Schmidt, Clara Alvina (1889-1932)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1932 Nov 22 p. 12

Birth date: 1889 Oct 4

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1932 Oct 26 p. 6

LOCAL

. . .

— Following many years of lingering illness, Sister Clara Schmidt of Bethel hospital passed away at about 11 o'clock last Saturday night. Her death closes a most useful career, the greater part of which was given to the sick and needy. She entered the service of Bethel hospital two years after its organization, and remained in her chosen work until five years ago, when sickness made further work impossible. She was the daughter of mr. and Mrs. Jacob A. Schmidt of Moundridge, both of whom have preceded her. Funeral services are held at the Bethel College chapel this afternoon, Rev. J. M. Suderman officiating. Interment in Greenwood. cemtery.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1932 Nov 9 p. 2

text of obituary:

Sister Clara Alvina Schmidt.

Sister Clara Alvina Schmidt was born near Moundridge, Kansas, on October 4, 1889. She was the daughter of Jacob A. and Barbara Rings Schmidt, the sixth child in a family of ten children, who grew up in a happy home, under the guidance of loving Christian parents. She attended the district school until she was ten years old, when the family moved nearer to Moundridge. After that she was a pupil in the city schools, graduating from the high school with the class of 1906. During the winter of 1910-11 she attended Bethel College. In 1907 the family moved to Upland, Calif., where they planned to make their future home. But here the father met with an accident the following year, with caused his death, and the bereaved mother returned to Moundrige with her family.

Sister Clara was baptized upon confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ on June 11, 1904, and united with the West Zion Mennonite Church at Moundridge, Kansas. She helped in the Sunday school and was active in the work of the Mission Circle there, remaining interested in this association until her death. After she came to Newton she transferred her church membership to the Bethel College congregation.

According to her statement made at the time when she applied for training for deaconess work, she experienced a deepening of her spiritual life in 1910 and from that time on the desire to consecrate her life to God in a definite way never left her. She entered the Bethel Deaconess institution on June 9, 1913, and received the garb on May 12, 1914. On Oct. 1, 1916, she was ordained as a deaconess in the First Mennonite Church in Newton, Kansas, by Rev. H. D. Penner. Through the grace of God she made ehr calling and election sure, serving faithfully until she became ill. One year after shecompleted her training as a nurse she took over the office work in the hospital and remained in this position up to 1926. She had opportunity to meet many people and to widen her circle of acquaintances and friends during these years. In December 1926 she went to Mountain Lake, Minn., as assistant superintendent of teh Bethel deaconess Hospital located there. In FEbruary 1928 she fell on the ice, suffering the fractue of a vertabrae.