Jost, Helena Baerg (1883-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Aug 23 p. 8

Birth date: 1883 Sep 18

text of obituary:

MRS. JOHN R. JOST

Mrs. John R. Jost was born on Sept. 18, 1883, on a farm near Hillsboro, Kansas, the daughter of Johann and Margareta Hildebrandt Baerg. It was here that she completed her elementary education in the Hope Valley School and grew to womanhood. When she was 11 years old she accepted Christ as her personal Saviour and was baptized and received into the fellowship of the Gnadenau K. m. b. Church.

On Sept. 2, 1903, she was married to john R. Jost and together they spent almost 59 years of happy companionship. Shortly after their marriage they homesteaded near Hooker,Okla., where they lived for eight years. They then returned to the Hope Valley community south of Hillsboro where they made their home on the farm until their retirement in August of 1944 when they moved into Hillsboro.

In the fall of 1953 our parents were privileged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary and almost the entire family of children and grandchildren was able to be present. They accepted this privilege as a gift from God. After moving to their present home in Hillsboro our parents in 1959 joined the fellowship of the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church where our mother remained a faithful member until the time of her death. While advancing age made it difficult to teach Sunday School as she had done for many years, she nevertheless still enjoyed the meetings and activities of the Missionary Circle and the Relieef Society.

We shall always remember our mother as one who was studious and mentally alert, but whose concern for our spiritual welfare was always uppermost in her mind. She enjoyed reasonably good health until May 5 when she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was taken to Salem Hospital. A little more than a week later, on May 14, 1962, after receiving loving and faithful care, she quietly passed away, having reached the age of 78 years, seven months and 26 days.

Those preceding her in death include her parents, one daughter, Hulda; and seven brothers and sisters. Surviving are nine children and their families: Alfred and Alma Jost, Hillsboro, John and Susie Jost, Hillsboro, Kathleen, Mrs. D. H. Hiebert and husband, Fresno, Calif., Menno and Adina Jost, Hillsboro, Margaret, Mrs. Leo Goentzel and husband, Wichita, Harold and Marie Jost, Hillsboro, Edna, Mrs. Jonathan Janzen and husband, Panorama City, Calif., Melinda, Mrs. Elmo Hooley and husband, Orrville, Ohio, Ellen, Mrs. Ray Ewy and husband, Parlier, Calif.,; two brothers, William J. Baerg of Fayetteville, Ark., and Gerhard Baerg of Greencastle, Ind.; as well as 31 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. — the Family.