Engbrecht, Helena Deckert (1865-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Feb 19 p. 5

Birth date: 1865 Mar 17

text of obituary:

Pioneer at Marion, So. Dakota Dies

Marion, S. D. — Funeral services were held at the Bethesda Mennonite Church near hear Feb. 7 for Mrs. Helena Engbrecht, 93, one of the few remaining pioneers to settle here in the 1870's. She died Feb. 4, having made her home with a daughter, Mrs. Albert Deuschle of Marion, the past 11 years.

Mrs. Engbrecht, the former Helena Deckert, was born in Dorf Karolswalde, Russia, in 1865. She was a member of a Mennonite migrant group which spent the winter of 1874-75 at Newton, Kan. In the spring of 1875 the family came to this area and settled on the prairie. Her husband, Peter Engbrecht, died in 1935.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Mar 12 p. 8

text of obituary:

Mrs. Helena Engbrecht, daughter of Ludwig and Susana [sic Susanna](Jantz) Deckert, was born March 17, 1865, in the village Karolswalde, Russia, and passed away Feb. 4, 1959, having reached the age of 93 years, 10 months and 17 days.

In the fall of 1874 she moved with her parents to Newton, Kansas where they spent the winter months. In the spring of 1875 they settled on the prairie near Marion, south Dakota where they experienced pioneer hardships. She had little schooling.

In 1883 she accepted Christ as her Saviour, was baptized by Elder Friedrich Schartner and became a member of the Schartner congregation. Later she joined the Bethesda congregation of which she remained a faithful member until her death.

In 1898 she was married to Peter Engbrecht and to this union five children were born: One son, Peter Marion; four daughters, Helena, who passed away in 1915 at the age of 17 years, Mary, Mrs. Henry C. Berg of Dolton, Katie, Mrs. Albert Deuschle of Marion, and Nettie, Mrs. Elmer Becker of Huron.

In 1935 her husband passed away at the age of 74 years. In 1941 she and her daughters, Katie and Nettie, moved to Marion where she lived the rest of her life. The past 11 years she had made her home with the Albert Deuschles, during which time her health was failing. The last two weeks she was bedfast.

She was always a kindhearted mother and patient in her suffering. She was much concerned about spiritual matters. We will miss her, but we look forward to meeting her in our eternal Home.

She leaves to mourn her departure here four children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; three sons-in-law; two brothers, Andrew Deckert of Marion and George Deckert of Montana; two sisters, Mrs. Peter K. Tieszen of Montana, and Mrs. John P. Deckert of Marion. She was preceded in death by her husband, one daughter and one daughter-in-law.

Funeral services were held Feb. 7 at the Tschetter Chapel at 1:30 p. m. and at the Bethesda Mennonite Church at 2:00 p.m., Rev. T. A. van der Smissen officiating. Music was rendered by two mixed quartets. Nephews of the deceased served as pallbearers. She was laid to rest in the Mennonite (Schartner) Cemetery. — The Family.

The Mennonite obituary: 1959 Mar 17 p. 175