Bergman, Maria M. Goertz (1881-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Dec 22 p. 8

Birth date: 1881 Sep 9

text of obituary:

MRS. MARIA BERGMAN

Mrs. Maria Bergman, daughter of Peter and Maira Goertz, was born Sept. 9, 1881 at Freeman, S. D. and passed away Dec. 7, 1960 at the age of 79 years.

At an early age her parents moved to Inman, Kan., where her father was a minister. At the age of 17 years she was baptized upon the confession of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and was received as a member into the Hopeview Mennonite Church.

On Oct. 1, 1903 she was united in marriage to Cornelius F. Bergman. In this union they lived 57 years, sharing the hardships and joys of life. Five children were born to them, of which two sons, Albert and Elmer, died in 1912.

The earlier years of her married life were spent in Hillsboro, kan. where she was an active member of the First Mennonite Church. She also homesteaded in western Kansas and knew the hardships of early prairie life. After several years she moved back to Hillsboro.

In 1926 she moved to Newton, and in 1932 she transferred her membership to the First Mennonite Church of Newton, where she remained a faithful member until her death.

In 1953 she celebrated her golden wedding anniversary with all of the family and friends in the Church. On Aug. 1958 she underwent a serious operation from which she never fully recovered, but the Lord granted her a little over two years more.

Surviving are her husband and three daughters, Marie, Mrs. Alvin Jantz of Newton, Viola, Mrs. Jack Hettinger of Prairie Village, and Edna, Mrs. Carl Oxenrideider, of Wichita; seven brothers, John Goertz of Moundridge, David of buhler, Henry of North Newton, Jake of Newton, Herman of Aldergrove, B. C.,