Graber, Katie Flickner (1867-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Feb 14 p. 8

Birth date: 1867 Jun

text of obituary:

KATIE (FLICKNER) GRABER

Katie (Flickner) Graber, our beloved mother, was born in Russia June 1867, and passed to her heavenly Home Jan. 21, 1957, having reached the age of 89 years, seven months and five days

At the age of ten years she came to America with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Flickner, two sisters and three brothers. They settled in Indiana where they lived for about three years and then moved to Kansas. During this trip she lost her father and a brother who drowned. Her mother passed away about six months later, leaving the children in the care of relatives and friends.

In 1884 she was united in holy matrimony with Joseph Graber. This union was blessed with 12 children three of whom preceded her in death, two in infancy and a son at the age of 16.

Mother endured many hardships but never lost faith in her heavenly father. She was kind, understanding and generous, and lived to make others happy. She was deeply interested in missions. Of the more than 475 quilts which she pieced, scores of them were given through her missionary society for relief. She did this until the very last days of her life. She was a firm believer and received daily guidance and inspiration in reading the Scriptures and the song book. Although confined to her bed the last eight to ten weeks, she never missed reading her Bible, and that always gave her strength and courage.

She had been a member of the Bethany Mennonite Church at Freeman, S.D. since 1916, when she transferred from the Salem-Zion Church.

She passed away quietly sitting in her chair, and though we will miss her very much we know that she was willing and anxious to be with her Lord.

She leaves to mourn her death four daughters, five sons, two sons-in-law, five daughters-in-law, 23 grandchildren, 47 great grandchildren, one brother in Kansas, a sister in Louisiana, and a host of relatives and friends. The surviving children are Ben, Emil, Harry, and Lydia J., all of Freeman, Mrs. W. R. (Marie) Sinclair of Yankton, Ed, Mrs. Leonard (Laura) Bouck, and Mrs. Robert (Verda) Bale, of Sioux Falls, and Richard of Seattle, Wash.

The Mennonite obituary: 1957 Feb 19 p. 126