Inger Kametha Grotness (1887-1918)

GROTNESS, FORTUNE, HEERS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/3/2024 at 18:54:05

From Story City Herald October 31, 1918 (page 2)

OBITUARY

Inger Grotness

Inger Kametha Grotness was born the 20th of October, 1887, in Story City, Iowa, and died October 22, 1918 at the age of 31 years and 2 days.

Having suffered from a complication of troubles her death was brought by a final attack of pneumonia. She leaves to mourn her loss her parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. Grotness; her sisters, Mrs. Torris Fortune of Huron, S. D., Mrs. Harry Heers, Millie, Lillie, Selma and Blanche and one brother Herman, besides a host of friends, wh have shown their love and sympathy for her in numberless acts of kindness.

She was a graduate of Story City High School, then a teacher in the rural schools nearby for a few years, after which she went West and entered a Hospital for the purpose of training to become a nurse. Before her course was finished she was stricken down and had to come home, where she remained until her death.

Throughout her early life she was remarkable for her character and the sincerity with which she tried to fulfill her duty, but after becoming an invalid, she became as one of God's saints. Not content to lay and think of her condition, she filled her life with usefulness, watching over her father's business and keeping his books, supervising the various duties in the home, advising and helping each and every sister as well as her brother though their various problems and at the same time feeding their souls with spiritual help.

Her chief study was the Bible. Day after day she pored over it, searching for truth, until she was so upheld by God's spirit that she was able to conquer her suffering and be cheerful from day to day and uplift those around her, thus making it a joy to be in presence. Her father especially found in her great comfort and help to his soul problems, not to mention his business troubles, and the companionship existing between the two was beautiful. Shortly before her death her sister's husband was stricken with pneumonia and immediately her letter of help and spiritual comfort was sent, enclosing this poem which so aptly expresses her feelings:

Under the shadow of the Almighty
Florence Yates Baxter

Within the secret place--how oft to me
In thot these words have brought sweet sanctuary
For those I love; and I have left them there
Protected by a loving Father's care.
Ten thousand evils may around them lie,
But at the touch of Truth those evils fly;
So I can rise in peace, lie down to sleep,
Trusting His angel o'er them watch to keep.
Our Father knows the way, I will not fear;
For Love alone is power, and ever near;
The hidden pitfall thus can guarded be
For steps that yet may walk unwarily.
And so I leave them there; those dear to me,
Folded and kept in God's security,
Knowing the pure Christ, Truth, will soon or late
Bring all of us, at last, to heaven's gate.

Her words to her father before she became so very ill were "Bring love to all. Never worry. Trust in God always. Never carry hate towards anybody, for they will have no power over them that believe in Him. I am glad to go and will wait there for you all. Tell my sisters and Herman that I am waiting for them."