Harms, Justina Seibel (1886-1980)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 25 Sep 1980 p. 11

Birth date: 1886

text of obituary:

JUSTINA SEIBEL HARMS

Justina Harms was born to Christian and Justina Schale Seibel on Dec. 4, 1886, and died Aug. 18 at the age of 93.

She grew up on the family farm one-half-mile west of the Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church, Hillsboro, Kan., and attended the Ebenfeld School. When Justina was nine, her mother died. Her father later married Karolina Delk.

She was baptized on Sept. 13, 1899 by Johann Foth and became a member of the Ebenfeld church. She joined the Hillsboro MB church in 1938, remaining a faithful member there until her death.

She was married on Oct. 12, 1911 to Peter P. Harms, and they resided on a farm southwest of Hillsboro until his death in 1936. Three children were born to them, of whom Linda and Franklin have passed away. She moved to Hillsboro in 1937 and in 1975 entered Parkside Homes.

She was a kind, loving and praying mother who was always deeply concerned for her children and grandchildren. Her constant prayer was that she might meet them all in glory. She was also concerned for missions and her church, and loved to sing the old German and English hymns verse by verse from memory.

Surviving are one son, Orlando and wife Erna, a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Franklin Harms; eight sisters, Mrs. Anna Harder of Reedley, Calif., Mrs. Ed Suderman and Mrs. P. J. Just of Hillsboro, Mrs. Ernest Suderman of Dinuba, Calif., Mrs. Herbert Friesen of Inman, Kan., Mrs. Charles Seibel of Loci, Calif., Mrs. Clarence Loewen of McPherson, Kan., Mrs. Wesley Regier of Peabody, Kan., four brothers, Jacob of Peabody, Walter of Nampa, Ida., and Solomon and Christ of Hillsboro, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

She was predeceased by three sisters, Mrs. Gotthilf Winter, Mrs. Martin Harder and Mrs. J. W. Lohrenz; and two brothers, Sam and Ed.