MRS. N. W. WILKINS

Funeral services for Mrs. N. W. Wilkins, who passed from this life on Sunday, Oct. 11, 1925, were held on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 14, at two o’clock, from the Church of Christ; her pastor, Rev. L. H. Camp, officiating and paying a fitting tribute to her character as a wife, mother and friend.

Hundreds of sorrowing friends and neighbors joined the relatives in paying their last respects to one who was universally loved and respected by all who knew her.

Following the service by the pastor the Royal Neighbors, of which organization she was a member, gave their beautiful funeral service.

The officers of McKinley Chapter O.E.S., of which the deceased was a member, conducted their service for departed sisters at the cemetery.

Sophia Rathmann, daughter of George and Etta Rathmann, was born in this city, July 29, 1891. When she was but two years of age, her mother died and she was given a home with her father’s sister, Mrs. Mary Anderson. Here she grew to womanhood surrounded by the love and affection of one who took the mother’s place in her life and who loved her as her own. The Anderson’s moved to Florence, Neb. while the deceased was a small child and here she attended school, graduating from the Florence High School. She united with the Presbyterian Church at that place in 1899 and was ever faithful to her trust, serving as a Sunday School teacher and organist.

Her father died Oct. 13, 1898 in Florida where he was serving in the Spanish-American War as a volunteer.

Prior to her marriage she was an efficient book-keeper in the Rathmann garage.

Her marriage to Norman W. Wilkins occurred August 22, 1917 and the happy couple went at once to their comfortable farm home west of town where they established a home. To this union were born four dear little children, two boys and two girls, who are now bereft of a mother’s love and care.

Besides the children, her husband and foster mother survive to mourn her departure, as well as a large number of relatives and close friends and neighbors.

She united with the Church of Christ just before her marriage.

Following a week’s stay at the Nebraska State Fair, in September, Mrs. Wilkins became seriously ill and was rushed by ambulance to Lord Lister Hospital in Omaha where everything was done to stay the hand of Death but she passed away on Sunday, Oct. 11.

Beautiful floral tributes testified to the love and esteem of her friends.

The pall bearers were club boys of her neighborhood, whom she had invited to her home on many occasions and had given words of encouragement and kindly interest. They were assisted by the County Agent, Geo. Bates, who was also indebted to her for many acts of kindness and friendly interest in his club work.

The Enterprise joins a host of friends in extending sympathy to the bereaved husband and children in this sad hour of trial.

2)Printed in the Thursday, October 15, 1925 Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

Mrs. Norman Wilkins Dies In Omaha Hospital

This community was saddened Sunday evening when it was learned that Mrs. Norman Wilkins had passed away at the Lord Lister hospital in Omaha, where she had been taken a few weeks previously for treatment following the development of a serious illness.

Mrs. Wilkins was the daughter of George and Etta Rathmann and was born in Blair July 29, 1891. Her mother died October 13, 1893 and her father passed away October 18, 1898, while serving as a soldier in the Spanish-American War.

After her mother’s death, Sophia was given a home with her father’s sister, Mrs. Mary Anderson, who then lived at Florence. Sophia joined the Presbyterian church at Florence in 1899, taking an active part as a Sunday School teacher and organist for several years, but a short time prior to her marriage she united with the Christian church in Blair.

A few years previous to her marriage to Norman Wilkins on August 22, 1917, Mrs. Anderson and Sophia moved to Blair, Sophia being employed at the Rathmann garage as a bookkeeper.

Besides the husband she leaves four children, two boys and two girls, the oldest being but seven years of age and the youngest only two.

Funeral services were held at the country home at 1:00 o’clock yesterday afternoon and at 2:00 o’clock at the Christian church in Blair, Rev. L.H. Camp being assisted in the obsequies by members of the Royal Neighbors and Eastern Star Lodges, County Agent Bates with six pig and calf club members, dressed in white, acted as pall bearers.

The services were largely attended and the floral offerings were many and beautiful, showing plainly the great esteem in which this young wife and mother was held by the people of the community.

#3 Printed in the October 14, 1925 Pilot, Blair, Nebraska

Mrs. Norman Wilkins passed away at the Lord Lister hospital in Omaha at 11 o’clock Sunday evening, where she had been for several weeks fighting for life. She was anemic and when pneumonia set in she was too weak to pull through. The body was brought up here the same night and a short funeral service was held at the farm home at 1 o’clock today, followed by a regular service at the Christian church, Rev. L. H. Camp officiating. County Agent Bates and six members of the Papio Pig club, Leonard Miller, Leslie Thompson, Woodrow Biffar, Loren Biffar, Sam Stewart and Alvin McDonald, for which Mr. Wilkins was the leader, served as pallbearers. There was a large attendance and the floral offerings were unusually large and beautiful, as befitted the beautiful life she had led. She was born in this city July 29th, 1891, so was just past 34 years of age. Her mother died October 13th 1893 when she was less than three years of age. Her father, the late George Rathmann, died October 13th, 1898 of typhoid fever at Pablo Beach, Florida, while serving as a member of Co. E. 3rd Nebraska Vol. Inf., of which the writer was captain. We brought the body home for burial in the Blair cemetery. After the death of her mother, her aunt, Mrs. Mary Anderson, cared for her until she grew into lovely womanhood. She lived in Florence for a time and while there joined the Presbyterian church, serving the church as organist and Sunday School teacher. Later she worked at the Rathmann garage as bookkeeper and proved very capable and efficient. She was married to Norman Wilkins August 22nd, 1917, and four children were born to them, two boys and two girls, Norman, Jr., aged 7, Marietta, aged 5, Florence, aged 3 and Frank, aged 2 years. Shortly before her marriage to Mr. Wilkins she united with the Christian church where she was a faithful attendant and worker. She was a member of McKinley Chapter, O. E. S., and of Myrtle Camp of the Royal Neighbors of this city. Her death in the prime of life and with four small children is a very sad occurrence and the bereaved husband, the motherless children and other relatives have the sincere sympathy of all who know them.

~~~ Obituaries courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska. ~~~

FindaGrave # 50936671