Lehrman, Henry H. (1888-1973)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1973 Apr 26 p. 11

Birth date: 1888 Nov 17

Text of obituary:

HENRY H. LEHRMAN

Henry H. Lehrman, son of Henry and Susanna Voth Lehrman, was born Nov. 17, 1888 on a farm three miles east of Goessel, Kan. After finishing elementary school he attended Penner's Preparatory School in Hillsboro, Bethel College, Newton, and some years later, Kansas Wesleyan Business College, Salina.

In 1909 he was baptized by Rev. H. R. Voth and received into the Tabor Mennonite Church near Newton, Kan.

In 1913 he was one of the group that pioneered at Dubois, Idaho by taking up homestead land. The settlers organized the Bethel Mennonite Church, to which he transferred his membership. In 1915 he went back to Kansas to marry Theresa Wiebe on June 10. Then went to Idaho that same summer to establish their permanent residence near Dubois. To this union were born four children: Elva, Ruby, Esther, and Charles. At the age of ten Ruby went to her heavenly home.

When the dry years came to Idaho, most of the settlers had to leave their homesteads so that in August of 1919 he and his family moved to Aberdeen, Idaho. Here they joined the First Mennonite Church of which he remained a faithful member. He took active interest in the church and in the conference work and accepted various positions of responsibility. He was always a Sunday School teacher, earlier leading boys' classes and later the adults.

In Aberdeen he was in the retail business and also did auctioneering as a sideline. They purchased a small acreage toward the edge of town and kept a few chickens and cows. Later the cattle were replaced with sheep.

Mrs. Lehrman preceded him in death on April 28, 1972.

Mr. Lehrman had enjoyed relatively good health. He spent March 6, 1973 with friends and family. He came home after 9 o'clock in the evening, and before retiring read the newspaper. It was in that position that he was translated to his heavenly home, having reached the age of 84 years.

Those remaining to cherish the memory of his life are his children, Elva and husband, E. H. Brucks, American Falls, Idaho, Esther and husband, James Rinner, Newton, Kan., and Charles and wife Lois of Buhl, Idaho; nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ted of Goessel, Kan. and John of Salem, Ore.; three sisters, Louise, Mrs. Gerhard Schmidt, Annie, Mrs. Albert Schmidt, both of Goessel, and Minnie, Mrs. Albert Unruh, North Newton, Kan.