Emma Teichroew

She was born on July 9, 1909, to John B. and Marie (Janzen) Harder of Mt. Lake, Minnesota, and was baptized on confession of faith in the Mt. Lake Mennoniten Kirchen, now First Mennonite Church, by Isaac J. Dick in 1928. She graduated from Mt. Lake Public High School in 1930, also having studied at the local German Preparatory School. After graduation, she worked as a cook at Bethel Hospital and took private art lessons. Emma married Peter A. Teichroew on June 29, 1932, and together they farmed until retiring in 1976. They worked on the Teichroew homestead and then moved to another family farm in 1965. They moved to the town of Mt. Lake in 1984, to Yankton in 1994, and to the Salem Mennonite Home in Freeman, South Dakota, in 1997. A devout Mennonite in faith and culture, Emma was active in many church activities, including the First Mennonite Mission Society and Oakleaf Mission Society, and helping at Care and Share in Mt. Lake and at yearly Mennonite Central Committee Relief sales. She excelled at quilting, knitting, crocheting, and sewing and was a fine cook (and baker) in the Russian Mennonite tradition. She was always happy to share her beautiful flower garden and the fruits of her vegetable garden. She enjoyed reading and listening to books on tape. While living in South Dakota near her eldest son, Harlan, she enjoyed speaking her native Low German language and recollecting favorite foods from her youth in Mt. Lake. Emma's 100th birthday celebration in 2009 brought together all of her descendents and drew friends and relatives from throughout the country. She remained gracious and mentally vibrant to the end of her life. She is preceded in death by her husband, who died in December 1997, and three sisters, Johanna Lepp, Clara Nickel, and Elsie Friesen. She is survived by four children: Harlan (Carolyn) of Yankton; Lowell of Utrecht, the Netherlands; Charlotte (Larry) Eliot of Ipswich, Massachusetts; Allan (Jean) of Silver Spring, Maryland; nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.