Minnie (Rhode) Berendt (1860-1938)

BERENDT, IMHOFF, GRAVES, RHODE, HOKUF, HITCHCOCK

Posted By: Cindy Maust Smith (email)
Date: 8/21/2019 at 12:11:30

Mrs. Emiel Berendt was born March 2, 1860 at Pommer, Germany. At the age of 1 1/2 years she came to America with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rhode. They made their home in Clinton county, Iowa. In 1874 the family moved to Melvin, Ia. and homesteaded on the northeast eighty of the section in which Melvin is located. In Feb. 1876 she was married to Mr. Hans Graves. For one year the young couple made their home in Clinton county, Ia. Then they returned to Melvin and for about two years lived one mile north of town. After that they homesteaded the eighty one mile east and a half mile north of Melvin. It was here where her husband was taken from her by death on March 4, 1896, leaving her with eight children. With the help of her children she kept up the work on the farm. In the fall of 1898 she was married to Mr. Barney Imhoff. This union was of only short duration for Mr. Imhoff died a year and half later, on Feb 10, 1900. Again she was alone with the children but was able to continue the work on the farm. In December 1905, she was married to Mr. Emiel Berendt and continued farming until the spring of 1913. At this time they moved to Worthington, Minn. for the summer, returning in the fall to make their home in the town of Melvin. Five years later in the spring of 1918 they moved on the farm one mile east and one mile north of town. However, after only a year they returned to Melvin and made their home in the house which was her home at the time of her death. On Sept. 18, Mrs. Berendt had the misfortune of breaking her hip. She was taken to Sioux City and given the best care possible. For some time it appeared that in spite of her advanced age she would withstand the shock and recover. Thus, her death came unexpected when she passed away at about one o'clock Sunday morning attaining the age of 78 years and 7 months. Mrs. Berendt was baptized in infancy and after receiving due instruction was confirmed July 6, 1887 with the first class of our congregation. Thus she was one of the charter members of our congregation and for better than 60 years took much interest in the work of her church. She leaves to mourn her departure her beloved husband, Emiel Berendt, seven children, namely: Fred, Mrs. Will Imhoff, Louis and William, all of Melvin, Ia.; Mrs. Miles Hokuf of Los Angeles, Calif., Amiel and Mrs. Herman Hitchcock, also of Melvin. Three children, Peter, Carl, and Henry preceded her in death. She is survived by twenty-one grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren; one brother, John Rhode of Danbury, Ia., and two sisters, Mrs. Peter Graves of Harris, Ia. and Mrs. George Riecks of Melvin, Ia. Source: The Sanborn Pioneer, Thursday, October 6, 1938, Sanborn, Iowa