Gross, Helen Anne (1948-1961)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Jul 13 p. 3

Birth date: 1948 Jun 14

text of obituary:

13-YEAR-OLD GIRL THROWN UNDER TRACTOR WHEEL, FATALLY HURT

Freeman, S. D. — While riding on the drawbar of a tractor, 13-year-old Helen Gross lost her balance and was thrown in front of one of the large drive wheels, resulting in fatal injuries.

The largely attended funeral took place Monday afternoon, June 26, at the Salem M. B. Church near Bridgewater. Rev. Franklyn Jost and Rev. Peter G. Hofer officiated.

Helen was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam P. Gross.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Jul 13 p. 8

text of obituary:

HELEN ANNE GROSS

Helen Anne Gross, youngest daughter of Sam P. and Anna Hofer Gross, was born on June 14, 1948 in Freeman, S. D., and passed to her eternal Home a 2:00 p.m. June 23, 1961, having attained the age of 13 years and nine days.

On this Friday afternoon, as she had done many times before. Helen was preparing to assist her brother Paul with field work, but died in a farm accident en route to the field.

Her childhood was happy; she was a comparatively healthy child. She was a 4-H member and next years would have been an eighth grader in Bridgewater Public School.

Helen was the joy and sunshine of the family. The absence of her happy, pleasant disposition along with her varied abilities will create a great vacancy in our home. Many were the hours that the house resounded with her piano music. On Friday morning she took her last music lesson. When the music teacher asked if she had already had opportunity to play “The Holy City” she replied, “No, we're saving that one.” Now we are confident that Helen is in the Holy city of which she so often played because in August of 1959 during revival meetings with Dr. Joe Schmidt, Helen realized she was a sinner and came at the invitation to accept Jesus as her personal Savior and was shown the way by Pastor Kleinsasser.

Helen enjoyed Sunday School and Bible School. She faithfully prepared her lessons and memorized more than was required. With our limited knowledge we had plans and ambitions for her and would have prolonged her life, but never could we have given Helen such satisfaction and happiness as she is now experiencing.

Her early and unexpected passing finds her parents, brother Paul, sisters Celia and Ida, one aged grandmother, Mrs. Paul M. Hofer of Dolton, 11 aunts and uncles, 42 cousins and a host of friends grief stricken. We cannot fully understand the language in which God has spoken. We ask for grace and faith to accept God's acts without question to the end that his purpose may be accomplished: thanking Him for a painless death, the 13 years He gave her to us and the inspiration she brought with her, and most of all that in her youth she accepted Jesus as her Savior. This is our greatest comfort in this hour and brings peace to our sorrowing hearts. Thirteen years of pleasant memories are ours.

. . . . “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21.

Funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon, June 26, at the Salem M. B. Church, Bridgewater, S. D. Mrs. Orville Wipf was organist. The obituary was read by Rev. Franklyn Jost, after which Rev. Peter G. Hofer spoke on Job 1:21. A men's quartet sang two numbers. Pastor Jost spoke on John 8:51 and I Cor. 15: 54-57. Interment was made in the church cemetery.