Yoder, Ida Plank (1897-1973)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 27 Sep 1973 p. 11

Birth date: 1897 Dec 3

text of obituary

Long-Time Writer Of Women’s Column Called by Death

Mrs. Ida Plank Yoder of Hesston, writer of the "Through My Kitchen Window" column in the Mennonite Weekly Review for nearly 30 years, died early Monday morning at Bethel Deaconess Hospital, Newton.

Mrs. Yoder had been a resident of Schowalter Villa since February of this year. She was admitted to the hospital Sunday morning, and that evening went into a coma from which she failed to rally.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Hesston Mennonite Church, where she had been a member for 53 years. Rev. John Duerksen and Rev. Richard Yordy, the pastor, will officiate.

Ida M. Plank was born Dec. 3, 1897 at East Lynne, Mo. to Mr. and Mrs. Solomon B. Plank. When she was three years of age the family moved to Strang, Neb., becoming charter members of the Salem Mennonite Church at Shickley. When she was 19 the family moved to Harper, Kan. Her marriage to Eli T. Yoder took place there in 1920.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Yoder lived on farms in Harvey County, Kansas for 47 years, moving to Hesston in 1967. Mr. Yoder died in September 1972.

Mrs. Yoder was a member of the Creative Writers Club, a member of the Kansas Authors Club for 30 years, an associate member of the Herald Publishing Company, and member of the Harvey County Board of the American Cancer Society. She taught school for four years in Nebraska and Kansas, and for seven years taught released time Bible classes at Walton. Her first column appeared in the Review on May 11, 1944.

Survivors include her three sons, John Arnold of Yoder, Colo., Lawrence and Dr. Vernon, both of Newton; one daughter, Mrs. Ransom (Mary Kathryn) Stucky of Burrton; 16 grandchildren; a brother, John Plank, and a sister, Ella Plank, both of Harper.