Lang, Mrs. W. J. (Laura) 1870-1937

LANG, PENFIELD

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/30/2009 at 11:36:15

WIFE OF FORMER RESIDENT DIES AT BROOKINGS
Mrs. Will Lang Lived In Plymouth Many Years Before Moving to Dakota

Funeral services were held Wednesday at Remsen for Mrs. W. J. Lang, well
known landowner in Fredonia township, where they formerly resided for many
years. Mrs. Lang died Sunday, January 3, at her home in Brookings.

Funeral services were held at Brookings Monday afternoon, with the Rev. H.
B. Helsman and the Rev. Everette L. Jones in charge.

The services in Remsen were held in St. John's Evangelical church, Rev. Paul
Wuebben officiating, and interment made in the Remsen cemetery.

Mrs. Lang, nee Laura Bell Penfield, was born at Russell, Kan., July 20,
1870, a daughter of Wm. and Sarah Barton Penfield. The father was a
railroad contractor.

In 1880 the family joined a company of eighty other families under the
leadership of the late Captain McPherson, traveling by covered wagon train
to Washington territory over the historical "Oregon Trail." The family
finally settled at Bellingham, Wash., where Mrs. Lang received her education
and became a successful school teacher.

On July 8, 1894, she was united in marriage to W. J. Lang, then of Ferndale,
Wash. The couple came to Plymouth county for their honeymoon and located on
a farm owned by Mr. Lang's father, the late John Lang, where they resided
until 1917 when they moved to their own farm near White, S.D. They farmed
there until 1927, and then for three years Mr. and Mrs. Lang and their
daughter, Alice, traveled in the western part of the country. In 1930 they
purchased a home in White, and lived there since.

Mrs. Lang was an active member in the Presbyterian church for a number of
years. She was secretary of the Ladies Aid society of the church at White,
and also was welcomed and active in various other social circles. She was
elected associate matron of the O.E.S. at White for the present year.

Surviving are her husband, their only daughter, Alice Enora, and one son,
Ralph Jonathan, who lives on their farm near White. There are three
sisters, Mrs. S. L. Lang, of Big Fork, Minn.; Mrs. John Johnston, of
Bellingham, Wash.; and Mrs. J. J. Byron, of Sedro-Wooley, Wash.; and one
brother, Albert Penfield, of Bellingham.

~Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, Jan. 12, 1937