Buller, Andrew H. (1845-1936)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1936 Sep 9 p. 2

Birth date: 1845 Nov 8

text of obituary:

Andrew H. Buller

Andrew H. Buller was born November the 8th, 1845, in the Dorf Carlswalde, South Russia. He died August 23, at 10 A. M., 1936, in his home near Bloomfield, Montana. He reached the ripe old age of 90 years, 9 months, and 15 days.

In South Russia he spent his childhood days and grew into manhood; at the age of 19 years he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized on the confession of his faith and taken into the fellowship of the church. May 22nd, 1870, he was united in marriage to Agnetha Unruh of Garanin, South Russia. They took up their residence with his parents. On October the 6th, 1874, they left their fatherland and came to America and landed in Philadelphia, Pa. On January 10, 1875, they first settled in Lancaster Co., Pa.; from there he moved to Iowa, then to Missouri. they also lived in S. Dak.; from there they came to Montana, and in the summer of 1907 moved on his homestead near Bloomfield. Here they have lived until they went to their home beyond.

Mother preceded father in death only 4 months and 21 days. They had lived together, sharing joy and sorrow, for 66 years less 52 days. The short time that father spent as widower was lonesome for him. Being left with two of his sons, Abraham and John, they kept house as well as they could. But the ever stirring wife and mother was sadly missed.

Our parents have moved 35 times. Father spent the first years working for wages; after that he has always rented a farm until coming to Montana, where he settled on a homestead. He was a diligent worker, doing his field work until he was 84 years old, and was richly blessed in his work.

Wherever the parents moved, they always made sure that they could settled where they could join and attend the Mennonite Church, and helped along the best they could. father was one of the first of those that organized the Bethlehem Mennonite Church, where he has been a faithful member until his end. Besides helping his church along, father always had an open heart for the needy; his purse and his granary were opened often to supply some that were in want.

He has become the father of nine children; one died in infancy. His wife died last April. Grandchildren 42, of wh8ich 8 have gone to their heavenly home; great grandchildren 19, of which 3 have gone to their heavenly home.

Father was always healthy until the last few years, when he had heart attacks, which often made him feel dizzy. He was always up and around doing his chores until the last three weeks, and only the last seven days one had to be at his bedside. He requested the Lord's Supper, and his request was granted six days before he passed away. He suffered a great deal, having pain in his abdomen and head. He could not eat anything for the last five days, and longed to be released from this life and go home to his Savior. He lay in his bed praying and glorifying god for all He had done for him all his life, in supplying his needs, and also giving him grace to keep up his faith to the end. His last words were that the Lord was with him, that he was through.

He leaves to mourn his 8 children: Abraham, John, and Chriss of Bloomfield, Mont.; Fred of Avon, S. Dak.; Joe of Salem, Oregon; Emma, Mrs. A. M. Boese of Vona, Colo.; Mary, Mrs. B. M. Boese of Denver, Colo.; Ida, Mrs. Gerald Boese of Bloomfield, Mont.; one brother, John Buller of Pueblo, Colo.; two sisters, Mrs. John Ratzlaff of Marion, S. Dak. and Mrs. Jacob Schmidt of Dolton, South Dak.; a number of nephews and many relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 25, in the Bethlehem Church. Before leaving the home Rev. Sawatzky read from Ephesian 4:1 to 12; two German songs and prayer. The services in the church were opened by Rev. Abe Unruh (in the German language), by singing Rock of Ages, and reading the 90 Psalm, which was so dear to father. This was followed by a trio, How Beautiful Heaven Must be, by Harvey, Delphia, and Irena Schoenwald. next was a spiritual sermon by Elmer Borentrager of the Red Top Congregation. He based his text on St. John 6:68: Lord to whom shall we go? Thou hast the word of eternal life. This was followed by a solo by Mrs. Ruth Jankey. Rev. Sawatzky made the close by reading the Obituary and basing his closing remarks on 2 Timothy 4: 7 - 8. Interments were made in the Bethlehem cemetery. We mourn in the hope that our loved one has gone to his eternal reward in heave. — The Children.