Helene Regehr

Mennonite Genealogy with Michael Penner

Helene Regehr (1876-1912)

Helene Regehr was born at 9 p.m. on November 23, 1876 in Steinbach, Molotschna Colony to David and Katharina Regehr. She was the youngest of six children: she had four older sisters and one older brother.

As a child she attended the private school in Steinbach, Molotschna.

In 1897, at the age of 20, she married widower Herman Neufeld who was 38 years old. Herman had two prior wives, who both had the same name: Margaretha Janzen. Herman had three surviving sons from his prior marriages, and so Helene instantly became a mother when she married. Helene and Herman lived in Alexandertal, Molotschna Colony, a short distance from the Steinbach estate.

Ten months into their marriage, Helene gave birth to her first son, David Herman Neufeld. A year later, she bore a second son, Bernhard Herman Neufeld.

Herman was a storekeeper in Alexandertal. He died on October 19, 1900, after being in bed for six months with pneumonia. Herman and Helene had been married three years. Helene was left with two little boys of her own as well as three stepsons. Her stepsons went to their mothers’ families and Anna returned with her boys to Steinbach.

Helene Regehr Neufeld became close to her widowered brother-in-law, Nikolai Heinrich Schmidt. He had seven boys and one girl and she had two boys. They married in 1902, creating a blended family with ten young children, none of whom was yet a teenager. Imagine the liveliness of their household! Helene worked hard maintaining the household. Nikolai owned a large farm and so the family lived comfortably.

In 1903, Nikolai and Helene had a son Gerhard. Later, they had a daughter Maria who lived about one year.

Helene Neufeld Schmidt nee Regehr died on November 23, 1912. Her highly blended family included:

· three stepsons from Herman Neufeld’s first two marriages,

· two sons with her first husband, Herman Neufeld,

· one son and one daughter with her second husband, Nikolai Schmidt,

· eight stepchildren from Nikolai Schmidt’s first marriage to Helene’s sister Maria.

Back to the Regehr page.

Herman Neufeld and Helene nee Regehr family, 1899. Left to right: Helene holding David, Abram, Herman jr., Herman, Jacob.

Helene nee Regehr and her second husband, Nikolai Schmidt, and their son Gerhard Schmidt, c. 1905.

Helene nee Regehr’s first husband, Herman Neufeld at age 37, 1895.

Herman Neufeld and Helene nee Regehr family, 1899

Helene nee Regehr and her second husband, Nikolai Schmidt, and their son Gerhard Schmidt, c. 1905

Nikolai H. Schmidt with three sons at the Steinbach estate, c. 1920. Left to right: Heinrich Schmidt (1892-1981), David Schmidt (1890-1936), Nikolai H. Schmidt (1861-1930), Gerhard Schmidt (1903-1973).

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