Rich, Lina Olga Stahly (1880-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Jul 19 p. 5

Birth date: 1880 Feb 20

text of obituary:

• Funeral services were conducted at the Bethel College Church last Friday afternoon for Mrs. Lina O. Rich, 82, a resident of this community since 1910. Rev. Russel Mast and Rev. Robert Carlson officiated. Mrs. Rich died Tuesday evening, June 10. For many years she and her husband, William J. Rich, operated the Rich Mercantile Co. here. He died in 1954. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Selma Platt of Route 4, Newton; two sons Willis E. of North Newton and Dr. Eldon S. of Newton; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Jul 26 p. 8

text of obituary:

LINA OLGA (STAHLY) RICH

Lina Olga Stahly, daughter of Elise and Alcide Stahly, was born on Feb. 20, 1880, on a farm near Danvers, Ill. She met her future husband at a Mennonite Conference held in the Danvers Mennonite Church where she was an active church worker. Her marriage to William Joseph Rich of Wayland, Iowa took place on Dec. 24, 1901.

They lived on a farm for four years near Danvers and for four more years in Congerville, Ill., before moving to Newton, Kan. in 1910.

The older people of this community will remember our mother as a business associate with our father, who were owners of the Rich Mercantile Company in Newton for 34 years. She served as bookkeeper, credit manager, and clerk for 27 years.

In Newton she joined the Bethel College Mennonite Church and was a charter member of the Women's Bible Class. In 1951 our parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Our father died on April 7, 1954.

On Sunday noon ten days before our mother's death, she spent several joyful hours with her three children and several grandchildren at the home of Willis Rich on the Bethel College campus. The next day she was hospitalized and her prayer to conclude her earthly journey was answered on July 10, 1962 at the age of 82 years, four months, and 20 days.

One son, Wilbur, died at the age of ten months. She leaves her daughter Selma Platt of Newton, Willis Rich and his wife Hulda of North Newton, Dr. Eldon Rich and his wife Margaret of Newton, 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The Mennonite obituary: 1962 Jul 31 p. 492