Mary W. (Maronda) BELT

BELT, MARONDA, COTTON, DILWORTH

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/6/2012 at 16:12:52

September 10, 1862 -- February 27, 1914

DEATH OF MRS. H. M. BELT

The death of Mrs. H. M. Belt occurred at her home on East Broadway last Friday morning, Feb. 27, 1914. Her death was not unexpected for she had been failing for a long time. Funeral services were held from the home on Monday and interment was made in Rose Hill Cemetery. Rev. L. M. Pierce, pastor of the Congregational church, spoke very tenderly and impressively, and the following is from his pen:

Mary W. Maronda was born Sept 10, 1862, in Oak Park Chicago; was one of seven children. She was united in marriage Dec. 25, 1880 to Hiram M. Belt. For two years they made their home in Boone, Iowa, moving from there to Marshalltown. In 1883 they went to Hawarden, then in the fall of the same year they moved to Eagle Grove. There were two daughters given to the home – Mabel, Mrs. Chase Cotton; and Eva, Mrs. Dilworth. Besides her husband and two daughters, she leaves one brother and three sisters.

Mrs. Belt has been a great sufferer for nearly five years. For something over a year I have been acquainted with Mrs. Belt and the family. It was not always possible for me to see her when I called as her suffering was so extreme, but when she was at all able to meet me, it was with a desire to speak of the promises of God and to be led in prayer. You remember that Joseph, after the years of all manner of suffering in a strange land, tells us that God made him to be fruitful in the land of his affliction and out of the unexplainable there came forth great blessings. When suffering comes, to ourselves, or our homes, we some times are found asking why, and almost doubting God's goodness but if we wait I am sure we shall find there are blessings from days and months and years of affliction. No affliction is in vain. Mrs. Belt has impressed herself upon many of her friends as patient in suffering, and she received from the family every evidence of their love. Husband and daughters have given every possible attention and care that love could suggest. Friends with loving sympathy would have been glad to have aided, but Mrs. Belt clung to dear ones of the home circle. She loved them so, and wanted them and thus their personal ministry continued to the very end. There was the ministry of suffering to the strong and there was the ministry of strength and love to the sufferer and this sweet interchange brings the joy of home.

We rejoice that now the wife and mother is free from all pain, all tears, all sorrow. For these things have passed away. Mr. Belt and the members of the family feel very grateful to their neighbors and friends for their many favors and kind words of sympathy and for their liberal floral contributions.

Eagle Grove, Iowa
March 1914