Becker, Mary Jantz (1864-1955)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Aug 4 p. 8

Birth date: 1864 Feb 2

text of obituary:

MRS. MARY BECKER

Mary Jantz Becker, daughter of Johann and Anna Ruediger Jantz, was born on Feb. 2, 1864, and departed this life on June 20, 1955, at 3:15 p.m., at the age of 91 years, four months, and 19 days.

Her early childhood years were spent in the old country, coming to the United States with her parents in the great Mennonite migration in 1874 and settling in McPherson county, Kansas.

In 1882 she was baptized upon the confession of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by Rev. Johann Ratzlaff and received into the Emmanuel Mennonite church near Moundridge, Kansas.

On Feb. 5, 1885, she was united in marriage to Jacob B. Becker, who preceded her in death on Jan. 8, 1938. The Lord blessed this union with 12 children. Bro. and Sister Becker spent many happy years together. In 1900, several years after the opening of the Cherokee strip, they came to Oklahoma with their family, settling on a farm north of Ringwood. This remained her earthly home until her death.

Upon coming to Oklahoma she became a member of the New Hopedale Mennonite church of Meno and remained a faithful member till the end. Old age and poor health made it difficult for her to attend services the later years of her life, but in spite of that she did not neglect her spiritual life, as her well-worn Bible would testify. It was a great joy for her to be able to be present at the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper last Good Friday. We rejoice that now she has been able to join the communion of the Saints above.

Her survivors include four sons, John of North Hollywood, Calif., Henry of Ringwood, Dietrich of Wellington, Kansas, and Clarence of Van Dyke, Mich.; seven daughters, Susie, Mrs. Clyde Kehn [sic Koehn] of Enid, Lizzie, Mrs. Simon Unruh of Enid, Ida, Mrs. Henry Jantz of Meno, Martha, Mrs. Dewey Decker, of Dalhart, Texas, and Hilda, Mrs. Levi Kane of North Hollywood, Calif.; 28 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren, and a host of relatives and friends.

The Mennonite obituary: 1955 Aug 9 p. 494