Sarah Virginia McLennan

MCLENNAN, BEEMAN, MCKIBBEN, WRIGHT

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 7/18/2006 at 20:26:59

Earlham Echo - Thursday, August 12, 1943

Mrs. John McLennan died at her home in Earlham Tuesday afternoon, August 10th at the age of 74 years.

Sarah Virginia Beeman was born in Galesburg, Illinois, April 2, 1869 and came to Iowa with her parents when a small child. She was married to John McLennan, September 5, 1889 at Lacona, Iowa, where she was teaching school. To this union was born two children, Leath, wife of Scott McKibben, of Des Moines, and Mervyn McLennan, of Earlham. Other surviving relatives are two granddaughters, Marjorie Wright, wife of Lyle Wright of Des Moines, and Ruth McLennan, of Earlham; two brothers, F. G. Beeman, Des Moines; and J. C. Beeman of Indianola.

When a young woman, Sarah Beeman was converted in the Methodist church in 1891 and began teaching a Bible Class of young women. Later she taught a young men's class for eight years. Coming to Earlham in 1907 she continued the same work and taught a young men's class for seven years. Active in all church work and many other worthwhile organizations of her community, she was president of the Ladies Aid for eleven years; was a charter member of the Chautauqua Club and Past Noble Grand of the Rebekah lodge.

After the passing of her husband, Mrs. McLennan, with her son, Mervyn, carried on the hardware business as long as health permitted. A kind neighbor, a loyal friend, useful citizen when "Jennie", as her friends lovingly called her, with her beautiful Christian experience in the "Life Abundant" and faith in Immortality, "Stepped ashore she found it Heaven; in taking hold of a hand she fount it God's Hand; in breathing new air she found it celestial air; in feeling invigorated she found it Immortality; in waking she found it Home."

This obituary was written by Gertrude H. Walton at the request of Mrs. McLennan.

Burial was in the Earlham cemetery.