Barbara (Utsinger) Hefty

HEFTY, UTSINGER, HOSTERT, SIEPPEL, DUCHARME

Posted By: Diana Henry Diedrich (email)
Date: 2/18/2007 at 09:33:30

Lansing’s Oldest Woman Dies

Brief mention was made in our last of the passing of Mrs. Henry Hefty, Sr., Lansing’s oldest woman and one of the city’s pioneer settlers, Tuesday of last week, at the old home on the Park, as a result of breaking her hip by a fall four days before.

Deceased was in her 96th year, being born in Benlau, Switzerland, Sept. 7th, 1833. Her maiden name was Barbara Utsinger. She came to America and to Lansing as a young woman, in 1857, and on June 6th of that year was married to Henry Hefty, also a native of Switzerland and Lansing’s pioneer butcher, who, with a partner, Mat Hostert, operated a meat market for many years at the stand now occupied by Gaunitz Bros. Ten children were born of this union, three dying in infancy, the oldest son, Albert, preceding his mother to the grave less than three weeks, and a son, John, dying in 1898, at the age of 30 years.
Mrs. Hefty was essentially a home body, her entire life being devoted to her home and family. She was scarcely known outside the precincts of the Park, where she lived for about seventy years, and some of the oldest inhabitants now living cannot remember ever seeing her down town. Although she could understand English to some extent she spoke the German language exclusively in her home to the end of her time. Of late years she has required the constant care and attention of an attendant, and her devoted daughter, Miss Minnie, looked after her every want most faithfully.

Surviving her are the following children, all grown to woman’s and man’s estate: Mrs. G. Sieppel, Dubuque; Mrs. Barney DuCharme, Prairie du Chien, Wis.; Mary, of Tacoma, Wash., and Miss Minnie and Henry,, both of this city. Thirteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren also survive her.

The funeral took place Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock, from the German Presbyterian church, Rev. K W. Schalk, officiating, and interment in the family plot in Oak Hill cemetery beside her husband and sons.
Allamakee County Newspaper, c1929