Schmidt, Lena Base (1885-1973)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Feb 7 p. 11

Birth date: 1885 Jun 25

text of obituary:

MRS. LENA SCHMIDT

Lena Schmidt, daughter of Henry and Susan (Becker) Base, was born on June 25, 1885, near Moundridge, Kan. She died Dec. 31, 1973, at the age of 88.

As a young child she moved with her parents to the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory. She received the Lord in her youth and was baptized and accepted into the Mennonite fellowship.

In 1903 the family moved to Ft. Cobb, Okla. where she met John P. Schmidt of Goltry. They were married March 1, 1907. To this union were born one son and five daughters. They made their home on a farm one mile west of Goltry where they spent 31 years together.

The family experienced many hardships and privations but all this helped them grow in faith and knowledge of Christ's redemptive work. She was preceded in death by her husband on March 5, 1938. Three years later she moved to Goltry. She spent two an a half years in rest homes in Enid and Fairview, Okla.

She became a member of the Zoar Mennonite Church of Goltry on Nov. 9, 1913. She taught in the Sunday school for many years and was active in other church areas. She was much interested in reaching others with the gospel and helped with the support of a number of missionaries as well as several radio programs.

Survivors are one son, Ervin Schmidt, Goltry; five daughters, Mrs. Edward (Malinda) Johnson, Ringwood, Mrs. Theodore (Matilda) Epp, Lincoln, Neb., Mrs. Henry (Celesta) Thomas, Ringwood, Mrs. Melvin (Elfrieda) Jones, Lincoln, and Mrs. Alvin (Elvera) Ratzlaff, Orienta, Okla.; 19 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; one brother, Willie Base, Apache, Okla.; two sisters, Mrs. Emil (Anna) Dalke and Mrs. Henry (Carrie) Dalke, both of Halstead, Kan. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by one sister, five brothers, and two grandsons. — The Family.