Preheim, Anna Mueller (1871-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Aug 13 p. 5

Birth date: 1871 May 2

text of obituary:

Pioneer of Freeman Community Died

Freeman, S. D. — Death has removed another of this community’s pioneer Mennonite settlers with the passing of Mrs. Anna Preheim, 82, at Sacred Heart hospital in Yankton on July 30.

Funeral services were held Sunday, Aug. 2, at the Salem Mennonite church, of which she was a charter member. Rev Ronald von Riesen officiated. Mrs. Preheim, daughter of Rev. Christian and Anna Schrag Mueller, was born in Russia in 1871 and came to this country at the age of three. Her marriage to Peter J. Preheim took place in 1889, and they farmed three miles east of Freeman and later on the family heomestead [sic] in Turner county.

Surviving are four daughters, five sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and two sisters, Mrs. Caroline Waltner and Mrs. Ben P. Miller.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Aug 20 p. 9

text of obituary:

MRS. ANNA PREHEIM

Anna Preheim, daughter of Rev. Christian and Anna Schrag Mueller, was born in the village of Horodish in the province of Wolhynian, Russia, on May 2, 1871, and rather suddenly but peacefully passed away on July 30, 1953, at 10:15 o’clock in the evening at the Sacred Heart hospital, Yankton, South Dakota at the age of 82 years, two months, and 28 days.

In 1874, at the age of three, she came with her parents to America, where they settled on a farm in Childstown township, Turner county, South Dakota. She grew to womanhood in this community and so experienced the privations and vicissitudes of pioneer life. In addition to a fundamental Christian training in the home, she attended rural schools where educational opportunities in early pioneer days were very limited.

On July 20, 1884, she was baptized by Elder Christian Kaufman on confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, and received into the membership of the Salem Zion Mennonite church, later transferring her membership to the newly organized Salem Mennonite church, thus becoming one of its charter members and remaining a faithful and active member until death. She loved to go to church and was seldom absent from the services.

On May 24, 1889, she was united in marriage with Peter J. Preheim. The first few years they lived on a farm three miles east of Freeman, then in the year 1900 they settled on a farm in Turner county now occupied by one of the sons, the Chris Preheim family. In 1933 she took up residence in a modern little home near her children where she lived until a short time before her death.

This union was blessed with 13 children, six sons and seven daughters. She was preceded in death by her husband who died January 30, 1922, leaving her a widow for 31 years. Also preceding her in death were four children, one son and three daughters who died in infancy; her parents one brother, three sisters, and two grandchildren.

She enjoyed good health through the years. In 1948 it became evident that she was afflicted with diabetes, but this, with medical care and careful dieting, was held well under control. Or Monday, July 13, she suffered a stroke which affected her respiratory system, causing breathing difficulties. She gradually became weaker and on Sunday morning July 26, she was taken to the hospital in Yankton. She responded favorably to treatment and care; however death came suddenly and unexpectedly on Thursday evening due to pulmonary embolus, which is a large blood clot in the artery to the lungs.

She leaves to mourn her passing five sons: Adolph, Edward, Jacob, Chris, and Clinton; four daughters, Emma (Mrs. Dar Ries), Martha (Mrs. Rudolph Schrag), Rose (Mrs. Jonathan Ries), and Laura (Mrs. Peter H. Graber); five daughters-in-law; four sons-in-law; 23 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Caroline Waltner and Mrs. Ben P. Miller; 12 brothers-in-law; 13 sisters-in-law; and a large number of other relatives and friends.

The memory of her love and devotion for the family, her prayers in their behalf, her admonitions for upright Christian living will live on. She was a good wife, a loving mother, a friendly neighbor and will be greatly missed.

Funeral services were conducted Sunday, Aug. 2, at 1:30 p.m. at the Adolph Preheim home and at the Salem Mennonite church at 2:15 p.m., Rev. Ronald von Riesen officiating. Burial was made in the Salem Mennonite cemetery.