Koehn, Helena Yost (1886-1963)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Jul 4 p. 8

Birth date: 1886 Jan 4

text of obituary:

HELENA YOST KOEHN

Mrs. Helena Koehn was born in Hillsboro, Kan. on Jan. 4, 1886, and passed away in Merced, Calif. hospital on May 28, 1963 as a result of a heart attack.

At the age of 16 years she moved with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nickoll Yost, to Durham, Kan. In 1912 she with her family moved to Winton, Calif. where they lived at the time of her death, having spent over 50 years at Winton. She reached the age of 77 years, three months and 24 days.

Helena Yost accepted the Lord as her personal Saviour when she was 18 years old, and lived a dedicated Christian life until her death. She was married to Joel Koehn on Oct. 27, 1907, and was a devoted, unselfish wife. She was missionary minded, and gave much time to charities.

Surviving are her husband; their nine children, Naomi of the home, Ruth and Peter Meridith of Los Altos, Calif., Orpha, also of Los Altos, Rachel and Al Chibanta, and Priscilla and Leonard Yost of Atwater, Calif., Leah and Kermit Dirks of Merced, Calif., Paul and wife Jean and Ted and Mollie of San Jose, Calif., and Wesley and wife Olga of Huron, S. D.; also four brothers and two sisters, six grandsons, 16 granddaughters, and two great-grandchildren. Her parents, one sister, and one brother went on before.

She enjoyed fellowship with her Lord and Saviour, leaving an assurance that she went Home to be with the Lord her Maker.

Her funeral was conducted in Winton in the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on June 1, 1963, with a large crowd in attendance. The service was opened by Min. John Jantz, after which Min. John Wiens spoke from the Rev. 14:13, 7:9, 12:17, and Psalm 39:4, 5. A short service at the Winton Cemetery was conducted by Min. Jon J. Esau.