Gordon, Bernice Ingemunson (1909-1937)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1937 Nov 24 p. 2

Birth date: 1909 Jul 2

text of obituary:

Mrs. Bernice Gordon

Mrs. Bernice Gordon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. K. J. Ingemunson, was born on a farm near Brownvalley, Minn., July 2, 1909 where she spent her childhood days and early youth.

At the age of ten she definitely accepted Christ as her Lord and Saviour. At the age of 14 she was called to her Master by two wonderful visions. In her first revelation, her father and a neighbor were kneeling in prayer, as they often used to do, and she saw the blessing hand of Jesus laid on their heads. it was on this occasion that she definitely felt the desire to be of service to the Master. A few days later another very definite experience was revealed to her. She was in the garden when she distinctly heard a voice call "Bernice". Thinking it was her mother calling she replied, "Mother I am coming," but remaining long enough to finish her work. The Voice called her a second and third time and she ran but when she inquired not one of the family had called her. The last one whom she questioned was her father who replied, "I did not call you but that Voice is the Voice of Jesus calling you". Mrs. Gordon accepted the call of the Voice and made preparation for service in Jamestown Holiness Academy, Jamestown, N. D.

At the age of 19 she was united in holy matrimony with Rev. Maurice F. Gordon at Russell, S. D. They made their home at Dawson, Minn., but during these eight years they have traveled from cost [sic] to cost [sic],l laboring in the vineyard of the Master.

One of the many calls for 1937 was Henderson, Nebr. On September 20 she was involved in an accident northeast of Henderson. At first her injuries seemed to be minor but as time passed her condition became more serious. On Oct. 13 she entered a York hospital where everything was done that medical help could do.

That the end was near was revealed to several of God's children a few days before her passing. In all of the intense suffering she was calm, always praising the Lord, until she was summoned to her reward on Oct. 30, at 9:10 p.m. She reached the age 28 years, 3 months and 28 days.

She leaves to mourn her early departure her husband, Rev. M. F. Gordon; two daughters, Lila, 9, and Joyce, 4; her parents; Mr. and Mrs. K. J. Ingemunson; three sisters, Mrs. Robert Johnson in St. Paul, Minn., and Misses Ester and Irma at home; and four brothers, Melvin, Vernon, Gordon and Orville, all at home.

Funeral services were held at the Mennonite Brethren church in Henderson Sunday afternoon. Rev. David Hooge of Henderson and Rev. C. B. Johnson, pastor of the church of the Nazarene in York, conducted the services. The body was taken to Dawson, Minn., where funeral services were held on Thursday at 1 p. m. in the Lutheran church. Ministers and conference officials from different denominations and states had come to mourn with the Gordon family. Rev. Dietz pastor of the church of the Nazarene at Dawson had charge of the funeral The following minsters representing various denominations took part in the services.

Duet by Rev. and Mrs. Dietz, Duet by Rev. and Mrs. Berg. Solo by Rev. J. Friesen. Obituary by Rev. Diets.

SPEAKERS: Dist. Supt. Rev. Seals, Rev. J. R. Barkman, Rev. Helgeson, Rev. Taylor, Rev. A. A. Bergland, Rev. Bates.

Several of the speakers had known Mrs. Gordon since her childhood days. The leading thoughts of the afternoon was: "She has done what she could." It is an occasion of great sadness but also great gladness — her life speaks of great definite victory — her death with greater power and she has a two-fold resurrection — she will rise again in the hearts of those her life and death had influenced — secondly she will goriously [sic] rise when the Lord comes as King of Kings.

A dear old Lutheran brother, 96 years of age, a close friend and neighbor to the Gordon's, had a revelation several weeks before the telegram o her death reached Dawson and told his family that Mrs. Gordon would not recover.

Until the shadows from this earth are cast,
Until He gathers in His sheaves at last,
Until the Easter Glory lights the skies;
Until the dead in Jesus shall arise. — Sent in by J. J. Friesen.