Meschberger, Dina Loganbill (1858-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Nov 18 p. 9

Birth date: 1858 Feb 10

text of obituary:

MRS. DINA MESCHBERGER

Dina Meschberger, our mother was born Feb. 10, 1858, in Dalton, Ohio. She was the daughter of Daniel and Judith Moser Loganbill. She received her early education in Ohio. In 1886 her parents moved to Missouri where they settled near Fortuna. Here she grew to womanhood.

In 1876 she was baptized upon her confession of faith in her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour from sin by elder Manassa Moyer, and accepted into the General Conference Mennonite Church of which she remained a faithful member till her death.

When she was 22 years of age her faith in her Saviour and Lord was deepened during an evangelistic campaign, and as a result of this she was determined to enter the work of missions. She first returned to Ohio, but not finding the satisfaction she sought, she heard the call of Christ "Come over to Oklahoma and help us."

In 1885 she came Oklahoma Indian Territory and began her work on the Darlington and Cantonment mission stations. Here she found her true self, and her love for the work and especially for the Indians caused her to give herself entirely to her missionary endeavor. As long as she could, she cared for and was interested in her Indian people, especially the Cheyennes and Arapahoes [sic]. This love and interest was reflected in the love and adoration in which she was held by her Indian people.

She also met and fell in love with a worker among the Indians, Jacob Meschberger. The two young people were united in holy matrimony on Sept. 2, 1888, by Rev. Dan Hirschler in Canton, Okla. This union was blessed with seven children, three sons and four daughters, who all live today to mourn the passing of mother. For 54 years father and mother were privileged to enjoy the blessings and happiness of married life.

Mother remained in mission work until 1892 when the family moved onto a farm north of El Reno. Here they lived until 1923. There followed a sojourn in California till 1927, when they moved to their residence east of Calumet where mother lived till her death. She was a charter member of Mennoville church.

Missionary work in those days was much different from what it is today. Mother would often tell us how she and Mrs. H. R. Voth would go out among the Indians in their camps and teepees, tell them Bible stories, teach them cooking, sewing and baking, etc. Mother herself made many dresses for the Indian children. This was strictly pioneer work, and the methods employed were the ones devised by the workers themselves.

Mother found great joy in her work and in her family. However she also had to take the bitter with the sweet. The burden of pioneer mission work, rearing a family in primitive surroundings often taxed her strength. But such references as we found marked in her Bible as "Lo I am with you always" and "Hitherto has the Lord helped us" always gave her the needed strength to carry on.

Mother dearly loved her Bible and her Lord. She was a daily Bible reader and often found refuge and strength in communication with her God.

In 1942 a great sorrow came into her life when father was suddenly taken from her side by death.

Though mother was frail she was able to do her daily work. However in 1947 she broke her hip in a fall and from that time she was bedfast till her death. During this time the children did everything in their power to alleviate her suffering. The two daughters Ada and Lois dedicated every hour of their time to the tender and devoted care of their precious mother.

The end came Oct. 26 at 5:10 p.m. Quietly mother slipped away into the arms of Jesus and Lord whom she loved so much and whom she served to the end. She reached an age of 96 years, eight months and 16 days.

She leaves to mourn her death her seven children, Daniel of Stafford, Kans., Zilla Wilkowsky, Milalla, Ore., Sister Zipora Meschberger of the Deaconess Home, Newton, Kans., Rufus of Calumet, Okla., Ada and Lois of the home and Silas of Garfield, Ark.; two daughters-in-law and one son-in-law; four brothers, Joe Logan bill of Sawtelle, Calif., Albert of Geary, Okla., Edmund of Pratum, Ore. and Allen of Independence, Kans.; 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, besides a large circle of relatives and friends.

We mourn her passing, but not as those who have no hope. She now sees what she so fervently believed. May we all be united with her in that beautiful mansion on high.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist church, El Reno, Okla. Rev. Statser of Hennsey [sic Hennessey], Okla. read Proverbs 31:10-31, and Rev. Henry Hege based his sermon on Psalm 116:15 and Proverbs 31:28-29. Burial was made in the Mennonite cemetery, with Rev. Henry Hege and Rev. Abe Peters of Burrton, Kans. officiating at the graveside.

— The Children

The Mennonite obituary: 1954 Dec 21 p. 784