Martens, Hilda Giesbrecht (1889-1969)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1969 Jul 11 p. 26

Birth date: 1889 Mar 16

text of obituary:

HILDA MARTENS

(Mrs.) Hilda Martens was born on March 16, 1889 in South Russia, to Gerhard and Katherina (nee Berg) Giesbrecht. In her early youth she accepted Christ as her personal Saviour and at the age of 16 was baptized and accepted into the fellowship of the Mennonite Brethren Church.

In 1911 she was united in marriage to Isaak Abraham Matthies and their union was blessed with six daughters and one son. Two daughters died in infancy. They emigrated from Russia to Mexico in 1924 where they resided for two years. From there the Lord led them to Manitou, Manitoba, where they farmed for eight years. A further move in 1934 took them to a new settlement in Black Creek, Vancouver Island, B.C. where they enjoyed many years of fellowship with family and friends.

In 1959 her husband passed away, and her trust and faith in God deepened in her time of sorrow. She loved the Lord and always sought to do his will, but in her last years she often expressed the desire to be with the Lord. After a brief illness the Lord fulfilled her desire and called her to him. She passed away peacefully on May 16, 1969, in Como x, B.C.; at the age of 80.

She leaves to mourn her passing four daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Wedel (Melita). Vancouver, B.C.; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Van Bergen (Irene), Black Creek, B.C.; Mrs. Henry Unger (Hilda, widow of Henry Unger, deceased 1945) Mr. and Mrs. Ben Falk (Erika) Black Creek; and one son, Mr. and Mrs. George Matthies, Delta, B.C.; one brother, Theodore Giesbrecht, Florida, a sister in Russia; 20 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.