Elizabeth Frederika (Koch) REIF

KOCH, REIF, MARTENS, MARTIN, GOODMANSON, RIEF

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/30/2016 at 21:19:31

November 19, 1882 ---- February 24, 1922

Birth Record — Eliza Fredericka Koch was born in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, November 19, 1882.

She came to America in 1888 with her parents and located at Remsen, Iowa. She lived for a time in Paullina, Iowa, and came to Eagle Grove in the fall of 1914.

Married Life—On September 4th, 1902, she was married to Frank Reif of Remsen, Iowa. Eight children came to bless their home, two having died in infancy. The six remaining are: Selma, Irene, Bessie, Raymond, Carl and George.

Religious Life—At the age of 14 years she was confirmed in the German Lutheran church. Before being held too closely at home by family duties she was faithful in her attendance at church. She was a member of Class No.16 of the Methodist Sunday School. Her faith in Christ as her personal savior was firm and beautiful. She wanted prayers said for herself and each member of her family. On Thursday evening she received holy communion, and although she was very weak, she responded in repeating the Lord's prayer.

Death came to relieve the brave spirit on Friday afternoon February 24, 1922. At the time of her departure she was 39 years, 3 months, and 5 days old.

Her father and mother have both preceded her in death, one and two years ago.

She leaves to mourn her death, her husband and six children already mentioned, three brothers, Henry and Fred of Remsen, Iowa and Will of Ogilvie, Minn., Mrs. Henry Martens of Bridgewater, S. Dak.

She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, also the Yeomen and W.R.C.

Funeral Services were held in the Methodist church at 1:30 Sunday. The sermon was preached by Rev. W. G. Muhleman from the text found in Isa. 35:10. Interment was made in Rose Hill cemetery. Part of the services at the grave were conducted by the Ladies' Auxiliary to the B. of R. T. of which she was a member.

Out-of-town relatives who were present at the funeral of Mrs. Reif were Fred Koch of Remsen, Iowa; Mrs. Henry Martin, of Bridgewater, S D.; Archie Koch, of Paullina; Mary Goodmanson, of Paullina.

Card of Thanks

We wish to thank our neighbors and friends who were so kind with assistance, sympathy and floral offerings during the illness and death of our wife and mother. We especially wish to thank the Four Orders of the Railroad, the Yeomen, the W.R.C. and Class No. 16 of the Methodist Sunday School.

Frank Reif and Family

EAGLE GROVE EAGLE --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
March 2, 1922
****

MRS. FRANK RIEF DEAD. Former Remsen Woman Dies at Eagle Grove, Iowa, After Prolonged Illness.
Mrs. Frank Rief of Eagle Grove, Iowa, a former Remsen resident and a sister of Henry and Fred Koch, passed away at her home last Saturday after an illness covering a period of more than a year. Her death was due to heart trouble and dropsy. She was 39 years old. She is survived by her husband and six children. The funeral was held at Eagle Grove Sunday. Mrs. Reif's health began to decline a little more than a year ago, and for the past three months her condition was such that she was almost constantly confined to her room. About three weeks ago her condition began to cause alarm to her attending physicians and the family. She passed away Friday afternoon at 2:40 o'clock.

The deceased, who was Elizabeth Koch before her marriage, was born November 19, 1882 at Flensburg, Germany and came to the United States with her parents in 1887. The family settled on a farm near Remsen, devoting about eight years to farm life, after which they moved into Remsen. Elizabeth Koch became the wife of Frank Rief, also of Remsen, in 1900 and for four years they continued to reside here. They later moved to Paullina when Mr. Rief was employed as a brakeman on the Northwestern railroad. After living there
for two years, the family moved to Eagle Grove, Mr. Rief continuing his work with the railroad. The deceased is survived by her husband, six children, one sister and three brothers. The children are Selma, Irene, Bessie, Raymond, Carl and George. The funeral was held last Sunday afternoon, with services in the Methodist church, in which Mrs. Rief was a regular member and an active worker. Fred Koch, of Remsen and Dr. A. F. Koch, of Paullina, attended the services.

Remsen Bell-Enterprise -- Remsen, Iowa
March 2, 1922, page 1, column 4.

****

Lizzie's niece Nora (as an inconvenienced child): Mama (Marie Koch Martens) only had one sister: she lived in Iowa, her name was Lizzie and she was married to a train conductor (Frank Reif), so she and her family could come and visit free. For many years, aunt Lizzie and her six kids, three boys and three girls, would come, leaving home on the day school let out and not go back until the day before it was time to start again. Mama and Amanda would help Aunt Lizzie sew clothes for most of the time she was there. Pretty soon, I got mad. There were kids sleeping wall to wall, we had to set the table twice each meal, and as the saying goes, "take a cold tater and wait."

Lizzie was the youngest of seven.
Source: Andrew Michaelsen