Reimer, Lena Richert (1869-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Aug 27 p. 8

Birth date: 1869 Aug 29

text of obituary:

LENA RICHERT REIMER

Mrs. Lena (Richert) Reimer died Sunday morning, August 2, 1959, at 10:17 a.m. She was born in South Russia in 1869, and five years later, her parents migrated with the first group of Mennonite settlers and located ten miles north of Newton, Kansas. For a while all lived in a communal house while they erected one dwelling after another for the different families. Schools were considered one of the first requirements, so her father set aside one room in his new home as a school house. The attic was used as living quarters for some of the students.

Bernard Reimer was one of the students who lived there and noticed the frail young girl, the only daughter of that house. Later this interest grew, and they were united in marriage June 1, 1890.

The young couple lived in rented quarters while the husband taught school. They both loved to sing and often sang duets together in churches and young people's meetings. When they were not singing together, she was singing at her work. When she lost the use of her singing voice in later years, she was deeply regretful, but discovered that she could think the words of the hymns while she whistled the tunes, and we children learned to listen for her cheery whistle when she was out of sight.

This love-match lasted until our father, B. B. Reimer, was called to his heavenly home almost three years ago. They lived devotedly and happily together for 66 and one-half years.

When the Cherokee Strip was opened to settlers, our father rode his horse with the rest and managed to stake a ”claim.” Here they lived long enough to “prove up” their claim and then sold it so they could return to their friends and relatives in Kansas. They lived in the home of her parents while he again taught school.

Both were members of the Alexanderwohl church from their youth. After the move of the family to Caruthers, and later to Reedley, Calif., they decided to join the Mennonite Brethren Church. In 1917, Rev. John Berg baptized both of them in the Kings River and they became members of the Reedley Mennonite Brethren church.

For a while they resided on a ranch between Reedley and Sanger, but soon moved to town in a house they purchased at 1348-13th street and here they lived quietly and happily until father died. Mother continued here until she was unable to care for herself. Much of her care after that fell to her only daughter, Mary, Mrs. Joy Kliewer. When this became too difficult, she was moved to the Reedley Home for the Aged. She was there only three weeks, but she often remarked how kind the nurses were and how well she was treated.

Her birthdate is the 29th of this month and she looked forard [sic] to celebrating it for the 90th time. This she was not permitted to do here, but she will celebrate it with her husband, one son, Arthur, one granddaughter, Helen, and all the glorified other loved ones in the new home instead.

She is survived by her sons, Gustav and Otto of Reedley, Paul of San Mateo, and Joe of Watsonville; one daughter, Mary, Mrs. Joy Kliewer of Reedley; and Justine, her daughter-in-law wife of Arthur. Others in the immediate family remaining behind are two sisters-in-law, ten grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, one foster sister, many more-distant relatives and an uncounted number of friends who will remember her as a shining example of Christian devotion, unswerving loyalty and faithful witness to her beloved Saviour, and a person whose hospitality knew no bounds.

The funeral was held August 6, 1959, at the Mennonite Brethren Church in Reedley, Calif., with Rev. Dan Friesen and Rev. H. R. Wiens, officiating.