Widman, Mary Olive (Rice) 1890 - 1912

WIDMAN, RICE

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 3/21/2023 at 23:42:12

Elkader Register, Thur., 01 Aug. 1912. From the McGregor News, undated.

It is rare that a young person's untimely death sends through a whole community such a shock and draws such a throb of deep sympathy and common regret from all, as that of Mrs. Olive Widman, who died at her home on Giard Avenue, last Friday afternoon, July 19th, 1912. Every effort that love and anxiety could suggest had been exhausted to save her and she was brave and heroic in the fight for life, but in vain. But a little more than a year ago a bride, in a dear little home of her own making, greatly beloved by husband and friends, and peculiarly lovable herself, thus blotting out of a home within near vision of some of life's sweetest hopes, makes her departure seem sad indeed.

Funeral services were held on Sunday in the Congregational Church of which she was an active, dutiful member, a faithful teacher of the Sunday School and a active "Endeavorer," on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. following a brief service at the desolated home. Mrs. Emma Benjamin rendered "Rock of Ages" and "No Night There" as solos very sympathetically and Miss Smith made the organ service very tenderly comforting. The Christian Endeavor and Mrs. Widman's class of little girls were grouped in tearful companies. The quiet burial was at Pleasant Grove cemetery.

Mary Olive Widman was born in Mellette, South Dakota, June 09th, 1890, was brought up in the McGregor schools, graduating in the class of 1908, became for several terms a teacher, was married to Alfred J. Widman, April 05th, 1911. She was a devoted member of the Congregational church since early childhood and helpful in its choir and elsewhere to her most faithful ability. She had a peculiarly sweet temper and disposition and in all of her homes was tenderly beloved as well as by a very wide circle of friends who mourn her loss.

Very few funerals of late years have drawn such a throng to the church where many had to stand.

God along can help to bear such a sorrow, but God is faithful.

Those present from out of town were: G. E. Rice, of Chicago; Wm. Cleveland, of Cedar Rapids; Mrs. P. H. Gibbons, of Baraboo, Wis.; Mrs. J. H. Hendricks, Mrs. Robert Freeman, Mrs. M. Moery, Mrs. Chas. Keck, Harry Keck, Walter Keck and wife, Miss Laura Freeman, of Dubuque, and Miss Elizabeth Heck, of Ossian. - McGregor News.