Bena Mennenga Kuper, 1848-1932

KUPER, MENNENGA

Posted By: Betty Niswender (email)
Date: 8/27/2006 at 10:59:18

Mrs. Bena M. Kuper

Mrs. Bena Mennenga Kuper of Everly, 81 years of age, who had been a resident of Clay county for 46 years, died, Tuesday, February 9, 1932, at the home of her son, Jens Kuper, northeast of Everly. Mrs. Kuper had been ill with rheumatism for more than a year. Heart trouble developed which proved fatal and death came quietly to the pioneer woman Tuesday morning.

Funeral services will be held on Friday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the Kuper home and at two o'clock at the First Reform church, northeast of Everly, with the pastor, Reverend John DeVreis, of Sibley in charge. Burial will be made at the cemetery located near the church [First Reformed Church Cemetery].

Bena Mennenga was born January 6, 1848, at Vplavat, Ostfrieland, Germany. In the year of 1874 she married to Hieji J. Kuper and to this union were born three children. A son died in infancy.

In March, 1880, the Kuper family came to America and made their first home in the United States at Pekin, Illinois. Three years later they moved to Grundy county, Iowa. In 1886 the moved to Clay county where Mrs. Kuper resided until her death. She was preceded in death by her husband who died about 36 years ago.

She leaves to mourn her death a daughter, Mrs. George Mori, a son, Jens Kuper, both of Everly, eight grandchildren, other relatives and numerous friends.

Source: Spencer Reporter, Spencer, Iowa.

Contributor note: There are two corrections that the newspaper didn't have right in her obituary. Bena wasn't born in the town of Vplavat, Ostfrieland, Germany. She was born in the town of Upleward, Ostfriesland, Germany. The other correction is on her husband's name. The paper had his name as Hieji J. Kuper and his name was Heije J. Kuper.