Koehn, Lena Becker (1882-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Mar 15 p. 6

Birth date: 1882 Feb 5

text of obituary:

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— A fatal auto accident two miles east of Yoder, Kans. Sunday evening claimed two lives and injured six other persons. Mrs. Lena Koehn, 69, of Halstead was killed instantly, and Steven Bruce Unruh, four weeks old, died several hours later in Grace hospital, Hutchinson. Injured were the infant’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Unruh of Halstead, their two children, Allen 6, and Karen, 9, and Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Jantz of Sedgwick. All eight persons were riding in the Jantz car en route to Pretty Prairie to attend the evangelistic services at the First Mennonite church when their car collided with a water truck at an intersection. Most seriously injured were Mrs. Jantz and Karen Unruh both of whom were still unconscious Monday afternoon at Grace hospital. Funeral services for the Unruh infant were to be held Wednesday forenoon at the Halstead Mennonite church, while the body of Mrs. Koehn is to be sent to Oklahoma for final services and burial. Mrs. Koehn was an aunt of Mrs. Jantz, and both were related to Mrs. Lena Becker and Mrs. Lorene Koehn of Halstead, who were killed in an auto accident on Jan. 1, 1950.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Mar 22 p. 6

text of obituary:

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— Funeral services were conducted at the First Mennonite church, Halstead, Saturday afternoon for Mrs. Lena Koehn, one of two persons who lost their lives in the tragic auto accident near Yoder Sunday evening, March 11. Rev. L. A. Habegger and Rev. Carl Dirks officiated, and the body was sent to Goltry, Okla. for final services and burial at the Mennonite church there. Funeral services for the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Unruh were held at the Halstead church on Wednesday. Mr. and Mrs. Unruh and son Allen, 6, are making a good recovery from injuries suffered in the accident, and Mrs. Leslie Jantz also shows improvement. However, at last report, the Unruhs’ nine-year-old daughter, Karen remained unconscious at Grace hospital, Hutchinson.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Apr 5 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. LENA KOEHN

A tragic highway accident on Sunday evening, March 11, 1951, took the life of Mrs. Lena Becker Koehn, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Koehn Becker. She, with Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Jantz, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Unruh and children, Karen, Allen and Steven Bruce were en route to evangelistic services at the Pretty Prairie Mennonite church when they collided with a truck two and one half miles east of Yoder. The injuries proved fatal to Mrs. Koehn and also to Steven Bruce Unruh.

Mrs. Koehn was born on a farm near Halstead, Kansas on February 5, 1882. She greatly enjoyed life. When a young woman she moved to Goltry, Oklahoma, to reside with her sister, Mrs. Dan Eck and Mrs. Benjamin Unruh. There she met Abraham Koehn and was united in marriage with him on April 20, 1908. She continued to reside in the vicinity of Goltry and Meno, Oklahoma until the autumn of 1942 when she moved to 519 Chestnut Street, Halstead, where she maintained her residence until her death.

Her home was open to friends and relatives and she enjoyed having them call and visit. Often, friends would find her singing the great hymns of the church as they entered her home. She spent much time reading the Bible and in prayer for the Kingdom.

Shortly after her marriage, she and Mr. Koehn wore baptized and united with the Zoar Mennonite church of Goltry, Oklahoma. She was a faithful member there at the time of her departure.

Her husband preceded her on July 27, 1937. A brother and two sisters survive. They are Pete J. Becker of Hawthorne, California; Mrs. Tobias (Susan) Koehn of Halstead and Mrs. John (Elizabeth) Friesen of Moundridge. Preceding her were two brothers, Benjamin and John, and four sisters, Mrs. Dan (Ida) Eck, Mrs. Cornelius (Dina) Unruh, Mrs. Benj. (Eva) Unruh and Anna. Seven sisters and brothers also preceded her in infancy.

A host of relatives and friends remember her many kind ways and her genuine concern for her loved ones and she will always be remembered with gratitude and thanksgiving. Truly, her life was a symbol of faithfulness.

Funeral services were conducted on Saturday afternoon, March 17, 1951, at 2:30 o’clock with Carl Dirks of the Grace Mennonite church and Rev. L. A. Habegger of the First Mennonite church conducting the services in the Mennonite church of Halstead. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Regier, Mrs. Ralph Ewy and Menno Thiessen sang “He Hideth My Soul,” “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus,” and “I am Praying for You.” Mrs. Harvey Vogt was the accompanist. Casket bearers were nephews, John Koehn, Hi Koehn, Ervin Becker, Ike Friesen, J. C. Unurh [sic] and Dave Unruh.

Mrs. Koehn was taken to Goltry, Oklahoma where additional services were conducted on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock in the Zoar Mennonite church. The Kaufman Funeral Home was in charge of funeral arrangements and she was laid to rest by the side of her late husband in the Goltry cemetery.