Hilty, Peter P. (1871-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Sep 24 p. 3

Birth date: 1871 Mar 17

text of obituary:

Retired Minister Of Versailles, Mo. Dies

REV. P. P. HILTY WAS FORMER PASTOR OF BETHEL CONGREGATION

Versailles, Mo. — Rev. Peter P. Hilty, retired pastor of the Bethel Mennonite church, Fortuna, died unexpectedly at his farm home here Sept. 14 at the age of 88. Death was due to a heart attack.

Funeral services were conducted at the Bethel church on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

A native of Bluffton, Ohio, Rev. Hilty attended Central Mennonite school, forerunner of Bluffton college. He was called to the ministry in the Swiss Mennonite church there. He also served as pastor of the Grace Mennonite church of Pandora, O. and the Zion Mennonite church, Donnellson, Iowa, before coming here to serve the Bethel congregation.

Surviving are his wife, the former Barbara Koller of Donnellson; eight children, Carl, Paul, Peter, Jr., Mrs. Roy Garber, Mrs. Claude Lutman, and Mrs. Ed Baumgartner, all of this vicinity; Calvin of California and Hiiram of Guilford, N. C.; one sister and four brothers.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Oct 22 p. 8

text of obituary:

REV. P. P. HILTY

Rev. Peter P. Hilty passed away Sept. 14, 1959, at his farm home five miles northeast of Versailles, Mo. at the age of 88 years and six months. His death was caused by a heart attack.

Rev. Hilty was born March 17, 1871, near Bluffton, Ohio, the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Schumacher Hilty. He was the eldest in a family of eight sons and one daughter, five of whom survive him. He attended Bluffton and Bethel colleges, and for some time engaged in the furniture and mortician business. After several years of teaching, he entered the Christian ministry. He served as the first pastor of the Grace Mennonite church at Pandora, Ohio, and was minister of the Zion Mennonite church of Donnellson, Iowa for 14 years.

In 1919 he moved to Fortuna, Mo., serving as pastor of the Bethel Mennonite church for seven years. Since retiring from the active ministry he had remained a faithful member of the church, serving as supply minister, deacon, Sunday school teacher, and in any other capacity where a need for his services might be found. In early youth he united with the Mennonite church and was a member of the Bethel church when he died.

On Feb. 10, 1907 he was united in marriage to Barbara Mary Koller, who survives him. To this union were born eight children, all of whom survive. They are Carl, Paul, Esther (Mrs. Roy Gerber), Winifred (Mrs. Claud Lutman), and Dorothy (Mrs. Ed. Baumgartner), all of Versailles, Mo., Hiram of Guilford College, North Carolina, Calvin of Strathmore, Calif. and Dr. Peter Hilty of Parkville, Mo. Also surviving are 24 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife and children, he leaves the following brothers and sister: Amos and Elizabeth of Pandora, Ohio, Phillip of Bluffton, Ohio, Adam of Spokane, Wash. and Gideon of Memphis, Tenn. Counted also among his close relatives and friends are a large number of in-laws and nieces and nephews.

He was always greatly interested in education and served as a school director for a number of years. He was secretary of the Mennonite Aid Plan for several years, and during World War I served as emergency relief treasurer for the General Conference of the Mennonite Church.

Throughout his long life, Rev. Hilty maintained a personal interest in all of the members of his large family, giving wise guidance and counsel when he could. However his personel [sic] interest was not limited to his family, but extended throughout the neighborhood to neighbors and friends, all of whom will miss him greatly.

Although remaining active to the end, and never bedfast, his health was impaired by the infirmities of age the past several years.

Funeral services were held at the Bethel Mennonite church Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1959 with Rev. Ernest Porzelius and Rev. Leroy Gingerich officiating. Interment was made in the church cemetery. Grandsons served as pallbearers. Hymns were sung by Mrs. Ivan Loganbill, Mrs. Herbert Aeschbacher, L. U. Aeschbacher and Daniel Garber.