PRIMUS, Hilke 1874-1963

PRIMUS, SIEMENS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/6/2012 at 19:16:23

Final Rites Held for Mrs. Primus

Mrs. Ben Primus, Sr. passed away at the home of her son, Marion, in Wellsburg, August 3, 1963, after an illness of several months. She had reached the age of 89 years, five months, and 25 days.

Hilke Siemens, the daughter of William R. and Marena Siemens was born near German Valley, Illinois, on March 9, 1874. With her parents at the age of six she moved to Hastings, Nebraska, where they lived four years before going to New Holland, South Dakota. Six years later the family came to Wright County, Iowa.

She was united in marriage to Ben Primus on October 18, 1892, by the Rev. Cornelius Bode, her uncle, in Wright County and moved to the farm southwest of Wellsburg where she spent the remainder of her life. To this union were born seven sons and one daughter, all of whom survive. They are: Henry, Will, Claus and George all of Steamboat Rock; Marion; Lee Minneapolis, Minnesota; John, Denver, Colorado; Lily Mae, (Mrs. Howard Minium) Grand Junction, Iowa, and Anna, a step-daughter. Also surviving are 23 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, as well as one sister, Mrs. Bert Schreur.

Her husband, Ben Primus, and two grandchildren, George Jr. and Beverly Helen, two great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild preceded her in death, as well as her parents, three brothers, John, Rempt and Oliver, and five sisters, Trena Eckhoff, Antje Bakker, Kate Koster, Lillian Bakker, and Dena, who died in her youth.

At an early age she made her confession of faith and joined the Wright County Christian Reformed Church. During her entire lifetime her first love was her Lord. For 71 years she was a faithful and dedicated member of the First Christian Reformed Church of Wellsburg, as well as being a charter member of the Ladies Guild of that church.

A family memorial service was held at the Henry B. Primus home, Monday evening. Rev. Peter Eckhoff, nephew of Mrs. Primus, presented the meditation, and Beatrice Minium and Howard Minium sang, accompanied by Sarah Minium at the piano.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon, August 6th at 1:00 at the home of Henry B. Primus and later at the First Christian Reformed Church in charge of Rev. Kasjen Tebben, who conducted the services in the absence of the regular pastor, Rev. Bernard Visscher.

Miss Elizabeth Eckhoff was the organist, and Mrs. Claus G. Primus accompanied the male quartet composed of Claus G. Primus, Willis Bakker, Alfred and Harvey Eiten, as they sang "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "Under His Wings."

Casketbearers were the grandsons, Claus G. Primus, Benjamin Primus, Herman Primus, Paul Primus, Brent Primus and David Primus.

Mrs. Herman Eckhoff and Mrs. Janet Williams were flower attendants.

Interment was in the family lot at the First Christian Reformed Church Cemetery.

--Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 8 August 1963