Fricke, Leah B. Litwiller (1869-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Oct 11 p. 8

Birth date: 1869 Jun 4

text of obituary:

MRS. LEAH B. FRICKE

Mother Leah B. (Litwiller) Fricke was born near Baden, Ontario June 4, 1869. When three years of age she came with her parents to Reed City, Mich. In 1884 they moved near St. Johns, Mich. where she grew to womanhood.

In April 1884 she felt her lost condition and accepted Christ as her Savior, was baptized upon the confession of her faith and added to the Church of God in Christ (Mennonite) by Min. Marcus Seiler.

On Dec. 10, 1890, she was united in marriage to Frederick C. Fricke at the home of her parents near St. Johns, Mich. Elder John Holdeman officiated. They started housekeeping near St. Johns, spent two years near Reed City, Mich., and in 1902 they moved near Perrington, Mich., where they spent most of their life. However, for the welfare of the church and also for their health they spent some time at Greensburg, Kansas, Winton, Calif. and DeRidder, La.

Mother often told us of the hardships they endured during their early life. Father, being a minister of the Gospel, felt it his duty to spend much of his time in the Lord's work and this often called him to be away from home. Mother always encouraged him in this, and was willing to endure hardship to help save lost and dying souls. She faithfully and willingly carried on the duties of the home and family.

Since his passing nine years ago, mother made her home with the children. Her health had been failing for a number of years. She was bedfast the last seven months at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Martha Hiebert of Middleton, Mich., where she was tenderly cared for until she peacefully fell asleep in Jesus on Sept. 26, 1956, at the age of 87 years, three months and 22 days. She was preceded in death by her husband; one daughter who died in infancy; two sons, Ed and Sam; one son-in-law, John Hiebert; six grandchildren, one great grandchild, two brothers and three sisters.

She leaves to mourn her departure three sons and four daughters, Jacob and Harvey of Ohio, Martha (Mrs. John Hiebert), Minnie (Mrs. Ivan Schneider), Clara (Mrs. Wm. Friesen), and John of Michigan, and Elizabeth (Mrs. Clifford Mastre), of North Dakota; two daughters-in-law, Mrs. Clara Fricke of Indiana and Mrs. Katherine Fricke of Kansas; 47 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs August Peters; one brother, John Litwiller; and a host of relatives and friends.

Seven months ago when mother took seriously ill she had a wonderful vision of heaven. The angels came and took her to heaven, she saw the beauties of Heaven, and the angel told her: You have seen it now. You cannot stay here this time, you must go back for a little while and tell the people that Jesus will soon be coming, and everyone should get ready to meet Him. And that has been her mission. When the children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends would be at her bedside, she would tell them of the beauties of Heaven, and ask: "Will you meet me there?"

In her passing we have lost a devoted mother and grandmother who was always concerned about her family, and most of all about their soul's salvation.

Funeral services were conducted Sept. 30, 196, from the Church of God in Christ (Mennonite) near Ithaca, Mich. Min. Glenn Litwiller read Psalm 91 and offered prayer at the home. Min. Frank Unruh of Galva, Kansas, spoke opening remarks and offered prayer at the church, followed by Min. John A. Koehn of Livingston, Calif., speaking form Deut. 32:50 and 2 Tim. 4;7.

She was laid to rest at the Naldrett Cemetery. Min. Frank Unruh read I Thess. 4:13-18 and offered prayer.