved to Salem Oregon, transferring their church membership to the Immanuel Mennonite church at Salem, Oregon. Here they found Christian fellowship for some time, but because of their advanced age they later attended the nearby Bethel Baptist church where they found loving Christian friends.

After father passed away in 1940 mother was left very lonely. Her daughter, Mrs. Cecil Stark, and her family gave her the most tender care and consideration. Affectionately Dorothea (Mrs. Stark) waited upon her, becoming as it were, her hands, her feet and her eyes. This she appreciated beyond measure and accepted it with deep gratitude to God for his tender mercies. In the last two years it was her privilege, in spite of her age, to make two trips to Kansas and Iowa to visit her children and old friends.

She had expressed the wish that if and when she should need medical attention and hospitalization it might be possible for her to go to the Bethel Deaconess hospital at Newton, Kansas. This wish was realized when, on Monday morning, Sept. 19, 1949 she became unexpectedly and seriously ill. Her suffering was intense but brief. God sent his messengers to usher her into the place Christ had prepared for her.

She passed away quietly in her sleep Wednesday morning, Sept 21, at 2:15. Another of earth's wonderful mothers thus found an abundant entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

She attained the age of 84 years, eight months and fourteen days. She leaves to mourn three daughters, Mrs. A. W. Zuercher of Whitewater, Mrs. Russell Jose of Des Moines, Iowa, and Mrs. Cecil Stark of Salem, Oregon; five sons, John, Willie and Ted of Whitewater, Dave and Manuel of Moundridge; one foster sister, Mrs. Delia Wiens of Whitewater; thirty-one grandchildren and thirty-three great grandchildren, besides a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at the Swiss church Thursday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Walter H. Dyck, pastor of the Emmaus church. Her body was shipped to Salem, Oregon, for burial beside her husband.