Obituaries by F. M. W.; G. F. WATSON; A. R. OGDEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 28, 1914

Obituaries

By F. M. W.; G. F. WATSON; A. R. OGDEN

Mrs. G. B. Thompson

DELIA A. HICKS was born near Rutland, Ill., July 19, 1868, and died at Takoma Park, Md., May 2, 1914, aged 45 years, 9 months, and 13 days. Her husband, two brothers, and a sister in Calgary, Canada, the wife of Elder H. S. Shaw, are left of her immediate relatives. She was born of Seventh-day Adventist parents who were identified with the advent movement of 1844 and later embraced the Sabbath and other kindred truths of the message in its pioneer days. Thus, early in life Sister Hicks’s heart was inclined toward the service of God. She gave evidence of a deep conversion, and in her girlhood days united with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. After being graduated from the high school in Gibson, Ill., she taught in the public schools for a time; but desiring a closer identification with the work of this movement, she later entered the Bible work in the city of Chicago. Here she labored successfully for several years. In 1891 she was married to Elder G. B. Thompson. From that time her interests have been closely identified with his, both giving their entire strength and energy to faithful, loving ministry in the cause of God. In 1893 Sister Thompson accompanied her husband to South Africa. It was there that her first decline of health was experienced. They spent nearly four years in that field, returning to the United States in 1896. For a number of years her health had been greatly impaired, notwithstanding the fact that everything that medical skill could do was done to better her condition. Several times the Lord, in answer to prayer, sent to her instant and remarkable healing, and strengthened her for the continuation of her labors. Her sickness and sufferings were patiently endured. Her trust was daily placed in the Lord, and she never murmured nor complained. She lived a life of prayer and consecration to God. She sleeps in Jesus, to come forth in the resurrection of the just to a life of unending joy in the kingdom of God. This hope lightens the load of sorrow, and robs grief of its most poignant pain. Quiet and unassuming, as becomes noble womanhood, our sister lived a life of humble devotion to God and to her associates. In the Sabbath school as a teacher or superintendent, in the work of the church school as a member of the board, in the work of the church as deaconess, she labored beyond her strength to advance the cause of her Master. Well do we recall the anxiety she felt and the earnest labor she put forth at the last week of prayer season that every member in her division of the Sabbath school might be brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. God greatly blessed her efforts in this direction. Not blessed with children of her own, her love reached out to the children of others. Leading others to Christ in kindly, loving, simple ways, assisting poor boys and girls through school, ministering to the sick and suffering, in these our sister found solace in her loneliness, and joy in her service. Could all for whom she did some kindly deed or to whom she spoke some loving word bring a floral offering to her grave, she would sleep beneath a wilderness of flowers. It was hers to abide by the stuff while her faithful husband went forth to the warfare; hers to keep the home, in order that the tired warrior might find a place of rest and refreshing. His going she blessed with brave and hopeful words; his return she welcomed with wifely love and devotion. In this she was a true representative of the thousands of faithful wives who in the separation which the service of God entails bear an equal part of toil and sacrifice. And we may believe that the law of ancient Israel will be the law of the coming kingdom, that he who abides by the stuff shall share equally with him who goes forth to war. We can say of Sister Thompson, as was said of one of old, “She hath done what she could.” She has fought a good fight, she has finished her course, she has kept the faith; and there is laid up for her a crown of righteousness, which God, the righteous judge, shall give her in the day of his appearing. F. M. W.

Elder A. P. Heacock

A. P. HEACOCK was born Sept. 7, 1844, and died April 22, 1914. About thirty years ago he embraced the truths held by Seventh-day Adventists, and entered the ministry of this denomination soon after, beginning work in the Iowa Conference. Twenty-five years ago I joined Elder Heacock and wife as their tent master, and worked for them during the two years following. I look back upon that experience as one of pleasure and profit. On March 8, 1870, the deceased was married to Miss Mary C. Coulson, and they walked together for more than forty-four years. One child was born to them, a daughter, with whom Sister Heacock will make her home. Elder Heacock died at the sanitarium in Little Rock, Ark., where everything possible was done to prolong his life, but it was evidently God’s will that the tired warrior should rest from his labors. Through all the years of his ministry his one thought was of the work of God, and he longed to see the end of sin and the coming of his Saviour. Those who knew him longest loved him most. Truly a father in Israel has fallen. His faithful labor of many years in this Southland has been productive of much good, and he will not soon be forgotten. Words of consolation were spoken by the writer. G. F. WATSON.

Elder K. Rasmussen

K. RASMUSSEN was born in Hurup, Denmark, June 2, 1878, and died at his home in Sioux City, Iowa, at 5 A. M., April 9, 1914, at the age of 35 years, 10 months, and 7 days. He was converted and accepted the Seventh-day Adventist faith in 1897. Three months later he entered the military service of Denmark, in which service he suffered imprisonment during the greater part of a year, with the severest punishment, for refusing to do military service on the Sabbath. He was subjected to most cruel tortures, all of which he endured with the utmost fortitude for the sake of the truth which he had so recently found and for which he was willing to suffer. He had enlisted before his acceptance of the truth; hence there was no escape from service. On the king’s birthday, April 8,

1899, he was pardoned, at which time he dedicated his life fully to the Lord’s service for the winning of souls. Soon after his release he came to this country, and after completing a nurses’ course and further preparation for gospel service, he entered the ministry, and labored faithfully for eight years in the cause to which he unreservedly devoted his life to the very last; and as a result, many are now rejoicing in the truth that was so dear to him. Only those who have been personally acquainted with his ministry can appreciate what an earnest, arduous laborer Brother Rasmussen was. He spared not himself, but threw every energy of his being into the proclamation of the truth for which he had suffered so much. He labored in the State of Iowa for about three years, previous to which time he labored in Wisconsin. He was united in marriage to Marlinda Dohl, on Jan. 30, 1904. He is mourned by his wife, one brother, three sisters, an aged grandmother, and a large circle of friends. Elder Rasmussen had just a few days before his death concluded a series of meetings at Exira, during which he had labored very earnestly. He complained for several days while at Exira of a severe headache, and of not feeling well; he had been a little overheated and had taken a chill, but felt that after a few days’ rest at home he would fully recover his strength and be able to answer urgent and waiting calls for meetings. His illness was not supposed to be serious by those who were with him until just the day before his decease. The doctor was called and pronounced it nervous breakdown, with other complications. The death of Elder Rasmussen has come to the workers and all the believers in the Iowa Conference as a great shock. Several of our ministers attended the funeral and took part in the service. There were present Elders J. W. Dorcas, J. C. Clemens, and O. J. Nerlund, and Brethren W. A. McKibben and N. H. Olson, and the writer. Elder Edwardsen, of Wisconsin, with whom Elder Rasmussen had labored, was present by special invitation of Sister Rasmussen. A short service at the home was conducted by Elders Dorcas and Nerlund, after which the body was taken to the church in Sioux City where our Sabbath services are held, and the funeral was conducted at 1:30 P. M., Sunday, April 12. Elder J. C. Clemens delivered the principal sermon, after which the writer read Isa. 52:7, 8; Dan. 12:3; Rev. 14:13, making some remarks relative to the service of Elder Rasmussen in the proclamation of the message of truth which was so precious to him. We believe it can be truthfully said of our brother that he labored unselfishly for the cause to which he had dedicated his life, and those especially who have accepted the message through his ministry, will mourn most keenly the loss of our beloved brother and fallen comrade in service. We believe it can truly be said of Brother Rasmussen that while he rests from his labors his works do follow him. He fell at his post. A. R. OGDEN.