Warkentin, Margaret (1880-1955)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Dec 1 p. 8

Birth date: 1880 Sep 22

text of obituary:

MARGARET WARKENTIN

Margaret Warkentin was born Sept. 22, 1880, at Blumenhof, Manitoba to John and Maria (Gossen) Warkentin, and passed away at the Bethesda hospital, Goessel, Kan., Nov. 9, reaching the age of 75 years, one month and 17 days.

When three years old she became sick. It is believed her ailment was polio, from which she remained crippled all her life. When she was eight her mother was taken from her side by death. In 1891 her father was united in marriage with a widow, Anna Hiebert, again giving her a mother.

She felt her lost condition, repented and found forgiveness of her sins. Upon the confession of her faith she was baptized on March 2, 1906, by Elder F. C. Fricke, and added to the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite of which she remained a faithful member to the end.

When 12 years old she with her parents moved to Hillsboro, Kan. where she grew to womenhood [sic]. Because of her handicap she received only a meager education. Upon the death ofher father, she and her sister Elisabeth bought a home and lived together until June 1909, when her sister was joined in marriage with Isaac K. Friesen.

In 1912 she moved with I. K. Friesens to Montezuma, Kan. while there she stayed one year with her sister, Anna, Mrs. Gerhard Giesbrecht. In the fall of 1920, with I. K. Friesens, she moved to Inman, Kan. making her home with them until 1939, when Mrs. I. K. Friesen became ill. She then made her home with John W. Reimers, A. T. Penners, and A. A. Enses. On May 2, 1940, her sister Elisabeth, with whom she had lived nearly all her life, passed away. After the second marriage of I. K. Friesen, to Tina Ensz, Aunt Margaret again made her home with them.

On account of her bodily handicap she was confined to the home most of the time, spending much of her time in small handiwork such as knitting and other needle work, giving away many things as presents to the small children. Her reading was mostly in the Botschafter, Testament, and the small German song book.

She often expressed thankfulness for the love, kindness, and good care given her, especially by the I. K. Friesen family and others with whom she stayed. Though often discouraged in her loneliness, with zeal and courage and help of her Saviour she fought the battles of life patiently. She was a friend of children and young people, who called her Aunt Margaret. She was very happy to have them as visitors in her room. On Jan. 30, 1953, she had a stroke and was taken to the Bethesda hospital, where she stayed 10 days. Feb. 15,1953, she was takend [sic] to the home for the aged at Inman, Kan. On July 24, 1955, she was taken to the Bethesda hospital. Except for a few days when she returned to the Home, she then remained at the hospital until her death. Being the last one of the family, she often expressed her longing to be relieved of all her sorrows and trouble, to be with all the dear ones who are awaiting here. She peacefully fell asleep in Jesus.

She leaves to mourn her departure 32 nieces and nephews; two brothers-in-law, Cor. P. Wohgemuth [sic Wohlgemuth] of St. Anne, Manitoba and I. K. Friesen of Inman, Kan.; one step-sister, Mrs. G. B. Toews; two step-brothers, Jacob and Isaac Hiebert, all of Hillsboro, Kan., and a host of relatives and friends. Her parents, two brothers and five sisters preceded her in death.

Funeral services were held Nov. 13, first in the Inman home for the aged at 9 a. m., Min. A. R. Toews in charge, at 1 p. m. in the home of I. K. Friesen where Min. John N. Penner spoke words of comfort, and at 2 p. m. in the Zion church where Min. John A. Ensz brought the message. She was laid to rest on [sic] the nearby cemetery where Min. Daniel Koehn spoke closing remarks and led in prayer.