Bontrager, Artie M. Yoder (1891-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Jan 14 p. 8

Birth date: 1891 Nov 6

text of obituary:

MRS. ARTIE M. BONTRAGER

Artie M. (Yoder) Bontrager, daughter of Noah C. and Theresa (Stutzman) Yoder, was born in Plevna, Howard County, Ind. Nov 6, 1891; passed away Dec. 28, 1959, at the Gerber Memorial hospital in Fremont, Mich. after an illness of two months with acute pulmonary sarcoidossis [sic], at the age of 68 years, one month and 23 days.

In her youth she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized by the late Bro. Eli A. Bontager, who later became her father-in-law, by a stream about a half a mile west of Fairview, Mich. She became a member of the Mennonite church, in which faith she remained faithful until death.

In the spring of 1901 she moved with her parents from Howard County, Ind. to Fairview, Mich.

On March 12 she was united in marriage with Ray E. Bontrager. Two sons came to gladden this home, Harold of Kalamazoo, Mich. and Archie of Harrisonburg, Va. After a period of six years the family moved to Midland, Mich. and in 1944 they moved to White Cloud, Mich. by request of the ministry and the White Cloud congregation, to help with the work of the church there.

Surviving are her husband, two sons, four grandchildren, one sister Nettie, Mrs. Menno Esch, and two brothers, Ira N. of Fairview and Jesse E. of Chappell, Neb., many nephews and nieces and many friends. Three sisters and four brothers preceded her in death. There were two sets of twins born in her family and one child was still born.

For a number of years Artie was secretary of Sunday school and a teacher in summer Bible school and Sunday school. She was president of the Sewing Circle for 11 years. Her Bible is full of marking along the precious verses of the Christian's life. She loved to give flower encouragement to the needy and warnings to the wayward. She had a wonderful vision and testimony of heaven while in the hospital.

Funeral services were conducted at 9 a.m. at the White Cloud Mennonite church by Bro. Lowell Burkholder, who read Psa. 92, and Bro. Edward Jones, who preached on the four last verses of Psa. 92. The body was then moved to Fairview for services at 3 p.m. conducted by Bro. Floyd Yoder and Bro. Harvey Handrich.