Balzer, Helena Dalke (1871-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Apr 1 p. 6

Birth date: 1871 Feb 6

text of obituary:

MRS. HELENA BALZER

Our beloved Mother Helena Balzer, nee Dalke, daughter of Cornelius and Anna Dalke, was born Feb. 6, 1871 in Schardau, South Russia, and came to America with her parents as a child. Living with them in Kansas, as a girl of 18, she realized the need of a Saviour and accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour. She was baptized by Rev. Jacob Buller and received into the Alexanderwohl church at Goessel, Kansas.

Later she with her parents moved to Corn, Okla. where they homesteaded. Here she met our father David B. Balzer and they were married Nov. 30, 1897. They lived in Corn, Okla. until 1923 when they moved to Perryton, Texas. Father died there on Nov. 16, 1933, and she came to Dallas, Oregon with her children. In 1935 she joined the E.M.B. church of which she remained a faithful member until her passing.

She had much sorrow and sickness during her lifetime; especially the giving up of loved ones who preceded her in death, to go to be with the Lord in Glory, was a cause of much sorrow.

She had been sick off and on since December, but whenever able, she walked to church. She attended the morning services on Sunday, March 7, and became seriously sick Sunday night. She was taken to the Bartel hospital Monday night, March 8, and passed away March 13, at 6:45 p.m.

The children did everything possible to relieve her of her severe pains. Her desire and prayer was to go home to glory and the Lord granted her that. We will miss our dear mother, but we hope to meet her again and all of our loved ones who went on before in the presence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

She reached the age of 83 years, one month and seven days. She leaves to mourn her departure three sons, Peter, David and Cornelius, four daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, 27 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and a host of nephews and nieces.

Those who preceded her in death are her husband, four daughters, Anna, Mrs. Abe Peters, Marie, Mrs. Jake Pauls, Kathyrne, Mrs. Jake Peters, one son, John Balzer, one son-in-law, Abe Peters, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Funeral services were conducted in the E.M.B. church March 16 2:30 p.m., Rev. Wiebe, pastor of the E.M.B. church, Rev. John Franz, pastor of the Grace Mennonite church, and Rev. Herbert Anderson, pastor of the Christian Missionary Alliance church officiating.

Rev. Anderson read II Cor. 4:14-18 and 5:1-9 and led in prayer. The German message by Rev Franz was based on Job 19:25-27. For the English message. Rev Wiebe used as his text Psalm 17: 15. He also read the obituary and led in the closing prayer.

A mixed quartet, Mrs. John Frey, A. A. Warkentin, and Mr. and Mrs. Will Hiebert sang “Wo findet die Seele die Heimat, die Ruh,” “Safe In the Arms of Jesus,” and at the graveside. "We Are Going Down the Valley.” Interment was made in the Dallas cemetery, where Rev. Wiebe read I Thess. 4:13-18 and prayed. — The Family.