Flaming, Alvin B. (1925-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 May 20 p. 1

Birth date: 1925 Aug 29

Services For Young Farmer Held Tuesday

ALVIN FLAMING, 28, OF GOESSEL DIES WHEN TRACTOR OVERTURNS

Funeral services for Alvin B Flaming, 28-year-old farmer and father of three children, were held Tuesday afternoon at the Alexanderwohl church near Goessel. He was fatally injured Saturday, May 15, when the tractor he was driving overturned at his farm four miles south of Lehigh.

Relatives and friends of the young man and his family from Goessel and surrounding communities attended the funeral, filling the large church to capacity. The services were conducted by Rev P. A. Wedel, his pastor, assisted by Rev. H. B. Schmidt.

It was reported that the accident occurred about mid-afternoon as Mr. Flaming was returning to the field on the tractor after going to the house on an errand. Traveling at road speed, he apparently turned a little too short as he left the lane to go into the field. The left rear wheel struck a small bump and flipped the machine over, pinning him underneath. It is believed he died instantly.

The body was found by his wife at about 6:00 o’clock when she went after the cows. She called her brother-in-law, M. M. Hiebert and he and his sons righted the tractor.

Surviving are Mrs. Flaming the former Elda Schmidt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank K. Schmidt of Newton; three children, Lynette, 6, Royce, 4, and Jenean, eight months; his parents Mr. and Mrs. John J. Flaming of Goessel, three brothers and four sisters.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 May 27 p. 9

text of obituary:

ALVIN B. FLAMING

Alvin B. Flaming, son of John and Anna (Brandt) Flaming, was born at Hillsboro, Kans. Aug 29, 1925.

He received his public school training in the Springfield school of Marion county and later attended the Goessel Rural high school at Goessel, Kans. for two years.

He was baptized upon confession of faith in his Redeemer Jesus Christ by Rev. P. A. Penner on May 28, 1944, and became a member of the Alexanderwohl church, whose faithful member he remained until his death.

He was united in marriage to Elda May Schmidt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank K. Schmidt on Sept. 23, 1947, by Rev. P. A. Wedel. To this union were born three children, Linette, aged five years, Royce, aged four years, and Janine, aged eight months.

The departed was a diligent provider and did everything in his power to care for his family. He was a farmer by profession, and enjoyed his work.

Alvin was greatly concerned about the spiritual life of his family. He always kept the family altar, leading the devotions in the home with the help of his wife. He attended the services of the church regularly. He was a mild tempered man who lived a consecrated Christian life and who made many friends.

Also in the life of the departed the immortal words of the poet were again fulfilled, when he says:

"Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day,
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away.”
How quickly life is spent. ”We have here no abiding city, but we seek after the city which is at come.”

On May 15 he went to work his field, preparing it for the spring crop, and met with a fatal accident with his tractor, and his body was found lifeless by his wife. He reached the age of 28 years, eight months and 16 days.

He leaves to mourn his sudden departure his deeply sorrowing wife, Mrs. Elda May Flaming and their children of the home at Hillsboro; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John J. Flaming of Goessel; brothers and sisters, Katy, Mrs. Rudolf Hiebert and family of Lehigh, John B. Flaming and family, and Anna, Mrs. Menno Hiebert and family of Hillsboro, Helen, Mrs. A. E. Franz and family, and Jacob B. Flaming and family in Newton, Theodore Flaming and family of Hillsboro, and Susie, Mrs. Eldon Goertzen and family of Walton.

One brother and one sister preceded him in death. Sarah preceded him in death in 1917 in infancy and Wilhelm Oct. 8, 1942 in the C.P.S. camp at Henry, Ill.

Psalm 31:14-15, "But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, thou of my God. My times are in thy hand.”

Funeral services were held from the Bergen funeral home and Alexanderwohl church on May 18, 1954, in charge of Rev. P. A. Wedel, assisted by Rev. H. B. Schmidt. Interment was made or the Alexanderwohl church cemetery.