Dick, Aganetha Willems Harder (1862-1955)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Jul 21 p. 5

Birth date: 1862 Feb. 7

text of obituary:

Aged Resident Of Buhler Died

Buhler, Kan. — Mrs. Aganetha Dick, widow of Klaas Dick and a resident of this community since 1875, passed away here Sunday evening, July 17, at the age of 93.

Funeral services were to be held Wednesday afternoon at the Mennonite Brethren church, with burial in the Hebron cemetery.

Mrs. Dick was born in Europe Feb. 7, 1862, and came to this country in 1875. She leaves one son and three daughters, all of Buhler, and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Bergen and Mrs. Sarah Willems, also of Buhler.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Jul 28 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. KLAAS DICK

Our mother, Mrs. Agaentha [sic Aganetha] (Willems) Dick, was born to Jacob and Katherine (Regier) Willems on Feb. 7, 1862 in South Russia.

At the age of 13 she migrated with her parents to the United States and lived the greater part of her life in Reno county, Kan. Her elementary schooling was received under the able instruction of Benjamin Buller.

When she was 18 years of age she acknowledged the need of salvation in Christ and experienced the joy of the Lord. She was baptized by Elder Henry Toews in 1880 and received into the membership of the Bethel church.

On March 15, 1885, mother entered into holy marriage with John Harder, to which union were born two daughters: Katie, Mrs. F. H. Letkeman, and Justina, Mrs. P. G. Martens. The joys of this marriage union lasted but four years, for her first husband died nov. 4, 1889.

In the divine providence of God, mother was united in the second marriage to Klass [sic Klaas] Dick on June 18, 1893. With this second marriage she accepted motherhood of six children: Mrs. Anna Neufeld, A. M. Dick, K. M. Dick, Mrs. Katherine Voth, Mrs. Sarah Thiessen, J. M. Dick — all of whom preceded her in death. To the second marriage were born two daughters, Mrs. Marie Hiebert and Elizabeth, and one son, Herman. Upon her second marriage, she became a member of the Hebron Mennonite church.

Throughout her life, mother’s health was exceptionally good. Since April 1953, however, she had suffered a light stroke, which made her an invalid until she became helpless. During her invalidism, she received loving care in her home, first by her family and later by Sister Elizabeth Friesen. Dr. Eldon Rich, likewise, offered the best of service, sparing no efforts nor time to make her comfortable.

We shall always remember mother as an active, energetic and hard worker. She enjoyed life and lived it to the full. Her cheerful outlook on life was inspiring to all who knew her. The dearest memory of her, however, will be that of seeing her read the holy Bible, which she read with eager delight. The Psalms in particular were favorite partions [sic] of Scripture which she loved to read, as well as Christian literature. Her favorite songs were “Es ist Keiner wie mein Heiland,” “Wenn Christen beten, Satan flieht” and “Und wenn ich in den Himmel komm dann treff ich meinen Heiland dort.”

Mother was preceded in death by her first husband, John Harder, who departed on Nov. 4, 1889, after four years of happy marriage; her second husband, Klaas Dick, who died on Oct. 12, 1938, with whom she lived in marriage union for 45 years; and the six children whose motherhood she accepted with her second marriage. Of her immediate descendants, none have preceded her in death. She passed on to her heavenly reward on Sunday, July 17, 1955, having attained the age of 93 years, five months and 10 days.

She leaves to mourn her departure one son, four daughters, five sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, 41 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Anna, Mrs. J. F. Bergen, and Sarah, Mrs. H. G. Willems, and many relatives and friends.

We shall miss our praying mother, for she was deeply concerned about her family, children, and grandchildren. Nevertheless we rejoice that she is now in the immediate presence of the Saviour whom she loved and served. — The Bereaved Family.