# 1 - - Enterprise, June 21, 1928

ANOTHER PIONEER RESIDENT PASSES

WIFE OF FORMER SHERIFF CALLED TO GREAT BEYOND

HUSBAND SHERIFF OF COUNTY TWENTY-FIVE YEARS

BELONGS TO PIONEER FAMILY

COUNTY RESIDENT SINCE ‘67

Mrs. Tina Mencke passed away at Tekamah June 14, 1928 after an illness which kept her bedfast for three months.

Deceased was born in Germany, July 10, 1857 and with her parents, Geo. D. Rathmann and wife, came to this county in 1867. On September 29, 1874 she married Claus Mencke and for a time they lived on a farm near Blair. Later the husband was appointed deputy sheriff of the county and then elected to the office of sheriff which position he filled for twenty-two years.

Five children are left to mourn Mrs. Mencke’s death: Henry of Blair; George of Seattle, Wash.; Bessie of Tekamah, Nebr.; Emma Lazure of Hildreth, Nebr.; and John Mencke of Lebanon, Oregon.

To those who have known Mrs. Mencke, her memory will be that of a kindly, thoughtful person, patient and conscientious in all her ways, a mother and a wife that strove in all things for the ideal. She had no enemies because of her upright life and her friends were numbered only by her circle of acquaintances. Her life in all things was well worthy of emulation and she was one of the few who was pointed to for the sweetness of her disposition.

The funeral services were held at the old home on South street at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, where in the presence of a vast assemblage of old friends, Rev. Newell of Tekamah spoke words of consolation and cheer to the bereaved family, and interment was made in the Blair cemetery beside the husband who had gone on before. So ends a life that was altogether unselfish and all that is left is the memory of that life which will be cherished by all who knew her.

Besides the children already mentioned she leaves five brothers, August Rathmann, Chris H. Rathmann and G.A. Rathmann, all of Blair; Henry Rathmann of Scribner, Nebr. and John Rathmann of Lebanon, Oregon; also two sisters, Mrs. Emma Soll and Mrs. Mary Anderson, both of Blair.

Among those from out of town who were present at the ceremonies were: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Soll of Florence; Mr. and Mrs. Summers Skow of Irvington; Mrs. Ernest Lazure of Hildreth, Nebr.; Mr. Hans Rathmann and daughter and Miss Kate Rathmann of Grand Island.

# 2 - - from The Pilot, date not readable

MRS. MENCKE DIED THURS.

PASSED AWAY AT THE HOME OF HER DAUGHTER, MISS BESSIE MENCKE IN TEKAMAH THURSDAY MORNING

Mrs. Tine Mencke, wife of the late Claus Mencke, passed peacefully away at the home of her daughter, Miss Bessie Mencke, in Tekamah at an early hour last Thursday morning where she went some months ago to recuperate from an illness.

She became suddenly worse and was taken to a hospital up there for a time, but despite everything that could be done for her, she slowly weakened and for some time it was known that the end was near. She bore her suffering patiently and was ready for the falling of the final curtain.

The body was brought here and the funeral service held Sunday afternoon at her residence on South street at 2:30 o’clock, Rev. A.F. Newell officiating, assisted by Rev. Mr. Hunter, Presbyterian pastor at Tekamah. There was a large crowd in attendance and the floral offerings were unusually large and beautiful, she and her late husband Claus Mencke for many years sheriff of the county, being well and widely known.

Burial was in the Blair cemetery by the side of her husband, whose death occurred in this city July 10th, 1921.

Tine Rathmann was born July 9, 1857,, so was almost 71 years of age at the time of her death. At the age of five years she came to this country with her parents, George D. and Marie Rathmann, and settled first in Omaha. When she was twelve years of age the family removed to this county, which has been her home ever since, almost 60 years.

She was united in marriage to Claus Mencke in this city on Sept. 19th, 1874 and ten children were born to them, five of whom are now living: Henry of this city; Bessie of Tekamah; George of Seattle, Wash.; Emma Lazure of Hildreth, Neb.; and John of Lebanon, Oregon. All but George and John were here for the funeral service.

She is also survived by five grandsons, one great-granddaughter, two sisters, Emma Bell and Mary Anderson of this city and five brothers, August, Chris and G.A. of this city; Henry of Scribner and John Rathmann of Lebanon, Oregon.

The bereaved family have the sincere sympathy of their many friends and the loving memory of a kind, loving, faithful and dutiful mother and friend.

Note that her name is spelled two different ways in these articles: Tina - Tine