Stoesz, Dietrich (1866-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Sep 29 p. 8

Birth date: 1866 Mar 14

text of obituary:

DIETRICH STOESZ, SR.

Dietrich Stoesz, son of Johann Stoesz and Maria Heppner, passed away at the Bethel hospital at Mt. Lake, Minn., Saturady [sic] evening, Sept. 3. He was born in the small country village of Schoenthal in the colony of Bergthal, South Russia, on March 14, 1866, thus reaching the age of 94 years, five months and 19 days.

He came to America with his parents, four brothers, and one sister in 1877, settling on a farm north of Butterfield, where he grew up. He began his schooling in Russia and later attended private and public schools in this country.

He joined the First Mennonite church at Mt. Lake upon baptism and confession of faith by Rev. Gerhard Neufeld in 1886. Seven years later he and his family transferred to the Valley church, now known as the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren church. He took an active part in the activities of the church by serving for extended terms on various boards, committees, and as Sunday school teacher almost continuously for some 40 years. He showed a wholesome interest in the parochial school of his church and supported it actively with funds, and pupils, and by serving faithfully on the school board. He loved the Word of God and read the Bible every day. During the past five years he read the entire Scriptures five times.

He had a strong desire to help build his community at every opportunity. He took a live interest in the local hospital and served on its board for 15 years. He was also chairman of the board of the Farmers' Elevator at Butterfield and on the Midway township board.

On June 12,1890, he married Helena Harder and settled down on a farm north of Butterfield that same year. Six years later they moved to the farm three miles west of Butterfield where they broke the native sod and built a set of farm buildings in the open countryside. Here most of the children were born and reared. They lived at this location until 1941, when they moved to their home in Mt. Lake where father lived until the end. They observed their golden wedding anniversary in 1940 and their diamond anniversary in 1950. Mother died the year following, thus preceding3ding him by nine years.

The family consisted of ten sons and one daughter. Five sons and one daughter-in-law preceded him in death, namely: John, William, Jacob, Aaron, and John and his wife Marie. The one daughter and five sons living are: Marie, Mt. Lake; Abraham, Washington, D. C.; Dietrich, Mt. Lake; Peter, Minneapolis; Erdman, Mt. Lake; and Cornelius, St. James. There are also two daughter-in-law by a former marriage, Mrs. Jacob F. Stoesz of Butterfield and Mrs. Abraham Wiens of Mountain Lake. Of father's family one brother, C. J. Stoesz, and a sister-in-law Mrs. John J. Stoesz, survive.

The direct descendants of our parents number 86. Of these, there are 11 children, 28 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren.

Throughout his long and useful life he was blessed with a strong constitution and general good health. His end was hastened, however, by a respiratory and heart condition which was fortunately of comparatively short duration and thus eased his passing to the Great Beyond. We sorrow but not without hope. — The Children.