Harder, Mary Claassen (1884-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Mar 14 p. 6

Birth date: 1884 Jun 1

text of obituary

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— Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Harder, 72, were held Friday afternoon at the Emmaus church near Whitewater, Rev. L. R. Amstutz and Rev. H. J. Dyck in charge. Mrs. Harder, widow of the late John Harder, Jr., died March 2 while on a visit at the home of her son, Rev. Leonard Harder at Alsen, N.D. Surviving in addition to the son are a daughter, Mrs. Marie Claassen of Potwin; one brother, Ed Claassen of Whitewater; one sister, Mrs. Justine Reimer of Beatrice, Neb.; 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Mar 28 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. MARY HARDER

Mrs. Mary Harder, daughter of Edward and Justina Claassen, was born near Whitewater, Kan. on June 1,1884. She passed away at Devils Lake, No. Dak. on Saturday, March 2, 1957, at 11:30 a.m.

At an early age she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour, was baptized and joined the Emmaus Mennonite Church of which she remained a member until her death.

On August 4, 1903, she was married to John Harder, Jr. to this union were born two sons, John and Leonard. They also opened their home to a foster daughter, Marie.

This home was saddened in 1944 by the departure of her life companion after a marriage of 41 years, a loss which was deeply felt and left her very lonely. Her life had previously been saddened by the death of her son John in March 1942.

Mother spent most of her life on the farm south of Whitewater. Realizing her loneliness she decided to offer her services to the Bethel Home for the Aged at Newton, Kan. She was there for about two years. Her health did not allow her to continue, so she decided to make her home near her son Leonard and family. She enjoyed the past two years at Alsen, No. Dak. where the people were very kind to her. Her death came suddenly and unexpectedly when the artery near her heart collapsed.

She leaves one son, Leonard and family of Alsen, N.D.; one foster daughter Marie, and family of Newton, R. R. 3; one daughter-in-law and family of Benton, Kan.; 18 grandchildren and six great grandchildren; one brother, Edward Claassen and wife of Whitewater; one sister, Mrs. H. T. Reimer of Beatrice, Neb.; and a host of relatives and friends. She had reached the age of 72 years and nine months.

The departed one has been relieved of pain and anguish, and has entered into her eternal rest with Christ, her Saviour. "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." II Cor. 5:1 — The Family.

The Mennonite obituary: 1957 Apr 9 p. 238