Frantzen, Margaret Miss 1880-1905

FRANTZEN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/31/2013 at 06:09:19

From the Alton Democrat of March 18, 1905

It is our sad and painful duty this week to chronicle the sudden death of Miss Margaret Frantzen third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Frantzen who was found dead in bed last Saturday morning. Deceased was born August thirtieth 1880 at the home where she died. Up to the time of her death she had been enjoying the best of health and last Friday spent the day with her aunt Mrs. Steichen. During the evening at home she engaged in social conversation with the members of the family and about ten o'clock retired.

She bade her parents good night and said to them "Praise be Jesus Christ" which is an old German phrase said before, retiring. About eight o'clock Saturday morning she was called by her sister who receiving no response decided to let her rest. At nine o'clock she was again called and no response. At ten her mother went to her room and she lay seemingly calm and peaceful with one arm outstretched on her pillow.

Her mother went to her bed and was horrified to find that her child was cold and stiff in death and had been so for hours, Mr. Frantzen who was sitting downstairs upon hearing a cry rushed to his daughter's room and when he learned that his daughter's soul had passed to its Maker during the shades of night his grief was pitiful to behold. A sister occupied a bed in the same room but heard not a sound during the night so the end must have been without a struggle.

Just in the bloom of young womanhood this pious modest girl was called to her heavenly home from the ones who had grown to love her for her quiet womanly ways. Any death is sad but that of this young lady who died so suddenly is especially so.
The funeral services were held from St. Mary's church of which deceased was a devout member. She was also a member of the rosary society and of the young ladies sodality. The remains were laid to rest in St. Mary's cemetery.

There are to mourn her loss Mrs. Ginsbach of Dell Rapids South Dakota, Christina who lies very low at the home of Mrs. Ginsbach and Lucy and Rosa of Alton they being her four sisters. The brothers are Nic and Joseph and Peter besides the grief stricken parents who on Wednesday morning received word that the condition of their daughter was serious, They left on the eight-fifteen train for Dell Rapids. The entire community in this hour of sorrow sympathizes with the Frantzen family