Bergen, Justina Warkentin (1870-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Jun 4 p. 9

Birth date: 1870 Apr 19

text of obituary:

MRS. HENRY B. BERGEN

Our beloved mother, Mrs. Henry Bergen, whose maiden name was Justina Warkentin, was born April 19, 1870, in Southern Russia. At the age of eight, she migrated with her parents to America and settled near Jansen, Nebr. For a while the family lived in a school-house until the new home was established.

The poverty of the home and the pressing need of help on the farm prevented our mother from getting the education she so much desired. Though she lacked the schooling that comes from books, her Christian home and her Godly parents provided her with a preparation for life with which no learning can compare. Her’s was a Godly home. The family altar with the reading of the Scriptures, singing of hymns and prayers, daily sanctified and blessed this little circle.

The most glorious and happy experience of her whole life came to her at the age of 14, when she found peace through her faith in Christ. The basis of her assurance was Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” She knew that she was saved and that God had sealed her with his Holy Spirit, Eph. 1:13. She was baptized by Elder Henry Wiebe and received into the fellowship of the Krimer [sic Krimmer] Mennonite church, of Jansen, Nebr.

In 1889 she was united in marriage with Henry B. Bergen. To this union were born 13 children, nine sons and five daughters. She had the joy of living in this union for over fifty years.

In 1907 the family moved from Inman to Western Kansas, where they settled on a farm near Minneola. That pioneer life brought with it many trials and hardships. At times it was hard to keep soul and body together, but if there was poverty in material things there was great wealth in Spiritual things. The family altar, spiritual songs and church attendance, were indispensable things of our home.

Our mother’s life was one of unwavering faith and great devotion to the cause of Christ. She was a woman of great prayer. Even in her declining years she conducted a weekly prayer meeting in her home in which the needs of the various causes of God’s kingdom were brought before the throne of Grace. She took great pleasure in witnessing to the lost and seeking to win them to Christ.

Mother had been ill for the last year. She received the best medical care, but she grew progressively worse. She left this life Tuesday morning at the age of 83 years and two days. We sorrow not as those who have no hope for we look for a glorious reunion.

There are many things that could be said of our mother’s unique and radiant life. One was her belief in and love for the Bible. She was thoroughly familiar with all its contents. It was her delight to gather us about her at the close of the day or on Sunday when "the weather prevented our going to church, and to tell us its stories and make them live in our memories. She also indoctrinated us with all its teachings. In the closing years of her life she memorized whole chapters and large portions of the Bible both in the English and in the German language. She built her and our lives upon this Book. Its promises sustained her in all the trials and troubles of her life.

Another thing was her unshakable faith in the value of prayer. The one yearning of her and father’s heart was the salvation of the children. She had the joy not only of seeing them saved but of seeing two sons become ministers of the Gospel.

Five members of the family preceded her in death: The father, one son, John, three daughters, Hulda, Minnie, and Mary. She leaves to mourn her passing: Eight sons, Pete Bergen of Ensign, Kans., Rev. Jacob Bergen of Goltry, Okla., George Bergen of Oakley, Kans., Prof. Aaron Bergen, York, Nebr., Issac [sic Isaac] Bergen and David Bergen, both of Wichita, Kans., Henry Bergen of Ensign, Kans. and Rev. Ben Bergen, Wichita, Kansas; one daughter, Mrs. Ernest Moseman [sic Mosiman] of Whitewater, Kans.; one daughter-in-law, Mrs. John Bergen, Elbing, Kans.; three brothers, George Warkentin, Hillsboro, Kans., Henry Warkentin, Reedley, Calif., Ben Warkentin, Fresno, Calif.; two sisters, Mrs. Henry Ratzlaff, Lehigh, Kans. and Mrs. Mary Wiebe, Enid, Okla.; 34 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, and many relatives and friends.

“Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth: yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.’’ Rev. 14:-13.