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Voth, Helena Schmidt (1866-1942)
Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1942 Mar 3 p. 14
Birth date: 1866 Oct 4
text of obituary:
Mutter Helena Schmidt Voth wurde am 4. Oktober, 1866 im Dorfe Alexanderwohl Süd-rußland geboren, wo sie auch die Dorfschule besuchte. 1875 kam sie mit ihren Eltern Andreas und Anna Hiebert Schmidt nach Amerika, wo sie auch die Pionier Jahre durchmachte. Den 14. Juni 1886 wurde sie von Aeltester Jakob Buller getauft und in die Alexanderwohl Gemeinde aufgenommen. Als die Tabor Gemeinde gegründet wurde schloßen sich die Eltern derselben an. In den Ehestand getreten mit Heinrich J. A. Voth am 8. März, 1894. Mit dieser Ehe übernahm sie Mutterpflicht über 3 Kinder. Sechs Töchter und 2 Söhne wurden geboren, wovon eine Tochter und ein Sohn im Kindesalter starben. Ihr Gatte starb am 7. Aug., 1930. Im Ehestand gelebt 36 J. 5 M. Mutter ist viel krank gewesen, so daß sie es oft, besonders in der letzten Zeit beklagte, daß sie nicht zur Kirche gehen konnte. Sie war dankbar für die Besuche, die sie erhielt. Sie liebte, wenn gesungen wurde, und hat viel gelesen besonders in der Bibel und im Gesangbuch auch hat sie manchen Brief geschrieben. Sie interessierte sich bis ans Ende für Gemeinde, Schule und Haus und für die Mission. Samstag morgen den 7. Februar bekam sie große Schmerzen und so wurde sie nachmittags nach dem Bethesda Hospital gebracht. Wo sie den 10. Februar um 5:10 Uhr abends an Intestinal Blood Clot starb. Sie ist alt geworden 75 J. 4 M. und 6 Tage. Es überleben sie 2 Söhne und 6 Töchter, 2 Schwiegertöchter, 4 Schwiegersöhne, 24 Großkinder, 2 Urgroßkinder, 2 Schwestern, und 2 Brüder und viele Freunde. Begräbnisfeier am 14. Februar in der Tabor Kirche. Rev. C. C. Wedel in deutsch Offenb. 14: 13 und Rev. P. H. Richert in Englisch Mätthaus 24: 13. Rev. P. G. Hiebert sprach am Grabe. (Der Vorwärts ist gebeten zu kopieren)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1942 Feb 12 p. 5
text of obituary:
. . .
— Word was received here of the death of Mrs. H. J. A. Voth at the Bethesda hospital at Goessel on Tuesday. Mrs. Voth was the grandmother of Charles Tieszen and Mrs. Vernelle Wedel of Newton. She was a member of the Tabor church, where the funeral services will also take place.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1942 Mar 5 p. 4
text of obituary:
Helena Schmidt Voth was born October 4, 1866, in the village of Alexanderwohl, South Russia. Her parents were Andrew and Anna Hiebert Schmidt. As a child of about eight years she was part of the great Mennonite migration to America. She could relate very interestingly about the home in the Old Country, the trip across the ocean and about the new settlement on the prairie.
She was one of the older children in the family and as such experienced the rigors of the pioneer settlement. She often spoke with real affection of her childhood teachers who influenced her in her lifelong love of good reading material.
She was baptized in 1886 by the Elder Jacob Buller and became a member of the Alexanderwohl church. When the Tabor church was organized in 1908, she and her husband became charter members. They deeply appreciated having a church home nearby. None of the children can remember that the parents felt it a burden to support the church and its activities.
On March 8, 1894, she was united in holy matrimony to Heinrich J. A. Voth. At this time she became the foster mother of three children. To this union were born eight children, two of which died in infancy. In 1927 her beloved step-daughter, Marie, also passed away.
For 36 years the parents shared the experiences of life together until in 1930 her husband too, went to his eternal abode.
Since that time her life has often been lonely and the discomforts of advancing years and ill health made themselves felt. However, she maintained an active interest in the work-a-day activities of her family to the last and her frugal ways way well be an example to all. She also showed interest to the end in church, missions, Christian education, etc.
She felt it her special interest in life to visit the sick and the aged, oftentimes sending an anonymous gift later, for which she had seen a special need in the household. God gave her a long life, full of varied experiences. She too would say, "And if they have been precious, they have been full of struggle and toil."
When her last severe illness came she had a premonition that it would be her last. While we watched her during her last hours in her unconscious state, as the struggle gradually quieted and finally ended, we felt it was a good review of her life. She passed away February 10, at 5 p.m. When all of life's storms had passed over her she quit the struggle and was in a better land.
"Not now but in the coming years,
It may be in the better land.
We'll read the meaning of our tears
And there sometimes we'll understand".
She attained the age of 75 years, 4 months and 6 days. She leaves to cherish her memory two sons, Mr. and Mrs. John Voth, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Voth of Walton, and six daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Ernst Harms of Eldorado; Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Tieszen, Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Regier of Walton; Margaret and Agnes of the home and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert A. Schmidt east of Newton; 24 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Jacob Goertz, and Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Franz, both of Canton; and two brothers, Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Schmidt of Hillsboro and Mr. and Mrs. John Schmidt of California.
Funeral services were held at the Tbor church on February 14 at 3 p.m., the Rev. P. H. Richert officiating. He was assisted by Rev. C. C. Wedel. texts were Rev. 14:13 and Mathew 24:13 respectively. A quartet sang appropriate songs, one being "When my soul reaches Home." Pallbearers were six grandsons: Charles and Milton Tieszen, Alfred Voth, J. C. Koehn, Arnold Voth and Erst Harm's son. Burial was made in the Tabor cemetery under the direction of Bergen's Mortuary of Goessel. — Reported by Dan S. Thiesen.
The Mennonite obituary: 1942 Mar 31 p. 13