Schmidt, Malinda Adelena Koehn (1897-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 May 21 p. 9

Birth date: 1897 May 28

text of obituary:

MRS. MALINDA A. SCHMIDT

Malinda Adeline [sic Adelena], our wife and mother, the daughter of H. C. and Mary (Jantz) Koehn, was born May 28, 1897, near Halstead, Kansas. She departed this life on April 17 at 1:30 p.m. in her family home at the age of 56 years minus 40 days.

In 1906 she came with the members of her family to Dewey county, Oklahoma, growing to young womanhood there and faithfully attending the Kidron Mennonite church and Sunday school. She was baptized upon the confession of faith in her Savior by Elder John Flaming and taken into the membership of the Kidron church.

She was united in marriage by Rev. F. D. Koehn on June 1, 1919, to Cornelious [sic Cornelius]] B. Schmidt with whom she has shared the joys, sorrows and labors for almost 34 years, living first in Taloga and later on a farm near Fairview and in Meno. The family moved to Enid in September, 1928. Here she and her husband became charter members of the Grace Mennonite church and she has enjoyed the fellowship here all these years.

She gave most generously of her time and strength in loving service to her family, greatly enjoying her small grandsons. She courageously kept her house and worked with her hands unto the end even though her strength was ebbing away in the last weeks.

Her favorite hymn was “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere.” Her favorite hour of devotion and prayer was in the early morning, often kneeling before the family rocker gathering strength from the Lord to sustain and guide her through the days that held pain and suffering for some time.

Those who shall keenly feel the sorrow of her passing and will miss her are her husband Cornel, her two daughters, Erma June (Mrs. Herman Reimer) and Mary Helen (Mrs. Marvin Heidebrecht), two sons, Menno of Kansas City, and Donald of the home; two sons-in-law; two grandchildren; three sisters and four brothers, many other kinfolk and friends. One grandson and her father and mother preceded her in death.

The funeral was held at the Grace Mennonite church, Enid, Okla. April 21, Rev. Albert J. Unruh and Rev. Waldo Flickinger in charge. She was buried at Orienta, Okla.