Margaret Strobel   --  1980

        Margaret Christina Strobel was the first child born to the late Joseph and Margaret Weisshaar in Yale, on April 13, 1908.  She grew up in Bethune on the old homestead that her parents built upon arriving from Russia in 1904.
         She was working for Rev. Maedche and family in 1926 when John Strobel (who was also born and raised near Margaret in Bethune) invited her to a Christmas program at the church.  They were married Dec. 15, 1927, in Hope Congregational Church in the farm settlement and lived on the farm John built in 1924.
        She raised turkeys and chickens during the depression and John had a machine shop that still stands today, tools intact. Their daughter Esther was born at this home in 1936 and they then left soon after to go to California where John worked as a carpenter.  They met WGP Blumert and John worked for his company, Pacific Painting until he retired.
       Through Mr. Blumert, they joined the German Methodist Church in Oakland and were charter members when it moved to its present location known as Montclair Methodist Church.  Margaret loved the Ladies Aid and spent many hours at the church making quilts and such for the poor.   They built a home together in El Cerrito, Calif. in 1941 and have remained there almost 50 years.  Because of the good weather, she loved her garden and many flowers.  They returned many times over the years to their farm home in Colorado to visit the many relatives and friends and to help in the harvest.  The last trip being this past September and Mother had a good time talking about the old days.
       In 1987 Margaret broke both hips and after a bout with cancer, remained in a wheel chair most of the time.  She entered the hospital Dec. 5 with a kidney infection and went to be with the Lord Dec. 31, 1990.
 She was the dear mother to Ester Wethern and fond mother-in-law to Stanley Wethern of San Lorenzo, Calif.  Honored grandmother to Stephen Wethern, James Wethern, Karen Welch and Kathleen Silva.  Great grandmother to seven little girls.  She was the loving sister to Lydia Carpenter, John Weisshaar and Paul Weisshaar of Colorado.  Also a sister of the late Magdalena Wardona and Joseph Weisshaar Jr. of Colorado.
     Final burial was at the Hope Congregational Church cemetery in Bethune Jan. 8, 1991.  Pallbearers were Stan Wethern, Paul Weisshaar, John Weisshaar, Ted Schaal, Arnold Strobel and Leland Strobel.  Honorary pallbearers were Alvin Strobel, Calvin Strobel, Art Strobel and Roland Strobel.