Unruh, Helen Frey (1885-1947)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Jul 31 p. 5

Birth date: 1885 May 6

text of obituary:

. . .

— Mrs. G. G. Pankratz received word last Saturday of the sudden passing earlier that day of her youngest sister, Mrs. Jno. J. (Helen) Unruh, at her home at Shafter, Calif. She had been suffering from a heart ailment for some time. Mr. and Mrs. Pankratz, Mrs. J. J. Franz, another sister, and Mrs. Agnes Frey left for California Saturday afternoon by rain to attend the funeral.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Aug 28 p. 3

text of obituary:

MRS. HELEN FREY UNRUH

Helen Frey Unruh was privileged to be born in a Christian home on May 6, 1885, near Goessel, Kansas. The Christian parents were zealous to rear their family for God in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The little education which she received was obtained from Christian teachers in the Greenfield school district. At the age of eight years she had a bad cough from which she suffered for 28 years. Those years she spent in the Lord's school of suffering and through much prayer and yielding she learned patience in suffering.

In her 20th year, she read through the whole Bible, and afterward read it through once more. She read a number of Christian books in the youth which inspired and helped her to lead a Christian life. When she became older and saw more of the world, she did not always remain true and obedient to her Lord, but the Lord was gracious and she realized the folly of trusting in her own strength. When she repented, the Lord forgave, for which she was very thankful.

The doctors suggested that she should seek to regain her health in the western states, which she did and with God's help, to her betterment. She went to American Falls, Idaho, where she became a Christian Deaconess nurse in the hospital. As she was bodily not very strong, she was able to serve but a few years. Then homesickness got the best of her, and she went back to Kansas to her brothers and sisters, who were more than glad to have her stay with them. The parents had departed to be with the Lord.