Surnames: DeForth, Zimmer, Lundstrom, Ballard, Buss

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 11/24/1949

DeForth, Katherine (22 FEB 1874 - 6 NOV 1949)

Katherine Zimmer DeForth died at the family residence at St. Paul Park, Minn., on Sunday, Nov. 6th, 1949, at the age of 75. Although ill various time during about twenty years, she had been enjoying fairly good health the last couple of months, being confined to her bed just eight days previous to her death.

The deceased was born in Huron Co., township of Grey, Ontario, Canada, Feb. 22, 1874. At the age of three she moved with her parents to the Town of Reseburg (Clark Co.), Wis., where her father built the first log house in that community. Her father, using a hand made axe, hewed the logs from trees on his land which was cleared so he could till the soil.

Her pioneer parents knew the great need and value of religion in the home and started the first Sunday School in that community.

On May 4, 1889, she was united in marriage to Peter DeForth of Reseburg. Mr. and Mrs. DeForth lived at Reseburg for about a year and then moved to Helena, Montana, where they resided for a period of two years, again returning to Reseburg. In 1903 they moved to the Town of Thorp.

In 1905 the DeForth family moved to St. Paul Park and settled on what was known as "The Fowler Place". Following the pioneer pattern for a new modern home they again cleared large oak trees from the present home sit. The hardwood from those same trees were dry kilned and used in the present home, constructed according to their own plans. This present home was completed in the summer of 1910.

In 1932 her husband, Peter DeForth, preceded her in death. This mother then kept the home intact those seventeen years.

Mrs. DeForth, while in good health, was active in church work and is one of the older members of the Cleopatra Camp No. 2629 of the Royal Neighbors of America at St. Paul Park.

She was of sterling character, sincere and honest, a good, kind mother and was loved by all who knew her. She will be greatly missed by many friends and neighbors.

She leaves to mourn her death three sons, Benjamin E. DeForth, Marlyn A. DeForth, St Paul Park, Chester W. DeForth, Glendive, Mont., and three daughters, Mrs. Caroline D. Lundstrom, Miss Florence E. DeForth, St. Paul Park, and Mrs. M.E. (Alma) Ballard, Roxbury, N.Y. there are also seven grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Herman Buss of Stanley, Wis.

Funeral services were held from the family residence on Wednesday, Nov. 9th at 2 p.m. for relatives and 2:30 p.m. from the Church of God. Rev. M.E. Peterson officiated. Mrs. H.J. Enochson of South St. Paul sang "What a Friend We Have In Jesus" and "In the Sweet Bye and Bye", which were Mrs. DeForth’s favorite songs. Mrs. Enochson was accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Herman Trip. The body was laid to rest in the Cottage Grove Cemetery.

Relatives from our of town attending the funeral were: Mrs. DeForth’s sister, Mrs. Herman Buss of Stanley; her sister-in-law, Mrs. John Zimmer and a nephew, Hugo Roesler of Thorp; and nieces, Clara Roesler of Eau Claire, Hilma Roesler of Chippewa Falls, and Mrs. F. H. Sprengler of Dorchester, Wis.