Minnie Terpening

FAMILY WILL BE GREATING FAMILY & FRIENDS WEDNESDAY FROM 6PM TO 8PM

Minnie Mae Terpening, age 106, of Haddam, Kansas passed away on July 13, 2015 at Belleville Health Care Center in Belleville, Kansas. She lived in Haddam, Kansas until June 7, 2012, then moved into Belleville Health Care Center. Minnie was born May 19, 1909 to Thomas and Emma Hackbarth Miller at their home north of Morrowville, Kansas. Minnie was second oldest of a family of eleven, eight girls and three boys: Anna, Minnie, Elda, Hilda, Luther, Delmar, Gladys, Byrtilla, Evelyn, Harold, and Martha. Minnie attended Lowe Center School. She helped at home and worked for many neighbors, sometimes helping mothers with new babies. All of Minnie’s siblings were born at home. Minnie did lots of baking, canning, and she helped with chores. She was a seamstress, making clothing for her family, and she loved quilting. She learned to be a barber at an early age, and she continued cutting hair for many years. When she was teenager, her parents started a band, entertaining with house and barn dances. Her dad played the fiddle, her mother played the organ or piano, and her sister Annie played drums. Minnie also played piano in the family band. The band would often play until midnight, sometimes traveling home in summer thunderstorms or winter blizzards with a horse team and buggy, using lanterns for light. On March 4, 1931, Minnie married Clarence Terpening who she had known growing up. He was raised in the nearby Albia Community. They had one child, Luella. Minnie and Clarence farmed for many years, gardening, and raising cattle, hogs, and chickens. Their first years of marriage were during the Great Depression of the 1930’s, a hard time with hot, dry years, when very little crops were raised. They farmed until 1988 and then retired to Haddam to live closer to their daughter and her family. Minnie and Clarence enjoyed their years in Haddam, attending church, going to the Golden Oldies, and travelling. Minnie and Clarence celebrated 64 years of marriage. Clarence passed away on December 13, 1995. Minnie celebrated her 90 ^th birthday and her 100 ^th birthday with open house celebrations at the Haddam City Hall. Each year her birthdays were made special by her family. At 106 years of age, Minnie had seen many innovations in her lifetime. The first car, tractor, airplane, rural electricity, indoor plumbing, television, computer, cell phone—all were new during her life. Minnie’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren were very special to her. She loved to treat them to ice cream, cookies, or candy when they visited her. Survivors include her daughter Luella Welch of Haddam; grandchildren Glenda and Curt Thompson of Hutchinson, Kansas, Kenneth Welch of Haddam and special friend Gelene Savage of Topeka, and Dennis and Susan Welch of Haddam; great-grandchildren Kyle Thompson and wife Mallory of Xenia, Ohio; Laura Thompson of Hutchinson, Michael Welch of Davenport, Iowa; Nathan Welch and Korey Welch of Haddam. Sisters Gladys Novak of Haddam, Byrtilla Lichtenberger of Beatrice, Nebraska, and Martha Harris of Crete, Nebraska. Sister-in-law Marjorie Wilkinson of Fairbury, Nebraska and brother-in-law Rex Lichtenberger, Beatrice. Preceding her in death were her husband Clarence, her parents, son-in-law Edwin Welch, brothers Delmer, Luther, and Harrold Miller; sisters Anna Terpening, Elda Adkins, Hilda Hauschel, and Evelyn Hinel; brothers-in-law Elmer Terpening, Joe Hauschel, Bill Adkins, Arden Leonard, Everett Terpening, Wilbur Terpening, Lloyd Terpening, Harry Harris, and Kent Wilkinson; sisters-in-law Evelyn Miller, Blanche Terpening, Marjorie Terpening, Marjorie Leonard, and Irene Terpening. Minnie will be deeply missed by her daughter Luella, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Funeral services were held on July 16, 2015 at the Haddam United Methodist Church with Pastor Randy Jellison-Knock officiating. Pallbearers were Kenneth Welch, Dennis Welch, Curt Thompson, Michael Welch, Korey Welch, Nathan Welch, and Kyle Thompson. Honorary pallbearers were Rex Lichtenberger, Glenda Thompson, Susan Welch, and Laura Thompson. Burial was in Fairbury City Cemetery. Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, Belleville, Kansas assisted the Welch family with these arrangements.