Smith, Abraham A. (1883-1969)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Apr 24 p. 7

Birth date: 1883 Aapr 9

text of obituary:

Retired M. B. Minister Called by Death At Dinuba, Calif.

Reedley, Calif. — Rev. Abraham A. Smith, 86, who spent more than half a century as a minister of the gospel, died April 12 at the Dinuba Hospital after a brief illness.

The funeral was conducted the morning of April 16 at the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church.

A native of Nebraska, Rev. Smith was ordained to the ministry in the M. B. conference at Hurley, S. D. in 1908. From 1909 to 1943 he was in charge of a mission in Minneapolis, Minn. After that he was active in Christian work at Enid, Okla., Lodi, Calif., and in Reedley. He retired from the ministry in 1961.

Surviving are his widow, Martha; four daughters and one son and their families, three brothers and one sister.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 May 29 p. 15

text of obituary:

REV. A. A. SMITH

Rev. A. A. Smith went to be with the Lord after a lingering illness on April 12 in the Alta Hospital, Dinuba, Calif. He was born April 9, 1883 at Albian, Neb. and reached the age of 86 years and three days.

During his teen years he moved with his parents from Henderson, Neb. to Enid, Okla. and completed his high school training at North Enid.

As a young man of 19 he received Christ as his Saviour, was baptized and became a member of the Mennonite Brethren Church, of which he was a devoted member to the end. He attended McPherson College and was graduated from Ft. Wayne Bible College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in music.

At Ft. Wayne he met Susie Bixel and they were married on June 10, 1908 at Pandora, Ohio. To this union where [sic] born three daughters and one son: Mrs. Margaret Purcell of Glenville, Ga., Paul Smith of Minneapolis, Minn., Mrs. Dorothy Brisco of Whittier, Calif., and Mrs. Lois Harder of Fresno, Calif.

Rev. Smith had a talent for music and from his youth he distinguished himself as a low bass soloist. His motto was "sing to save" and his evangelistic singing inspired many others to sing.

His first wife died on Nov. 20, 1930 in Minneapolis, Minn., leaving him with four children. However the Lord provided another wife and helper when on April 10, 1932 he married Martha Normbacher Reimche at Harvey, N. D. to this marriage was born one daughter, now Mrs. Joanne Alfert of Reedley, Calif.

In 1910 Rev. and Mrs. Smith became directors of the South Side Mission in Minneapolis, Minn. In this ministry he served faithfully for 33 years. A multitude of people and children were contacted for Christ during these years of missionary services.

In 1943 he moved to Enid, Okla., his former home. He served as pastor at Enid and at Lodi, Calif. and in 1947 opened a mission project at Victor, Calif. in response to a large number of unchurched children there. This work was later assumed by the M.B. District Home Mission Board. Since 1954 he had lived at Reedley, Calif. After retiring from full time service he served as special speaker at the rescue mission at Fresno, at the Evangel Home, at convalescent homes and in other ministries.

The last 15 years of his life were a time of declining health and strength. He will be remembered as one with a compassionate heart for the lost and as one dedicated to make known the Gospel wherever possible.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Martha; five children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; three brothers, John A. Schmidt of Enid, Okla., H. A. Schmidt of Stephenvillee, Texas, and P. A. Schmidt of Dinuba, Calif.; and one sister, Mrs. J. A. Voth, Enid, Okla.