Hi-Line Weekly, Hingham, MT, Feb. 4, 1943
William E. GehlenHomesteader
Hingham friends and neighbors crowded the Catholic church at Hingham Monday forenoon to pay tribute to a departed and highly esteemed pioneer, William E. Gehlen, whose sudden passing a week ago Wednesday forenoon, because of a faltering heart, cast a pall of sorrow over this community.
Solemn requiem mass was conducted by Rev. John Kohnke, assisted by Rev. M. Werner of Great Falls and Rev. T. Werner of Hingham. Robert Kraft and Frank Lipp officiated as servers during the ceremony.
The mortal remains were laid to rest in the Hingham Union cemetery and those chosen as pallbearers were John Hierlmaier, John Haas, Frank Farnik, Al Petrick, Alvah Jones, and John Kindschy.
The many floral tributes expressing sympathy and sorrow were extended to the bereaved by the community, the MWA, and RNA lodges and old-time friends. A coterie of members of Hingham MWA camp 10391, of which the deceased was a member of long standing, escorted the bier to the church from the home where the body had been moved from the Holland and Bonine funeral chapel on the afternoon of the previous day.
The deceased was born at Young America, Minnesota, on December 10, 1873, and grew to manhood in the vicinity of Glencoe, Minnesota, where on April 30, 1901, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Muller of that city. This union was blessed with eleven children, two dying in infancy.
Mr. Gehlen spent a major portion of his young life engaged in farming in that vicinity, where in 1904 a tornado completely demolished his farm home and a large barn, just built with its contents of feed and livestock.
In February, 1913, he came to Montana and filed on a 160-acre homestead a few miles southwest of Hingham, and in April he established residence with his family on this land where they lived until the spring of 1919, at which time he had purchased a larger farm several miles northwest of here. Caught in a period of adverse years fraught with drought, cutworms and grasshoppers, this venture proved to be another disaster not only to himself and family but to many of his hard-working neighbors as well.
After many years of employment here for the Great Northern railway, he was compelled to retire because of failing health. During those years he was also caretaker of the Woodman Hall which duties he continued faithfully until his sudden passing.
He shared in the pioneering days of two states and despite the adversities encountered during his many active years, he never lost faith in his God and chosen church. His philosophy of life was tempered by an ardent Christian understanding. His ever present optimism and extended hand of good cheer were outstanding and admired by all who shared his genial acquaintance. Realizing that his time was not far distant, he accordingly made all preparations and awaited the inevitable in fullest confidence.
All surviving children attended the funeral as well as a brother, Joseph F. Gehlen of Glencoe, Minnesota, a nephew Art Gehlen of Glencoe, Minnesota, and a daughter-in-law, Mrs. William Gehlen, Jr., of Fort Peck.
In addition to his widow, he is survived by the following children: Mrs. J. Murray of St. Paul, Minnesota; Al J. Gehlen, Havre; Ray G. Gehlen, Havre; Mrs. Donald Donovan, Kremlin; A. E. Gehlen, Couer d'Alene, Idaho; Mrs. Elmer Lindstrom, Havre; Mrs. Rodney Spicher, Hingham; Mrs. J. K. Kero, Couer d'Alene, Idaho, and Private William Gehlen, Hammer Field, Fresno, California. Twenty-five grandchildren also survive.
He is also survived by two brothers, F. Gehlen and G. P. Gehlen of Glencoe, Minnesota, and two sisters, Mrs. Jake Brown of Glencoe, Minnesota and Mrs. Kate Wolf of Waconie, Minnesota.