ELIZABETH DURTSCHI'S
Funeral Services
Friday, July 28, 1944
Conducted by
Alfred Durtschi,
Bp. of Pratt Ward
ACTIVE PALL BEARERS:
- Reed Durtschi
- Walter Durtschi
- William Burgener
- Rudolph Kaufmann
- Alfred Kaufmann
- Arnold Kaufmann
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HONORARY PALL BEARERS:
- Mrs. Luella Dalley
- Mrs. Birdie Christensen
- Mrs. Amelia Green
- Mrs. Rea Harris
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FLOWERS: under the direction of Mrs. Helen Sorenson, Mrs. Ossie
A. Archibald and Mrs. Kate Green. ALL of which were home grown as
requested by Mrs. Durtschi. They were carried by the following ladies:
- Mrs. Lena Duersch
- Mrs. Ida Durtschi
- Mrs. Zelda Dalley
- Mrs. Viola Nelson
- Mrs. Winona Kaufmann
- Mrs. Iris Dalley
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- Mrs. Lettie Sorenson
- Mrs. Ruth Garner
- Mrs. Joyce Kaufmann
- Mrs. Luella Durtschi
- Mrs. Etha Bohi
- Mrs. Vada Green
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- Mrs. Alice Wilding
- Mrs. Anita Burgener
- Mrs. Florence Brown
- Mrs. Janice Moss
- Mrs. Phoebe Christensen
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INTERMENT was in the Pratt Cemetery under the direction of the Hansen Funeral Home and the grave was dedicated by Alma Burgener.
Bp. Alfred Durtschi -- "We will commence our services by the quartet from Pratt Ward singing 'O My Father’:
Oh My Father
O my Father, Thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place
When shall I regain Thy presence,
And again behold Thy face?
In Thy holy habitation,
Did my spirit once reside;
In my first primeval childhood,
Was I nurtured near Thy side.
For a wise and glorious purpose
Thou hast placed me here on earth,
And withheld the recollection
Of my former friends and birth,
Yet oft-times a secret something
Whispered, "You're a stranger here;"
And I felt that I had wandered
From a more exalted sphere.
I had learned to call Thee Father,
Thru' Thy Spirit from on high;
But until the Key of Knowledge
Was restored, I knew not why.
In the heavens are parents single?
No; the tho't makes reason stare!
Truth is reason, truth eternal,
Tells me I've a mother there.
When I leave this frail Existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you
In your royal courts on high?
Then at length, when I've completed
All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.
(Sung by Mrs. Fred Duersch, Mrs. Alfred Durtschi, Irvin Christensen, Milo Dally, accompanied by LaRena Waddell.)
Bp. Durtschi: The opening prayer will be offered by President Wm. A. Strong:
President Strong: "Our Father in Heaven, out of appreciation for
the life of this, our sister and friend and thy daughter, we are
gathered here in funeral services. We are grateful unto Thee, Father,
for this privilege. With thanksgiving in our hearts we assemble here
today out of consideration for the life of this dear sister, which has
been an example unto us. We pray that Thy Spirit may be here in rich
abundance and the things that are said and done will be under the
influence of Thy Spirit, to the end that those who mourn, and all of us
assembled today, may gain added faith and a testimony and a
determination to go forward in life performing labors in such a way that
when finished we may be entitled to a place in Thy presence.
We are grateful for the family of
this sister, for their influence and the effect they have upon the
lives of those who associate with them. We pray that Thy Spirit may be
here to direct those who speak and furnish music, that words of
consolation and inspiration, and truth, and right, may be given here.
We are grateful for the life and
mission of Jesus Christ, who came to the earth and gave His life and
established the Gospel, that Thy children may be saved thru obedience
thereto. We pray that Thy comforting influence may attend the family of
the departed one and, even as Jesus Christ promised, the Comforter. We
pray that we may so live that this promise will come to us that we live
the life we should, that the Spirit of the Comforter will come unto the
family, that it may build them up and be a comfort to them.
Bless all for whom we should pray
for at this time. We pray for all who have cause to mourn, whose hearts
are tender and for other conditions in the earth that are not as Thou
wouldst have them. Bless and comfort, and sustain all those who need Thy
blessings and help us at all times to realize that Thou art our Father
that we may be obedient.
We dedicate these services,
Father, unto Thy keeping, praying that Thy peace and blessings may be
with us and that we may gain the thing for which we are gathered. We
ask in the name of the Redeemer Jesus Christ, Amen."
Bp. Durtschi: A solo will now be sung by Brother Byron Christensen, "That Little Mother of Mine," accompanied by Mrs. Byron Christensen.
LITTLE MOTHER OF MINE
Sometimes in the hush of the evening hour,
When shadows creep from the west,
I think of the twilight songs you sang
And the boy you lull'd to rest;
The wee little boy with tousled head,
That long, long ago was thine;
I wonder if sometimes you long for that boy,
O little mother of mine!
And now he has come to man's estate,
Grown stalwart in body and strong,
You'd hardly know that he was the lad
You lull'd with your slumber song;
The years have alter'd the form and the life,
But the heart is unchang'd by time,
And still he is only your boy as of old,
O little mother of mine,
O little mother of mine!
Bp. Durtschi: These services have been arranged by the family
partly, and partly by Sister Elizabeth herself. Perhaps I should make an
explanation first why these services are held here: Sister Elizabeth
has many friends in town who have no traveling facilities and in order
to make it possible for them to attend the funeral, it was thought wise
to hold the services here. We appreciate very much having the Stake
House offered to us to hold these services. Sister Elizabeth requested
that no flowers be bought, but wanted the flowers from the gardens of
Teton Valley. And I think they are very beautiful.
The family asked me to say a few words and to give the history of Sister Elizabeth's life.
I hope that while we are together
here we will honor Sister Elizabeth, that the Spirit of sorrow will be
banished from our midst because it is not sorrowful--for one of God's
choice daughters has completed her mission and returned home. There is
joy and happiness in Heaven today. She has gone to meet her husband and
a son, the son would be thirty-eight years old now had he lived. So she
is meeting a grown up man.
On a little farm in a beautiful
valley in Switzerland lived a young couple, Two fine people - good,
honest people - and to that couple on February 20, 1883, Sister
Elizabeth was born, the second child in the family. When her father was
forty-one years old, he got pneumonia, and died and left a widow and
four children. It was a trial for that woman, but she went to work and
raised that family and it was a credit to her. It was a credit to
her--four fine people. She was an excellent manager, this woman.
Her family grew up and they
didn’t suffer. She provided for the family and they were happy until two
fine Mormon Elders came to that town. These men converted my father's
and mother's family and Sister Elizabeth, being a dear friend of that
family, of course got in touch with these Elders. She went to their
Mormon meetings, as we used to call them, and she told me some years ago
that when she first learned the Gospel it was plain to her. Those two
fine men are here with us today, one of them, Brother Conrad Gertsch had
the privilege of baptizing Sister Elizabeth.
A happy home was not a happy home
anymore. Her mother didn't want her to join the Mormon Church. She was
opposed to the Gospel and Elizabeth left and went out to work until...
oh, for some time. These two Mormon Elders came to our home and preached
the Gospel to us.
We happened to have a neighbor
who had relatives join the church and go to Utah. The name was 'Kunz',
an uncle to Brother Sam Kunz. That man told us all kinds of stories
about the Mormons, and what his people, who joined the church, had to go
through. So we were prejudiced. We didn't believe all these good men
told us and they didn't convert us, but when we talked this thing over,
we decided not to join the Mormon Church. But my mother said, 'A church
that produces fine men like these young men are, is a better church
than ours'.
These men went back home and
didn't call on us anymore, but some years later Brother David Hirschi
came. When he came, our door was open to the Elders. These two fine men
had laid a foundation in our home for the acceptance of the Gospel.
Sister Elizabeth, after we had
joined the church--of course, we had made preparation (we had an
opportunity to sell our place shortly after we joined the church) and we
came to Utah, and Sister Elizabeth knew it and had a desire to go with
us, but her mother wouldn't let her go. She honored her mother and
without her consent, she wouldn't have thought of going to Utah. She had
the money, nothing was holding her back, she could have come to Utah
anytime, but she honored her mother and she wouldn't go to Utah until
she had consent.
So my father and Brother Hirschi
went to talk to her and she finally gave her consent and Sister
Elizabeth emigrated to Utah with us.
She went to work in Salt Lake in
19__. When we were in Utah there was a number of us on a little farm,
four boys and father, and we could see that it was time for some of us
to get out to establish a new home. So we went out to look over more
country, and we came up here twice. When we came up here the first time
we stopped at Brother Hirschi's place and Sister Hirschi had a fine meal
prepared and on the table for us.
He asked questions about everyone
he knew and about Sister Elizabeth and he said, 'Is she still single?’
and I said, 'Yes.' Then he took my brother by the arm and he said, 'What
a wonderful opportunity. Take it.' On April 8, 1909, my brother and
Sister Elizabeth were married in the Salt Lake Temple and came to Idaho
with a team and wagon. So Elizabeth had some experiences in pioneering.
We bought a place that was mostly covered with sage brush, but we liked
it. We decided that was the place to make our home. He bought it and
paid perhaps a little more money, but rather than not to have the place,
we paid the price.
It was too much for one man to
handle so we went into a partnership and we worked together for six
years. We went through some hardships - we didn't bring but very little
money with us. Sister Elizabeth was a wonderful woman, as a pioneer she
would have walked across the plains if that had been the only way we
could have come here, any sacrifice she was ready to make for this
Church. I ate at her table for six years, worked together, and we had
some fine times together, but the thing that kept up the friendship and
unison and love was the thing - that we knelt together before our God in
humble prayer - many times, not only while our partnership lasted, but
afterwards when sorrow came to her home. We never had sickness of any
kind, but as soon as Elizabeth knew it, she was over there to help.
I want to pay tribute to her this
day. She has been a wonderful woman. When her husband was forty-one
years of age, he got pneumonia and died. Sister Elizabeth was left with
five children. She wouldn't quit, she carried on alone. No, not alone,
God was with her.
There are things in her life that
were too sacred to talk about too much. I have never heard her repeat
what I am going to tell you now--it was too sacred, but this is a sacred
place and this is a sacred occasion and I'm sure it will be all right
with her to say what she told me.
She was out in the field ranking
with a side delivery rake the first summer after her husband died. I was
out in the field irrigating and I walked over to her and talked to her
for awhile and I noticed that she was quite happy and I was wondering
what had happened because she was sad for a long time after her husband
died. She told me that the Almighty God had permitted her husband to
come to see her and talk to her during the night. You may say that it
was a dream, but to Elizabeth it was real. It was real. And I'm sure she
got a lot of help from that.
Among other things he told her
was this: 'That the work I am doing is so much more important than this
here that there is no comparison'.
Sister Elizabeth, as we all know,
was blessed. She has been a wonderful manager and she raised a
wonderful family. Her life was a great success and I am sure, as sure as
she was, that she went to see her loved ones on the other side. I am
safe in saying Sister Elizabeth never doubted for one moment the
divinity of Mormonism. To her it was knowledge. She understood the
Gospel and it was the greatest thing in her life.
I have been receiving for
eighteen years her tithing. If there ever was an honest payer, it was
Sister Elizabeth. She kept books and it didn't take her long to figure
out her tithing. We built in our Ward a new church house and we assessed
her the same as most of -the men. It was high, but we knew she was
willing to pay and through her fine management was financially able to
pay. Whenever we announced on Sunday that we needed more money, Sister
Elizabeth was at my place Monday with a check. I never asked her for a
penny towards the church house - she always offered it. When she knew we
needed money, her check was ready.
I don't think I should say anymore. She has set a wonderful example for us to follow.
Bp. Durtschi: We will have a musical number by Byron
Christensen and Sister Ida Durtschi, accompanied by Walter, Lucy and
Lucille. This is a request number by Sister Elizabeth herself.
Following the musical number Amelia Green will talk to us.
TELL MOTHER I'LL BE THERE
When I was but a little child, how well I recollect,
How I would grieve my Mother with my folly and neglect,
And now that she has gone to Heav'n I miss her tender care,
Oh, Angels, tell my Mother I'll be there.
Chorus:
Tell Mother I'll be there in answer to her prayer,
This message, Guardian angels, to her bear;
Tell Mother I'll be there, Heav'n's joys with her to share,
Yes, tell my darling Mother I’ll be there.
Bp. Durtschi: Sister Elizabeth has worked with Sister Amelia
Green in the Relief Society for years and has done a wonderful work.
Sister Green will now speak to us.
Amelia Green: "Dear Brothers and Sisters, I am honored more then
I can express by having them ask me to speak to her funeral. She was my
friend, a dear, true friend and we have had many joys and sorrows
together. Through the years she has always been an inspiration to me.
Never have I heard her say a word of complaint against life. And her
faith and trust in the Father was always so comforting and inspiring.
The night before she went to the
hospital, in talking to her over the phone, she said, 'No matter what
comes of this, or what :is done, I don't want anyone to think but that
the right thing has been done.' She said, 'I've always been very weak
and not very strong and I've had a great responsibility and I ask
Heavenly Father to let me live until the children could take care of
themselves. He has done this and now if my time has come, it is all
right.'
I wanted her to come back, but
she has finished her mission and she has done it wonderfully well. We
too must say 'It is all right'.
She was my Counselor for fifteen
years. That is where I learned to love her more. She was always willing
and anxious to do her duty. She never missed coming to meeting all the
time and bringing the sisters with her and her counsel and advice was
always of the best.
Every sister loved and respected
her. The family she has left tells everyone what a wise and thoughtful
mother she has been, always encouraging - reaching for higher things in
life. Teaching by example the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which was so dear
to her. All five children have had an education and all are living the
lives of Latter-day Saints. She sent three of them on missions; this she
considered a privilege.
She loved her children dearly and
her grandchildren, the wife of her son, and her in-laws. She
appreciated their kindness to her and often told me how they tried to
make her comfortable and happy.
She was a true Latter day Saint,
understanding it better than many of us. She lived it each day of her
life. Not long ago she said to me, 'It seems that the Heavenly Father
has outlined my entire life. When I was a girl, I did not have good
health and I could not go out like other girls as I desired, but I
studied the Bible and was acquainted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
when the Mormon Elders came, I knew it was the true one, and was ready
to accept it.' She tells how the Heavenly Father had guided her through
her life.
She was a good wife and loved the
father of her children dearly. Although her husband was taken many
years ago, not a day passed that she hasn't longed to be with him and
waited for the time to come when she could be with him again. I have
imagined their meeting - how she could tell him of her rearing his
children, how grateful and happy he is to have her with him again.
My husband has often said that
people who are in Heaven are like Sister Elizabeth. I thank my Heavenly
Father that I have had Sister Elizabeth for a friend. I'll miss her very
much.
May God bless her family that
they may live her teachings and bless us that we may have a devout
faith, as she had, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
Bp. Durtschi: Sister Harris, a very loyal friend of Sister Elizabeth, will speak next.
Rea Harris: "My dear brothers and sisters, like Sister
Green, I consider this a very great honor. Thinking back over many times
of talking together and looking back over the world before we came
here, we two were very dear friends, and while we were permitted to come
to the earth the same year, I was born in Salt Lake and she was born in
Switzerland.
We have been the dearest friends
ever since, we went through trials together and when I got blue and it
was hard for me to carry on, I went to Sister Durtschi and got comfort
and strength. I think that I have never talked to her that I haven't
received strength to go on and when we couldn't be together, we were
just as near in our hearts. We wrote to each other and prayed together
and I know her main desire in life was to live the Gospel and teach it
to her children. She won't be far from them - she will be near them to
suggest the things for them to do. There will be times that will be
hard, but when problems come to them she will always be ready to help
them and I know from experience that mothers and fathers do direct and
guide their children, especially when they have lived their religion.
If the children can just live
about the strife of this life, their father and mother will always be
with them and their Spirit and influence will guide and direct.
I pray that the Lord will be with
-this family and bless them. And I think Sister Durtschi's life
personifies that. If we can learn these things we will have done very
well.
I ask the Lord to bless us all
and I am grateful for this privilege. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Bp. Durtschi: We will now hear a trio by Iris Dalley, LaRena Waddell and Mrs. Byron Christensen, accompanied by Dorothy Wilkie:
THE OLD REFRAIN
I often think of home, Dee-oo-lee-ay,
When I am all alone and far away;
I sing an old refrain: Dee-oo-lee-ay,
For it recalls to me a by-gone day
It takes me back again to meadows fair,
Where sunlight's golden rays beam ev'rywhere,
My childhood days again come back to me,
My mother's face in fancy, too I see,
It was my mother taught me how to sing
And to that memory my heart will cling,
I'm never sad and lone while on my way
As long as I can sing: Dee-oo-lee-ay
Though years have passed and gone, Dee-oo-lee-ay,
And though my heart is young, my head is gray,
Yet still the echoes ring Dee-oo-lee-ay,
And dear old memories forever stay,
My song can bring me visions full of light,
And sweetest dreams throughout the darkest night;
Of all that life can give, that song is best,
I'll take it with me when I go to rest,
And when at last my journey here is o’er,
'Twill ring more joyfully than e'er before,
For up to heaven I will take my lay
The angels too will sing: Dee-oo-lee-ay!
Bp. Durtschi: Brother David Hirschi, the man who left a wife and
seven children and came to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to us,
will be our next speaker.
David Hirschi: "My brothers and sisters, this is a day
for me to mourn, but it makes my heart rejoice and especially to see
these brothers and sisters before me as mourners. I am thankful to our
Heavenly Father for what happened to this family and these mourners. For
I can tell you I know the Gospel is true, I know that Jesus Christ
lives and is our Savior, and I know that Joseph Smith is one of the very
greatest prophets that has ever been on this earth, and he has restored
this Gospel and through him we are here together.
I pray that the Lord will let his
Holy Spirit rest upon me and I do ask for your faith and prayers that
what I may say will be in accordance with our Heavenly Father.
I, as a humble servant, was
called on a mission in 1903. And in a wonderful way: I received a letter
from Salt Lake City, it was from President Joseph F. Smith and he asked
me if I would go on a mission. It was December then and he said he
would like to have me go the 1st of April.
I took this letter home and I
thought, 'I cannot go on a mission, it is impossible'. I took the letter
to my dear wife, who is a number one Latter-day Saint. At that time,
really I didn’t know whether I could raise $10 to go on a mission - we
were really poor when we came here. We had bought a ranch of eighty
acres all in sage brush and I had to work that up and then our
family--well, anyway I showed this letter to my dear wife and she read
it. I said, 'What do you think of it? She said, 'My dear husband, there
is no other way than to go on a mission.'
When we think of it, the way we
were--seven children, the oldest was twelve and the youngest seven
months old - anyhow, I went to the meeting the next Sunday and just
before that they had a dance in a log house and it was the duty of the
Bishop with two or three others to clean up the house and put in the
benches and I went and played so I could help a bit, and the Bishop was
there. I went to him and said, 'What's the matter, Bishop, what have you
been doing?' He said, 'What's the matter with you?' I said, 'You know, I
don't need to tell you.' He said, 'Now Brother Hirschi, what's got into
your head anyway’, and he said, 'No, Brother Hirschi, I don't know
anything, what's happened? You tell me.'
When I told him he said, 'No, I
didn't know, I never thought of sending you on a mission because I know
your circumstances at present. I thought you could go on one two years
from now better.’
Anyhow, I prepared myself and
everything in what time I had, Everything turned out in a wonderful way -
$200.00 came in that was never thought of through working on a canal
and other places and five acres of grain that is about three years
before I had a call to go on a mission - and just about that time I had
this money turned to me and it gave me this chance to go on a mission.
I went and was called to go to
two cities and two branches to preside over. Then the time came when I
should be changed. They had a Conference and the President called me to
take charge of another two branches, I went there and at that time I
wasn't acquainted with the Saints and friends.
It was a country of over
twenty-two counties and villages to labor in. When I got there, that is
the time I became acquainted with Sister Elizabeth Durtschi. This good
sister came to meeting and that is when I got acquainted with her -
October, 1904, was the first time I saw her. She didn't know Brother
Durtschi at that time, but that sister wouldn't have missed a meeting
and there were two other sisters who had to walk a long ways, but they
never missed a meeting.
I had this strange place to go
over. The first thing I knew, I wanted to get acquainted with the Saints
and friends. I went and got Brother Burgener, who had just been
released, but he didn’t have time to make me acquainted so I took
Brother Weber, a young fellow, to show me where some of these Saints and
friends were. It just happened that in that one part he showed me where
Sister Elizabeth lived so we went in to see her. She was living in
Palasade.
When we got there we went in the
house and were going to talk to her and her mother, a widow, told us
that all we were after was girls to take them to Salt Lake to live in
polygamy, then she said, 'My girl joined the Mormon Church and I cannot
do anything more with her.'
We were sitting in the room close
to the door and Elder Weber could hardly stand to have this lady talk
to us that way so he started to take our part and the more he talked the
worse she got. I told him in English, so she couldn't understand me, to
let her talk until she was through. And she talked and got through,
then she was going to take the daughter and go and leave us, but that
wouldn't look good so I moved the chair against the door so she couldn't
get out and then I talked to her until she cried.
Well now, about two days after we
went to visit her, we took a trip and was going for a walk through the
country. I said to Brother Weber, 'Now, is there any more friends we can
go to see and become acquainted with?' He said, 'Yes, there is one more
family, but that family is down on us. They don't want anymore to do
with the Mormons.’ Won't they meet with you?' He said, 'No, it will be a
loss of time, etc.,' So I said, 'We will go to see that family.’ We
went down there and there was Brother and Sister Durtschi here and their
parents. I went and knocked on the door and here comes the good mother
to open the door. I told them who I was, that I had been born in this
country and had been to America and had come back to this country to
preach the Gospel and would like to talk to them. She said, 'Come in'.
We could only stay a little while
as I had to go to a meeting, but before we left, she pleaded with me,
Mr. Hirschi, will you come and give us a visit and tell us more about
the Mormons?' She said, 'Come tomorrow night.' And I gave her the
promise.
The next night, I went alone to
visit her. She had supper ready and treated me very nice. After supper
we sat around the table and I told them to get their Bibles out and we'd
talk and thrash out Mormonism. We sat around the table and I had a
number one time until three minutes to eleven. Then we went to bed and
had a wonderful rest, we were really tired. Now, in the morning, they
wouldn't let me go. It was talk, talk, until ten o'clock. Then I left
them.
Well, on the 26th of March, 1905,
I had been laboring with them four months, just think of it - it took a
long time to convert these people, and I went there several times, And
here, after four months, we held a Sunday School meeting and the girls
of the Durtschi family came in to me and wanted me to go home with them
to have dinner after Sunday School.
Father Durtschi never came to
meeting. This good old father was at dinner. He was sitting on the
canopy without his shoes on. After dinner I talked to him and went to
him and put his Sunday shoes on his feet and while I was doing that he
smiled and laughed with us. After that I said, 'Now Brother Durtschi,
come to meeting with us.' He raised up and came. The good wife and
children said that was the greatest happiness they had - when I got him
to go to meeting.
The Conference President and my
first companion were there and we had a wonderful meeting. They wanted
all the missionaries, -five of us, to go to dinner at their house. After
dinner we went back to meeting in the afternoon and after meeting let
out, they came to me and plead for me and my first companion to stay
overnight, which we did and had a wonderful time with them.
As time went on these good people
wanted to be baptized, April 20, 1905. There was eleven of them and we
had a meeting before that and after the meeting, I called these eleven
Saints aside and we had a little meeting with them and then we went
together into the Lake and there we had a nice prayer and I baptized
these eleven friends.
Nearly all of the Durtschis came
to America shortly after I came home. The 28th of September 1905 was the
last day for the Durtschis in Switzerland, and in that evening there
was a large crowd of Saints there. We held a meeting which lasted two
hours and had a wonderful time.
Then Brother Durtschi prepared to
go to America. He went and sat down by the table and took his money.
He had quite a pile of money on the table and he took it and made
several different piles on the table. I was wondering what he was doing
that for. I found out that he had one pile for one of his girls to come
to America and to the others the same thing.
When he came to the last pile he
took the money in his hands and said, 'Here Brother Hirschi, this is for
you.'
'No, Brother Durtschi', I said,
'Put it right back, I won't take that money and be careful when you get
to Zion. Don't think that everyone is honest and square like you are. If
you come to Zion with me, be careful or they will get the best of you.
Just take that money to America and look around for a nice little home
and put your money in there.’
He cried and finally walked back
to the table and took it back there and then took ten francs and came to
me. 'You will take that won't you?' I took that money to please him.
'Then of course we stayed with
them all night and we had to go early in the morning and so they left
for America and when they came to America, they bought a home in Midway
and somehow the boys moved up here. They had a carload of cattle with
them and they went to the Basin and took them to my place and I put them
in the pasture that night and in the morning they brought them up here.
During haying time they made a
hay rake and they came down and helped me put up my hay. I learned to
love these people and I know them as well as anyone and I am really
pleased to see so many here. It shows they have many friends around
here.
I asked the Lord to help and to
bless them and to bless us all. Brothers, Sisters and friends, be
careful, let's do all we can and live the Gospel and let's not turn our
backs to the Church of Jesus Christ because it is the only true Church.
In the city of Idaho Falls I find
a condition that almost made me cry. I am a Home Missionary in one Ward
I lived in. I went around and made visits and found out that sixteen
families who have lived there for two or three years never knew how to
get a recommend. So we can see how even we, as Latter- Day Saints, can
be careless. You know about the ten virgins - five wise and five foolish
and couldn't even enter into the presence of Christ.
Do all to further the work ahead,
but not only live for ourselves, but for our neighbors and friends. No
matter what they do, labor with them and bring them into the Church of
Jesus Christ and look after them, these the lost sheep, and do all you
can to save souls. I pray to the Lord to bless these families. I am
pleased and happy to see so many here, that I have seen the old country
Berlin and got acquainted with Westons in Berlin when I came to Berlin
on my second mission. That was a terrible time, the Saints were one
against the other. About one-third stood up against the Conference
President. He said 'It is a sheep in a wolf's skin'. And I had to go and
straighten this all up. A few stood up and talked and found fault.
Finally these brothers' mother wanted me to go visit her and I went to
see them and she said she had lost her husband in the war. I asked her,
'What is the chance of having cottage meetings here in your house?’ She
said, 'No, you can't have any cottage meeting here in this house.’ 'What
is the matter?’ I ask. She said, 'Nobody would come here.' 'Well,
I'll just ask one thing - will you give me your room so I can hold
cottage meetings and Bible classes?' And she said, '’Well, if it will do
you any good, you can have it.' So every week I held classes and
through this I baptized twenty-two. If we want to we can do a good work
for our Heavenly Father.
I pray the Lord to bless this
family, this is almost like my second family and I ask the Lord to be
with us always that we may do our duties and be Saviors upon Mount Zion,
I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
Bp. Durtschi: A duet will now be sung by Brother Dick Egbert and Isobel Hatch, accompanied by Marjorie O’Brien.
COME UNTO ME
Come unto me, come unto me,
All ye that labor and are heavy laden,
And I will give you rest, rest unto your souls,
All ye heavy laden, and I will give you rest,
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me,
For I am meek and lowly, meek and lowly of heart,
And ye shall find rest unto your souls,
Ye shalt find rest unto your souls;
Ye shall find rest unto your souls,
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Ye shall find rest unto your souls,
Ye shall find rest unto your souls
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Bp. Durtschi: President Choules will be the concluding speaker.
President Choules: 'I think I feel that I need the help of you
good people and my Father in Heaven as much as I ever did that I might
say what I have to say in as few words as possible. This has been a fine
occasion for me, I think I have known these good people, with the
exception of one year, ever since they came to the valley. They came
here in 1909 and I came here first in 1910. They are a credit to our
Stake, all of them. I don't know where we can find any fault and I have a
very high regard for them.
I am sure that Sister Durtschi
will feel very pleased with these services up to this moment. I think
she was one of the sweetest and finest characters that we've had in our
valley. It is a wonderful thing when a person passes away and you hear
the comments made by those who know you and neighbors and friends. It
has been inspirational to know that almost everybody has about the same
things to say about the kindness and neighborliness and willingness to
help anyone in need, the sweet spirit, spoken of by the Bishop and
Sister Green.
I am happy for the honor of
standing here for just a few moments. I had intended saying a few more
things, but now I shall not do that. The other night I had a talk with
Flora, who spent considerable time with her mother in the hospital, and
had the opportunity of having her mother speak her real self to her; her
thoughts about the hereafter and her desires. I shall mention just a
few of them rather than to try to say other things.
Flora made a note of some of these statements.(See above)
These are wonderful things! Quite often in life we hear fine things and
think we will remember them, but find we have forgotten them. I really
appreciate looking over some of these notes and I shall refer to a few.
She said as she lay on the bed,
'I know that my Redeemer lives'. I've analyzed that statement and I'd
like to ask you if it isn't consistent and logical that such characters
as this shall know this. The Lord said 'The meek shall inherit the
earth’ - and certainly the meek are entitled to the whisperings of our
Heavenly Father. Such characters as Sister Durtschi are just the ones
who the Spirit of God shall feel pleased to dwell with and give this
information that the heart might desire and by reason of that she could
say that 'she knows that her Redeemer livest.'
She said, 'I do so appreciate
your being here, I'm happy that you and Joe are working in the Church.
You are on the right track!
She joined the church in the old
world. She knew the joy that the Gospel had been to her. You've heard
how she happened to become acquainted with the Church. She thought more
of it than anything else in the world because it meant more to her and
I'm sure she was happy as she lay on her bed and realized that all her
children and son-in laws and daughters-in-law were active in the church,
which meant more than anything else.
'How very privileged I am to come out of Babylon when really, I am no better than they!'
She accepted the Gospel, as you
have heard explained this afternoon, came out here and is the product of
the Gathering principal of this church. The missionaries were sent into
the world and the honest in heart listened and obeyed and came here to
receive the privileges of that call. They have enjoyed privileges here
which they never could have enjoyed in the old world. I wonder when she
said 'I am no better than they' - I am sure that she was better than the
majority.
'If I should die, tell LaVerne
not to feel badly because she was not here. I would have liked to have
seen her again. She is being guided by the Lord and is doing a wonderful
work.'
'Keep closely in touch with one another and help each other.’
She was always trying to do for
her children, she realized what a fine thing it would be if these same
children would do everything they could for each other. Then they would
get out of life what she had gotten out of life.
'If I should die, I want Sister
Green to speak and Aunt Ida and Luella to sing 'O it is Wonderful’!
'If I should go to your
father--and Sister Flora said she always spoke of this as being her
greatest desire and after having lived so that her children could take
care of themselves, she now has the privilege of going to her husband
and enjoying themselves together throughout the continual ages of
Eternity.
'Tell my little grandchildren
that I hope they will grow up and be able to withstand the powers of the
Adversary. I want them to write down the things their Sunday School
teachers tell them.' If they will do this, what a fine thing that will
be to look over in years to come, to look back on those little sayings.
I think that would be a scrapbook that would comfort many. "If we would
only live like we know we should.' Most of us do not--I have never
thought that I did, but I think there are some people, like Sister
Durtschi, who just about live the way they know they should, according
to those who are well acquainted with her.
I am going to take the liberty of
reading the last line of that song that she has requested these two
sisters to sing:
I think of His hands pierced and
bleeding to pay the debt. Such love, such devotion, can I forget? I know
that my redeemer lives.'
If this good woman, who has been
so charitable who has exemplified in her life the true spirit of Christ
in being willing to give rather than receive and to do good all her life
and enjoying that independence of character, not wanting to receive,
but always giving, then what more good could anybody ask for?
I pray God to bless these
children. They are fortunate to have such a father and mother. I had the
privilege of saying a few words at the father's funeral and I contrast
the surroundings there and here. The building now this good woman was
able to help build and the fine church they are now enjoying in their
own Ward in Pratt. I am happy that we have had the honor to hold these
services here.
That God will bless this good
family that peace and happiness will be with them always, I pray in the
name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Bp. Durtschi: The family wishes to thank anyone who
helped in any way. I am sorry that we had not received the word that
this song was to be sung by Sister Ida and Luella, we knew only that she
requested that song. The quartet will sing it and these two sisters
will sing in the quartet. After the song Brother Charles Christensen
will offer the benediction.
Song: O It Is Wonderful
Prayer by Charles Christensen: Heavenly Father, in
conclusion of these services, we thank thee for Thy Spirit here today.
We thank Thee for all blessings we enjoy that Thou hast given us
knowledge and understanding of the purpose of life. That thou hast
blessed us with the knowledge of what is placed in store for us in the
hereafter.
We are thankful that we are
permitted to live in this good land at a time and age when Thou has
restored and established this church on the earth. We are thankful to
have the association of some of the most noble and choice spirits, such
as the Spirit of this good lady whose body lies before us now.
We ask Thee to bless the children
and immediate relatives of this beloved woman with Thy Spirit to guide
and direct them in their efforts. Bless them with a desire to know more
of Thy plan, with a greater determination to serve Thee and keep Thy
commandments. These blessings we pray for in the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
End (of funeral transcript)
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