Unruh, Mary B. Dirks (1877-1949)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 May 5 p. 6

Birth date: 1877 Oct 24

text of obituary:

MRS. MARY B. UNRUH

Mary Dirks Unruh, daughter of Rev. Peter H. and Susanna Schmidt Dirks, was born October 24, 1877, at Pawnee Rock, Kansas.

She grew up in her early childhood in that community and received her elementary school and Christian training, later being baptized by Rev. Jacob Buller June 10, 1894, and upon the confession of her faith was received as a member of the Mennonite Stone church of Dundee, Kansas, This congregation was later dissolved and the Mennonite Bergtal [sic Bergthal] church was organized. Here she remained a member until she transferred her membership to the Johannestal Mennonite church in 1941, where the departed faithfully attended until her death.

On October 15, 1895, she was united in marriage to Benj. A. Unruh by Rev. Jacob Schmidt. They were permitted to share life’s joys and sorrows in a happy married life for almost 45 years. This union was blessed with 12 children, six daughters and six sons. Her husband preceded her in death on June 29, 1939. One daughter, four sons, one son-in-law and three grandchildren also preceded her.

Theirs was a happy married life, but not without its hardships and sorrows. Soon after their marriage, they moved to Minnesota for one year, coming back to live in the vicinity of Pawnee Rock, Kansas until 1909, when a permanent home was established north of Hillsboro. In the year 1937 they retired and moved to Hillsboro, where her husband died two years later, leaving her a widow for almost 10 years.

She was very patient and kind and her Christian influence made a lasting impression upon her children.

She was ill during the past year and medical aid was sought at Hillsboro, Goessel, and Halstead, Kansas, but no definite improvement was found. On March 7, 1949, she had a severe gall bladder attack. She apparently recovered from that, but on March 12, she suffered her first stroke and was taken to the Salem hospital at Hillsboro, Kansas. Here she remained for nearly six weeks, and suffered two more strokes, giving her intense pain at times.

She remained steadfast in faith and often reassured us that she was ready to meet her Lord. She quietly fell asleep in the Lord on April 20, 1949, at 2:25 pm. at the age of 71 years five months and 25 days.

She leaves to mourn her passing, five daughters, Clara, Mrs. C. B. Schmidt of Sheldon, Mo., Susie, Mrs. Herman Schmidt of Hillsboro, Kans., Mrs. Lucille Ewert of Durham, Kans., Berniece [sic Bernice], Mrs. Walter J. Bartel of Hillsboro, Lavina, Mrs. L. H. Salts of Wichita, Kans.; two sons, Lewis Unruh and Bennie Unruh of Hillsboro; four sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, nineteen grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, three sisters, two brothers, two half-sisters, one half-brother, cousins, and many many friends. — The Family.