Keeling, Erminie (Phillips) 1866 - 1953

KEELING, PHILLIPS, ROSENCRANS, CRONK

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 11/28/2024 at 14:39:15

Clayton County Register, 26 Mar. 1953.

Erminie Phillips, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Phillips, was born near Arlington, Iowa on August 18, 1866. She received her education in the rural schools near her home. In 1884 she married Andrew Rosencrans and pioneered their short married life on a South Dakota claim. Mr. Rosencrans died in 1887. A few years later she married the Rev. Ed Cronk, a United Brethren minister. They served pastorates in Wisconsin and Washington. Mr. Cronk died while serving a pastorate in the latter state. Mrs. Cronk returned to Iowa and made her home with an uncle for several years. In 1917 she was married to Fred J. Keeling. They made their home in Volga, until Mr. Keeling died in 1943. For the past five years she has lived in the Ernest T. Smith home. On last Thanksgiving Day she fell and broke a hip. She was in the Oelwein hospital for twelve weeks, then was transferred to the Moser Nursing home in Strawberry Point. On March 14, she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was transferred to the Manchester hospital where she died on March 19.

Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Darrel Coppernoll, pastor of the Wadena United Brethren church, in the Gill-Blake funeral chapel in Volga on March 21, 1953. Music was provided by Mrs. Wallace Oldfather, organist, who accompanied Mrs. Leo Grether and Donald Whitford, vocalists.

Casket bearers were H. E. Whitford, H. O. Probert, F. I. Phillips, Walter Roys, H. F. Baars and Mellors Roys. Interment was in the Hill Crest cemetery, Volga.