Our beloved mother, Margaret Barkman, nee Friesen, was born in the southern part of Russia on the 24th day of March 1878 and peacefully passed away on the 20th of Jan. 1946, reaching the age of 87 years, 9 months, and 26 days.
In the year of 1874 she imigrated into Canada with her parents, Jacob Friesens. In 1875 on June 2nd, her mother and father Barkman were drowned in the Red River near Winnipeg.
Mother gave her heart to the Lord in her young years and was accepted into the Church of God in Christ through baptism, and remained a faithful sister untill her death.
Mother was given into the Bond of Matrimony to our beloved father, John G. Barkman, on the 6th of Jan. 1878. To this union eleven children were born, six sons and five daughters.
Our parents have gone through many hardships in the early years of pioneer life in Canada, including poverty and sickness. Our parents have always lived in Steinbach, excepting one year which they spent at Littlefield, Texas. They shared their joys and sorrows for 59 years, 9 months, and 14 days.
Although her physical condition was not always as desired, mother always said she was willing to live or die, as ever pleased the Lord. She spent the last number of years as a widow in her own home, having some of her children living close by. Mrs. P. B. Froese, her daughter, had the greater responsibility in caring for mother.
During last November mother took sick. Medical advice was sought which gave temporary relief, but complications set in which caused her death. She often talked of father, and had a great longing to go home to meet him. Mother has left us a living hope for eternity. She left with a great desire to have us all meet her again on the great resurrection morning.
She leaves to mourn her departure, 4 sons, 4 daughters, 5 sons-in-law and 5 daughters-in-law, 58 grandchildren, and 24 great grandchildren. We are thankful that our heavenly Father has releaved her of pains and suffering that she had to endure the last seven weeks, yet we will greatly miss her, her chair is vacant. Our dear father preceeded her in death by eight years and three months. One son John, and daughter Katherine (Mrs. K. B. Reimer) and one infant have also gone on before her.
All the children (except Jac. F. and Margaret Barkman, who were at Livingstone, Calif., at the time engaged in evangelistic work, and could not see their way open for returning on such short notice) and most of the grandchildren were present at the funeral.
Following are the names of the family: Mrs. John F. Barkman; K. B. Reimer; Jac. F. and Margaret Berkman; Corn. F. and Sarah Barkman; P. B. and Maria Froeses; F. and Anna Wiebe; P. F. and Amenda Barkman, of Steinbach, and M. F. and Agnes Barkman of Giroux, Man., and P. I. Margaret Reimer; of Ste. Anne, Man.
Funeral services were held in the Steinbach Church, on the 23rd of Jan. 1946, with a large attendance. Bro. G. F. Giesbrecht opened with remarks and prayer, followed by Bro. J. T. Wiebe, who spoke from Scripture Psa. 39:5, 6. Bro. G. F. Goossen spoke briefly in English. C. P. Wohlgemuth made closing remarks and led in prayer.
Interment was made in the Steinbach cemetery, where Bro. John M. Penner gave appropriate remarks and led in prayer.