Family Obits and Tidbits
My Father's Family

Lester Eugene Johnson


Son of Alfred Armfield Johnson and Bessie Mabel Mathena
Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, Iowa:

Lester E. Johnson, 66, 2127 W. Fifth St., died Thursday (September 6, 1984) in a Sioux City hospital after a brief illness.

Services will be at 1pm Monday in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Elder Robert Smith of Sioux City and Elder Wesley Evans of Denver, Colorado, will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Family visitation will be from 2 to 8pm today, all in the Nelson-Berger Funeral Home in Morningside.

Mr. Johnson was born February 1, 1918, in Sioux City. He attended Sioux City public schools and was graduated from East High School in 1936. He married Betty J. Dinkel June 30, 1951, in South Sioux City.

Mr. Johnson was employed by the Chicago and Northwestern Railway for 11 years. He then was employed by Iowa Public Service Co. for 22 years until his retirement in May 1983. He was clerk of the gas construction office for IPS.

He was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Steve, and a daughter, Mrs. Paula Hinkel, both of Sioux City; a sister, Mrs. Wesley (Marie) Evans of Denver, and a granddaughter.

Alfred Armfield Johnson

Son of Wesley Armfield and Mary Fruechtenicht
Father of Lester Eugene Johnson
Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, Iowa:

Alfred A. Johnson, 81, 3514 Macomb Avenue, died Friday (July 1, 1966) in a Sioux City hospital after a six-week illness.

Mr. Johnson was born April 18, 1885 at LeMars, Iowa. He was married to Bessie Mathena at Missouri Valley, Iowa, on August 20, 1913. They moved to Sioux City in 1917.

He was employed by the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad from 1909 until his retirement in 1950. After his retirement, he worked for several years at a Sioux City parking lot.

He was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.

Survivors include the widow; a son Lester of Sioux City, a daughter, Mrs. Marie Evans of Denver, Colorado; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The body was taken to the Nelson-Berger Funeral Home in Morningside.

Bessie Mabel Mathena

Daughter of Howard Jackson (James) Mathena and Mary Hirst
Mother of Lester Eugene Johnson

Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, Iowa

Mrs. Alfred A. Johnson, 82, 3514 Macomb Avenue, died early Thursday (August 12, 1976) at a Sioux City hospital after a brief illness.

Mrs. Johnson, the former Bessie M. Mathena, was born August 19, 1893 at Missouri Valley Iowa. She was married August 20, 1913 at Missouri Valley. Her husband died July 1, 1966, in Sioux City.

She had been a resident of Sioux City since 1916. She was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She formerly was active in the Violet Club and the Railroad Trainmens Auxiliary.

Survivors include a son, Lester E. of Sioux City, a daughter, Mrs. Marie Evans of Denver, a sister, Mrs. Ruth Essig of Lees Summit, Mo., four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Wesley Armfield

Son of Isaac "Ike" Armfield and Margaret Ann Riley
Father of Alfred Armfield Johnson

LeMars, Iowa, Sentinel, Monday, October 10, 1898, page 3, column 6:

Sudden death from heart disease. The community received a shock on Saturday on learning of the death of Wesley Armfield, one of the old residents of LeMars, which occurred very suddenly at his home on Franklin Street at about half past five. He called his wife, who got up to prepare breakfast, and he remained in bed. When she went to tell him breakfast was ready, she found that he was dead. He had been in his usual health, which was not of the best of late years, but had made no complaint. Heart disease is ascribed as the cause.

The deceased was 56 years of age, having been born near Tipton Indiana on May 24, 1842. He served through the late war from 1861 to 1865 and took an active part in several bloody engagements, being a member of Company G First United States Sharpshooters. He has been a resident of LeMars for the past twenty-five years with the exception of two short intervals when he returned to Wisconsin for a brief time. For a number of years he has been employed with the firm of M A. Moore & Co. He was a good citizen and neighbor and enjoyed the friendship and esteem of a large number of the community in which he lived so long.

He was twice married. His second wife to whom he was wedded in 1882, survives him and two sons and a daughter who reside at Montfort, Wisconsin. The latter were informed by telegraph of the death.

The funeral was held on Saturday morning at 10 o'clock from the house on Franklin Street.

Mary Louise Fruechtenicht

Daughter of John Frederick Fruechtenicht and Almuth Marie Juergens
Mother of Alfred Armfield Johnson

Sioux City, Iowa, Journal Tribune - November 17, 1942
NOTE: The obit has the name spelled incorrectly. Correct spelling is "Furchner"

Mrs. Mary F. Furschner, 80, 3514 Macomb Avenue, died late Sunday night in a hospital after an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held at 2pm Wednesday at W. Harry Christy's funeral home in Morningside. Rev. W. R. Moore will officiate. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery.

Mrs. Furschner was born September 1, 1862, in Cleveland, Ohio. She spent most of her life at Dixon, Illinois, and at Plankinton, South Dakota. She was a member of Morningside Presbyterian Church.

Surviving are one son, Al A. Johnson of Sioux City; two brothers, Otto Fruechtenicht of Sioux City and Will Freuchtenicht of St. Joseph, Missouri; two sisters, Mrs. Lina Fritz of Estherville and Mrs. Tillie Deurig of Twin Falls, Idaho, and two grandchildren.

Howard Jackson (James) Mathena

Son of Lewis James Mathena and Elizabeth Jane Spence
Father of Bessie Mabel Mathena

Missouri Valley newspaper, May 9, 1918

Howard J. Mathena was born on December 13, 1959, at Tazewell, Virginia, and passed away May 6, at the family home of 3rd Street.

He came with his parents to western Iowa in infancy and has resided here since, with the exception of a few years.

He was married in Feb. 1888 to Miss Frances Hirst, who died December 1888 leaving an infant daughter. He was again married in 1892 to Miss Mary Hirst. To this union 4 children were born. He united with the LDS church June 27, 1891, and of which he was still a faithful member. He is survived by a wife and 5 children, Mrs. F. W. Beaty of Hartford, Kansas, Mrs. A. A. Johnson and Arthur E. of Sioux City, and Ruth and Elsie at home, 7 grandchildren, also an aged father, 3 sisters and 3 brothers and numerous other relatives and friends.

Elizabeth Jane Spence

Daughter of James Spence and Elizabeth "Betsy" Tuttle
Mother of Howard Jackson (James) Mathena

Kansas City newspaper in the year 1913:

Elizabeth, beloved wife of J. L. Mathena, died at her home southwest of town on Sunday, May 18, 1913, after a brief illness, age 82 years, 5 months, and 20 days.

Elizabeth Jane Spence was born in Virginia the 28th of November, 1930. She was married to Lewis Mathena March 3, 1854. To this union were born nine children, two of whom preceded her into the spirit world. The husband, seven children, and 103 grandchildren and great-grandchildren survive her. In the spring of 1860 Mr. and Mrs. Mathena emigrated to Nebraska, arriving in Omaha June 3rd.

The deceased was a woman of strong character and excellent qualities and endured the hardships of the pioneer without a murm'r. She was a most devoted wife, a kind and indulgent mother and an obliging neighbor. As a mother, wife and neighbor, she will be greatly missed.

Funeral services were held from the Eagle Creek M.E. church at 11 o'clock Monday morning, conducted by Rev. C. R. Rice. Interment was made in the Hartford cemetery.

To the grief stricken husband, children and relatives we extend our heartfelt sympany in their sad bereavement.

John Frederick Fruechtenicht

Son of Christian Heinrich Fruechtenicht and Evke Margaretha Albers
Father of Mary Louise Fruechtenicht

LeMars Sentinel, 22 February 1916. P1 Col 1
DEATH OF A PIONEER
John F. Fruechtenicht Succumbs to Long Illness
Lived here Thirty-Five Years

Decedent was a Native of Hanover and Came to America When a Young Man and Lived in Dixon, Illinois Before Coming Here

John F. Fruechtenicht, a pioneer citizen and a well known resident of LeMars for the past thirty-five years, died at St. Vincent's hospital in Sioux City on Friday night. His death was due to cancer, from which he had suffered for the past three years. While getting shaved in a barber shop a barber cut his lip, engendering a small sore, which developed cancer. Mr. Fruechtenicht suffered greatly in his long illness and death came as a relief. The body was brought here Saturday evening.

John Frederick Fruechtenicht was born on February 10, 1831, at Esens, East Friesland, Hanover, Germany, where he spent his boyhood and grew to manhood. In 1857 he came to America and located in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1858 he was united in marriage with Almuth Marie Jurgens, with whom he lived a long and happy wedded life until her death on December 26, 1903.

To their union eight children were born, one of whom, a boy, died in infancy. The children who mourn their father's death are: Mrs. Eliza Ducia of Lyndon, Illinois; Mrs. Len Fritz, Estherville, Iowa; Mrs. Maria Hart, White Lake, South Dakota; Mrs. Emma Schauer, Herndon Kansas; Mrs. Tillie Duerig, Long Pine Nebraska; Will Fruechtenicht, of St. Joseph, Mo., and Otto Fruechtenicht, of Sioux City.

Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Fruechtenicht moved to Dixon, Illinois, going there in 1854, where they lived until 1881 when they came to LeMars, which has been the home of the family every since. Mr. Fruechtenicht was a carpenter by trade and was a skilled mechanic. While in Dixon he became a member of the Masonic fraternity and also the order of Odd Fellows. He was a member of the United Evangelical Church and a regular attendant at services until his health failed.

Mr. Fruechtenicht was well known in a large circle especially among the older residents. He was a good citizen and neighbor and was respected by many.

The funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at the Bosley undertaking parlors, Rev. O. Halsebus, of the Emanuel United Evangelical church officiating; and the remains were laid to rest beside those of his wife in the city cemetery. The sons and daughters came to attend the funeral.

Almuth Marie Jurgens

Daughter of ? and ?
Mother of Mary Louise Fruechtenicht

LeMars Sentinel, 29 December 1903, page 1, column 7:
Death of Mrs. Freuchtenicht

Mrs. Fruechtenicht died at her home on Sixth Street in this city on Monday (December 28, 1903) morning after a very long and painful illness. She was confined to her bed continuously for the past year, dying exactly one year to the day she took to her bed. She suffered from Bright's disease and dropsy. She bore her suffering with patient fortitude and was tenderly nursed by her husband, family and friends. In the martyrdom of her sickness, she was bright and cheerful and appreciated the kind efforts of those who did their best to assuage her pain.

The deceased was born in Oldenburg, Germany, on October 18, 1833, her maiden name being Almuth Maria Juergens. She came to the United States in 1857 and in the same year was married to J. O. Fruechetenicht at Cleveland, Ohio, which was their home for several years. In 1864 they moved to Dixon, Illinois, and in 1881 the family moved to LeMars and has since resided here. Eight children blessed their union, seven of whom survive. One son Henry died in infancy. The children are Eliza Amelia Lucia, St. Joseph, Missouri; Lena Johanna Fritz, Estherville, Iowa; Mary Louise Armfield, Wayne, Nebraska; Emma Christina Schauer, Garretson, South Dakota; Tillie Margaretha Duerig, Wayne, Nebraska; William Winn, St. Joseph, Missouri, and John Otto, Leeds, Iowa. There are nineteen grandchildren.

Mrs. Fruechtenicht was a loving mother and wife and a devoted Christian. On coming to LeMars, she affiliated with the United Evangelical Church and was a constant member and church worker.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday afternoon at the Evangelical church on Main Street. The cortege will leave the home at one o'clock.

Isaac "Ike" Armfield

Son of Jacob Armfield and Mary Stevenson/Stephenson
Father of Wesley Armfield

Montfort, Wisconsin Monitor, July 22, 1886

On Sunday afternoon, July 18, Mr. Isaac Armfield, one of our most respected citizens, peacefully passed away. Mr. Armfield was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, in 1814, where he passed his first eighteen years of life. In company with his parents, he then immigrated to Indiana and subsequently to the State of Wisconsin, where he had resided for over thirty years.

He was twice married and leaves a widow and eight children to mourn his loss. When but nineteen years of age, he united himself with the M. E. Church and has ever since been a faithful and conscientious member of the same. The funeral took place on Tuesday morning where a large concourse of people gathered at the M. E. Church, where Rev. J. Steele preached a very able sermon for the occasion.

John Wesley Hirst

Father of Mary Hirst
Son of ? and ?
Husband of Malinda Clothier

Obituary - The Saints' Herald, July 24, 1912, Volume 59-721

HIRST.--John Wesley Hirst was born November 20, 1840, in Ontario, Canada. He was married to Malinda Clothier in March, 1864. To this union nine children were born, five boys and four girls, of which seven are now living. He came to Iowa forty-six years ago and has resided in Harrison County for the past twenty years. He united with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints October 10, 1869, in which he was a faithful member at the time of his death, which occurred April 18, 1912, at the home of his daughter, in Missouri Valley. Interment in Saint John Cemetery. Sermon by Elder D. R. Chambers.

Armfield / Mathena / Hirst Family Links

I use the email lists and posting boards as an effective way to troll for relatives...errrr make connections with others who are doing research. Here are links to some of the family posting boards and message sites.

Return Home Send Me Mail
This page has been accessed
Page Counter
times.

This page was last updated on November 03, 2003