Helmuth, William E. (1877-1952)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1952 May 8 p. 8

Birth date: 1877 Oct 3

text of obituary:

WILLIAM E. HELMUTH

It pleased Almighty God to summon from our midst the soul of William E. Helmuth on Saturday, April 12, 1952.

Bro. Helmuth was born in Hickory county, Mo. His father and mother were John J. and Katherine Oesch Helmuth. The date of his birth was October 3, 1877. He died at the age of 74 years, six months and nine days. He was the eighth child, having four brothers and five sisters, namely Joseph D., John J., Daniel D., Mary Smith, Emma, Samuel D., Martha, Amanda and Katherine Burge, all of whom are deceased except Emma Kauffman of Van Nuys, Calif., Martha, Mrs. Edd Zimmerman, and Amanda Schrock, both of this community.

He came with his parents and family to Cass county, Mo. in 1882. In young manhood he accepted Christ and united with the Bethel Mennonite church.

On December 28, 1902, he was united in marriage with Mary Ellen Miller of McPherson. Kans. It was there they established their home. In 1908 they moved to Guymon, Okla. In December of the same year he was ordained to the ministry.

With his family he moved to Garden City, Mo. in the fall of 1909. Here as pastor and co-minister of the Bethel church from 1909 until August 1947, he served his Lord and Master. He found much comfort in, and often spoke from the Psalms. Like the Psalmist David, his trust was in the Lord. Through the years of service to the church and community, he and his wife endeared themselves to many.

To them were born seven sons and three daughters, one son and one daughter having died in infancy. Theirs was a happy farm family. Then school years passed, associations were made and again the parents were alone. They left the farm and following nearly ten years residence in Garden City, Mo., they moved to 1505 Butler Drive in Harrisonville. It was here that his Maker bade him “Friend, go higher." Luke 14:10.

Surviving is his close companion of nearly 50 years; his children, Floyd E. of Hickman Mills, Mo., Ollie R. of Wichita Kans., Esther, Mrs. John King of Denver, Colo., Daniel E. of Wichita, Kans., Ada, Mrs. Eugene White of Wichita, Kans., William J. of Eureka, Ill., George H. of Overland Park, Kans., and Lawrence W. of Harrisonville, Mo. Also surviving are 13 grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at the Sycamore Grove church on Tuesday, April 15, in charge of W. R. Hershberger, assisted by Walter Davenport. Burial was made in the Clearfork cemetery.