Birky, Joseph Noah (1883-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Apr 30 p. 9

Birth date: 1883 Dec 29

text of obituary:

JOSEPH BIRKY

Joseph Noah Birkey [sic Birky] was born Dec. 29, 1883 at Hopedale, Illinois, to Jacob and Mary Birkey [sic Birky]. He passed away April 5, 1953 in the John B. Simons hospital, White Fish, Montana at the age of 69 years, 3 months and 7 days.

In his youth he became a member of the Mennonite church, to which church he was faithful till the Lord called him home. In the last year he suffered much, having had two major operations, but he bore it all patiently.

In December 1908, he was married at Schickley [sic Shickley], Nebr. to Amanda Roth. They lived there till 1915, when they moved to Calkins, Mont. In 1928 they, with their family, moved to Creston, Montana. To this union were born eight sons and four daughters, all of whom are living except Magdalene. Also her mother passed away in January, 1937, of typhoid fever.

In February, 1941, he was married to Mary Oesch, with whom he shared the sorrows and joys of life on their farm near Columbia Falls, Montana.

He leaves to mourn his departure, his wife, eight sons, Roy of Wellman, Iowa, Elmer of Creston, Harry, Vernon, Jonas, Ezra, Paul of Kalispell, and Jake of Columbia Falls; three daughters, Mary Benson of Creston, Eva Gregg of Nickerson, Kansas, and Emma, attending Goshen College; three brothers, Eli of Creston, and Menno and Ben of White Sulphur Springs; four sisters, Emma Hochstetler and Elizabeth Kauffman, both of Creston, Leah Deeter, Victorville, California, Amelia of Lincoln, Nebraska; five step-children, Buelah [sic Beulah] Miller, Bernice Hooley, Harold and Vernon Oesch, all of Kalispell, and Leila Lapp at Nampa, Idaho.

Services were in charge of D. D. Brenneman of Kalispell, Mont. Text, Matth. 24:44. Interment was in Conrad Memorial cemetery.