Yost, Lena Schmidt (1866-1943)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1943 May 6 p. 6

Birth date: 1866

text of obituary:

MRS. LENA YOST

Lena Yost (Nee Schmidt) was born in Firstendorf, Russia, December 3, 1866, and passed away in the home of her son, Herman, on April 21, 1943, at the age of 76 years, 4 months and 17 days.

Mother, with her parents, immigrated to America in the year 1874, settling in McPherson county, Kansas where she grew to womanhood.

At the age of 15 she felt the need of a Saviour, repented and found remission of her sins, and upon confession of her faith, was added to the Church of God in Christ (Mennonite) by baptism. To this faith she remained faithful till death.

On November 16, 1884, she joined hands in matrimony with Nickoali [sic Nicholai] Yost. They established their home near Hillsboro, Kansas, later moving to Durham, Kansas.

Mother's life was not always filled with sunshine, but encountered many hard and trying times. She made her home with her different children, later with Ben S. Koehns at Canton, Kansas, much of the time. Later she moved with the children to Isabella, Okla. Since mother had no permanent home, was hard of hearing and could not enjoy the visits and conversation of her loved ones, being also handicapped in church not understanding the message, she was often lonesome and weary. But she acknowledged and confessed her shortcomings and mistakes, struggling to keep hold of the Master's hand.

Mother began to fail in health as age came upon her, and since October 4, 1942, has been bedfast suffering severely at times. her daughter, Dora, card for her until April 12, when she came to make her home with her children, Herman Yost, at Montezuma, Kansas. In just a few days it was notices that she was declining fast. The last few days she suffered intensely. Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock she quietly closed her eyes. Death was due to acute myocriditis [sic myocarditis].

She leaves to mourn, 6 sons and 3 daughters: Jake of Durham, Ks., Pete of Atwater, Calif., Gerhard, John and Herman of Montezuma, Samuel of Yakima, Washington, Mrs. Joel Koehn, Winton, Calif., Mrs. Daniel Jantz, Bonners Ferry, Idaho,Mrs. Ben H. Koehn, Isabella, Okla., one brother, 3 sisters, 53 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, a host of other relatives and friends.

Her husband preceeded [sic] her in death March 23, 1937, also a daughter, a brother, a sister and three grandchildren.

We mourn but not without hope, trusting her into the hands of our Father in Heaven.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, April 25, in the Montezuma Mennonite church. Opening by Rev. H. H. Wiens, text by Rev. Ervin Harms,reading from Rev. 14-18, Heb. 13-14. Burial in church cemetery.

Mother thou art sweetly resting
     Here they toils and cares are o'er.
Pain and sickness, death and sorrow,
     Never can distress thee more.
Yet again we hope to meet thee,
     When the day of life is fled;
Then in Heaven in joy to greet thee,
     Where no farewell tear is shed.

—The Family.