Penning, Susanna (Mrs. Frank), 1848-1928

PENNING, KIRDEN, KIRTEN, KERTEN, BECTEN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

From the Hospers Tribune, March 2, 1928:

Pioneer Mother Called

Once more the Angel of Death visited a home in our city and took therefrom an aged mother. On Sunday, February 26, 1928, at 5:00 o’clock, Mrs. Frank Penning, widow, was called to her eternal reward by her Lord and Master, after an illness of a few weeks with bronchial pneumonia.

Susanna Kirden was born at Hettinger, Treves, Germany, on September 30, 1848, and was 79 years, 4 months and 26 days at the time of her death. Later she came to America and in 1873 she was married to Frank Penning at Chicago. In 1876 the couple came to this vicinity where they resided the rest of their lives, Mr. Penning passing away on October 20, 1925, aged 82 years.

Deceased was the mother of five children, three of whom died in one week in April 1882 of the black diphtheria, and two survive their parents: John, north of town and Anna who was home with her mother. There are no other relatives.

Mrs. Penning was a devout member of St. Anthony’s church, a true Christian mother, and a pioneer woman having braved the hardships of the pioneer with her husband. In the early days they often went to LeMars to attend church and did much to establish St. Anthony’s church and school here. She was a faithful member of the Christian Mothers society who attended the funeral in a body.

The funeral was held Wednesday morning with services in St. Anthony’s church in charge of Rev. Fr. Peeckes, assisted by Rev. Fr. Thoenissen[?] of this place and Rev. Fr. Oakland of Granville, and interment made in St. Anthony’s cemetery.

Those here from out-of-town to attend the funeral were: Matt Giefer from Slayton, Minn.; Clem Giefer from Elkton, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Peeckes and daughter Clementine and Mrs. Henry Freekings of LeMars; Mr. and Mrs. Tony Klein and Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Klein from Alton; Mrs. N. Klein and son Henry, Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Klein and son William, Mr. and Mrs. John Ney and son, and J. B. Klein from Granville.

The Tribune joins the many friends of the family in extending sympathy to the bereaved children.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has two entries for “Penning, Mother,” buried in St. Anthonys Cemetery, Hospers. One has life dates 30 Sep 1848 – 26 Feb 1920; the other has 30 Sep 1846 – 26 Feb. 1928.

Her death certificate has her as Susan Penning; born Sept. 30, 1848 in Germany; parents Peter Kirten and Katrina Maria Becten; died Feb. 26, 1928 at 3:30 p.m. in Hospers; cause, broncho pneumonia, contributory cause “senile complications.”

FindaGrave.com has Susanna Kerten Penning, born Sept. 30, 1848 in Huttingen bei Lahr, Bitburg-Prumer Landkreis, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany; died Feb. 26, 1928 in Hospers; spouse Frank Penning (1842-1925); daughter Anna Penning (1884-1950). There is a photo of her headstone.