Obit: Hinke, Maria (Gerken) (1872 – 1959)

Contact: Linda Mertens
Email: mertens@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Hinke, Gerken, Welch, Curry, Sief, Baehr, Laabs, Carlson, Nixdorf, Brechlin, Geiger, Bush, Miller, Otten

----Source - Anna Johnson's Scrapbook

Maria Hinke (17 Dec 1872 – 3 Feb 1959)

Funeral services were held from Salem Evangelical United Brethren church here Friday, Feb. 6, 1959, for Mrs. Maria Hinke, 86, who died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 1959 at Owen. The Rev. Harold Welch, pastor, officiated at the last rites at 2:00 p. m. A granddaughter, Mrs. Betty Curry of Pekin, Ill., sang "In the Sweet Bye and Bye" and "O Walk with God." The organist, Miss Sandra Sief of Augusta, played accompaniment for the soloist.

Interment was in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Fuchsgruber Funeral Service, which had charge of arrangements. Pallbearers were Arthur Baehr, Norbert Laabs, Lloyd Carlson, Walter Nixdorf, Ed Brechlin and Mike Geiger.

Maria Gerken was born in Germany Dec. 17, 1872. She had resided in this community for nearly 65 years, coming here in 1895 from her native land. She and Claus Hinke were married in September of 1895 and made their home on his farm in the town of Mayville until his death in 1920. A daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Bush, bought the home farm after his death, and Mrs. Hinke had resided with her children since.

Survivors include three sons, Alfred Hinke of the town of Mayville, Dr. Charles V. Hinke of Abbotsford, Ellsworth Hinke of Eugene, Ore.; two daughters, Mrs. Leonard (Anna) Bush, town of Mayville, and Mrs. Marvin (Alba) Miller, Alhambra, Calif.; 22 grandchildren, 28 greatgrandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers, Diedrich and Heinrich Otten, both in Germany.

Mrs. Miller came from California for her mother's funeral, but Ellsworth Hinke was unable to attend, as were Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Hinke who were in the Southwest on a vacation trip when his mother died. Besides her husband, preceding her in death were a child, two brothers, and a sister.