Amanda Harges (1870-1950)

ANDERSON, HELMAN, HARGES, BECKLEY, YARD, NOONAN

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 7/13/2021 at 01:06:04

Amanda Harges, a Pioneer Here, was Buried Last Monday.

Amanda, daughter of John and Johanna Anderson, was born June 22, 1870 at Smoland in the state of Jonkopings, Sweden, near Stockholm. The early years of her life were spent in Sweden where she attended school until 14 years of age and was confirmed in the Lutheran Church.

She came to the United States of America in 1884. She spent a few weeks in Evelry Iowa, with relatives, then decided to make her home in Sanborn, Iowa, which was then a pioneer villagoe of only six years of age. She enjoyed a continuous residency of sixty-six years in Sanborn and often said that no other place would ever seem like home to her.

On May 19, 1889, she was united in marriage at Sanborn, to Thomas A. Helman, a young Milwaukee engineer. They became the parents of three children: A son, Will T. Helman, now of Deer Lodge, Montana; and two daughters: Mabel J Helman Beckley, who departed this life on August 20, 1917, and Esther D. Helman Yard, of McNeal, Arizona. The husband and father died on January 30, 1900, leaving her to raise their three small children.

On September 19, 1904, she was united in marriage with George W. Harges, at Primghar, Iowa. They resided at first on his farm southeast of town and later moved to Sanborn, where Mr. Harges engaged in the hardward and implement business for a number of years. In addition to her own three children, she meothered her husbands 11-year old son, Fred Harges, who became a loved member of her household.

She was prominent in local social and ciic activities. She was a member of the Presbyterian church and its various women's organizations, which she served faithfully and well. During the World Wars, she was an indefatigable worker in the Red Cross. For 54 years she was identified with Coral chapter, No. 41, Order of the Eastern Star, with which she became affiliated on December 1, 1896. In recogniztion of a continuous membership of fifty years, she was presented by Coral Chapter with a life membership pin. During these years she served the order in a number of official capacities. On April 5, 1905, she became and actie member of Golden Sheaf Camp No 2391, Royal Neighbors of America. In August, 1940, at the age of 70, she terminated her membership in this organization with which she was affiliated for 35 years.

After the death of her husband, George Harges, which occurred April 4, 1937, she decided to sell her home and take a small apartment, the upkeep fo which would not overtax her physical strength. Later she was cared for in the home of Mr. and Mrs. A.K. Foote and she also spent a few months with her sons, Fred Hargess of Mitchell, South Dakota, and Will T. Helman of Deer Lodge, Montana.

Her death occurred at 1:40 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, 1950 in the home of her son, Will T. Helman in Deer Lodge, at the age of 80 years and 28 days.

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 24, 1950, at 1:30 .m. at the A.K. Foote home and at 2 pm at the Presbyterian church with Rev. Fred Butler of Greene, Iowa, her former pastor, presiding.

Interment was in the family plot in Roseland Cemetery.

Surviving are her two sons, W.T. Helman of Deer Lodge, Montana, and Fred Harges of Mitchell, South Dakota, and one daughter, Mrs. Phil Yard of McNeal, Arizona; also five grandchildren, Paul Beckley of Seattle, Washington; Philip and George Yard of McNeal, Arizona; Mellard Noonan of Los Angeles, California; Robert Harges, of Des Moines, Iowa, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Floral emblems spoke silently of the esteem in which this pioneer resident was held, as did the gathering of old time friends, neighbors, and relatives who were gathered to pay their last respects.

Sanborn (Iowa) Pioneer, 27 Jul 1950, p4