Harms, Alida Schmidt (1909-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Feb 20 p. 6

Birth date: 1909 Jan 23

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Mar 27 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. ALIDA HARMS

Mrs. Alida Harms, daughter of H. P. and Mary Schmidt, was born near Whitewater, Kansas on Jan. 23, 1909, and passed away in the Axtell Christian Hospital at Newton, Kan. on Feb. 14, 1958, at the age of 49 years and 22 days.

Alida was born in a pioneer Christian home. She was one of 11 children who from birth were taught which was the foundation upon which by the grace of God, she was able to build a beautiful Christian character. She received her early training in the Star School of the local community and graduated from Newton High School in 1927.

Her faith life, which was born in her parental home, was nurtured in the Gnadenburg (now known as the Grace Hill) Mennonite Church, especially through the catechism instruction under the able leadership of the late Rev. G. N. Harms.

When about 16 years of age, she was baptized upon confession of her faith in Christ and received into the membership of the church.

On May 25 she was united in marriage to Clarence Harms. This union was blessed with two lovely daughters who were her greatest concern, but also her chief source of delight and joy. She was a faithful and loyal wife and mother, constantly giving of herself unreservedly to her home, school and church and to every worthwhile cause in the field of education and Christian service.

Immediately after graduation from high school she began to teach school and at the same time began to take courses in correspondence school, summer school and night school, availing herself of every opportunity to more fully prepare herself for the profession of teaching which she so thoroughly enjoyed. She was graduated from Bethel College with a Bachelor of Science degree in the class of 1956.

Many a pupil has felt the warmth and magnetism of her kind and understanding heart and has been helped. Besides 19 years of teaching in public schools, she taught several summers in vacation Bible schools and helped with music and programs in both schools and churches. She was a woman of high ideals and definite convictions from which she was not easily moved.

Friday morning, Feb. 14, she met with a fatal automobile accident as she was on her way to her school.

She was preceded in death by her father and one infant brother. She is survived by her sorrowing husband, two daughters, Rosemary of the home, now attending school in Emporia, Kan., and Patricia Ruth (Mrs. Vernon Janzen) of Miles city, Mont.; one granddaughter; her mother, Mrs. H. P. Schmidt of Newton; six sisters and three brothers; besides a host of other sorrowing relatives and friends.