King, Rosa L. Miller (1881-1969)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Sep 18 p. 11

Birth date: 1881 Nov 1

text of obituary:

ROSA L. KING

Rosa L. (Miller) King was born in Hickory County, Missouri on Nov. 1, 1881 to Samuel P. and Katie (Raber) Miller. She moved with her family to several places in Missouri and then to Oklahoma. Being the oldest girl in a large family, she learned what it was like to pioneer.

On Dec. 31, 1902 she was married to Harry Lee King. They lived in Missouri for five years. Harry was impressed with the slogan "Go west young man, go west." One fall, with a number of his friends, he rode a freight train to North Dakota to harvest wheat and was captivated by the open spaces where land was cheap.

In the fall of 1907, he again went to North Dakota on a freight train, this time taking his cattle and farming equipment with him to a farm he had rented near Coulee. Rosa came later with their small children, Edna and Ralph.

Here Rosa made a home for her family on the prairie. Here Samuel, Amos and Elmer were born.

In 1913 they bought 160 acres near Kenmare, N. D. where they lived and became better established in the community. The family participated in the work of the Spring Valley Mennonite Church where they were members. Here Franklin, Harry Lloyd, and Emery were born. It was here also that Ralph, Elmer, Harry Lee (husband) and Edna (Yoder) died and were buried in the Spring Valley Cemetery.

Here Rosa experienced some of the hard things the prairie can bring. On one occasion she went by horse and sled to Keneston, three miles away, in 50 below zero weather to exchange some cream for the much needed staples such as kerosene and flour because Harry was ill. She saw the dry weather and dust storms take the crops year after year, and experienced the depression of the 30's.

In 1935, after leaving everything to the government for its help during the dry years, she with two sons and two small grandsons left by bus for Lancaster, Pa. She lived at Gap, Pa. for two years before moving to Frazer, Pa. Here her son Harry Lloyd passed away.

In 1948 she moved into a small home that was built for her at Milton Brackbills. She became sick while plans were being made for her stay with her son Emery and family. She went to be with the Lord early Monday morning, May 12.

Throughout the years she spent her leisure hours crocheting bandages for lepers. She had crocheted over a mile of three-inch bandages.

Surviving are four sons: Samuel of Albany, Ore., Amos of Westover, Md., Frank and Emery of Frazer, Pa.; four brothers and one sister, Ami J. of Missouri, Crist of California, Samuel and Otto and Millie Glick of Pennsylvania; 31 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held in the Frazer Mennonite Church on May 15, conducted by Ralph Malin, Mark Swanenberger, Milton Brackbill, and Amos Sauder. Interment was made in the old Frazer Cemetery.