Services were held at 2:00 o'clock in the Hartington Congregational Church. Interment was at Hartington.

Mr. Rhodenbaugh, who had resided here with his daughter, Mrs. George R. Hawthorne, was probably the most active man, physically, and mentally, for his age in the community. Hardly a day passed that local residents failed to see him walking briskly along the street, greeting his many friends with a cheery "Good morning" or "Fine day!" He was proud of the fact he bore his years lightly.

A few days before his death, he suffered pains around his heart, but relatives did not consider this a serious sign. Mr. Rhodenbaugh, however had a premonition of death for he made some remarks considering his funeral services to his son-in-law, "Dick" Hawthorne, Sunday. When Mr. Rhodenbaug retired Sunday night, it was the last time relatives saw him alive. That he had passed on was not discovered until the Hawthornes arose Monday morning.

Mr. Rhodenbaug was born November 9, 1846, at Rock Island, Illinois, and was married February 17, 1878, at Vail, Iowa, to Miss Emma Dempster of Hayes Township, Crawford County, Iowa. They resided in the Manning, Iowa, area until 1919 when they moved to Hartington, where Mrs. Rhodenbaugh died in 1923. Her husband came here to reside with the Hawthornes at that time.

Surviving are a son, Floyd, of Sioux City, Iowa, and three daughters, Mrs. Nellie Archer, of Sioux City; Mrs. Salome Doty, of Bloomfield, Nebraska; and Mrs. Estella Hawthorne. All near relatives attended the rites.

Mr. Rhodenbaugh's body was sent to Hartington from the Elmore Funeral Parlor, here.
December 24, 1931 Vermillion Plain Talk, South Dakota

The Life Summary of John D. Rhodenbaugh
When John D. Rhodenbaugh was born on November 9, 1846, in Rock Island, Illinois, his father, John Rhodenbaugh, was 33 and his mother, Polly Mary Arrasmith, was 26. He married Emma Frances Dempster on February 17, 1878, in Hayes Township, Crawford, Iowa. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 4 daughters. He lived in Jefferson Township, Shelby County, Iowa, in 1900 and Vermillion, South Dakota, in 1930. He died on December 21, 1931, in Vermillion, South Dakota, at the age of 85, and was buried in Hartington Cemetery, Hartington, Nebraska.

JOHN RHODENBAUGH SUCCUMBS IN SLEEP
FORMER OLD RESIDENT HERE
IS FOUND DEAD IN BED AT VERMILLION
Old age was given as the cause of the death of John D. Rhodenbaugh, 84 years old, former Hartington resident, of Vermillion, South Dakota. The former Cedar County resident was found dead in his bed Monday morning by his daughter, Mrs. G.R. Hawthorne, at whose home he was staying.

The tall, stately figure was a well-known sight in Hartington up to about two years ago, when he moved to the South Dakota city to stay with his daughter.

Mr. Rhodenbaugh often referred to himself here as the "youngest kid in the county," and had, in fact been active the evening before he was found dead.

Funeral services were held in Hartington Wednesday afternoon from the Congregational Church, with Rev. A.R. Hyatt officiating. Interment was in Hartington Cemetery.

Out-of-town relatives attending the services were Mrs. Dick Hawthorne of Vermillion, a daughter; Mrs. Nellie Archer of Sioux City, daughter; Floyd Rhodenbaugh, Sioux City, Iowa; son; Mrs. Byrl LaFarge of Norfolk, Nebraska; granddaughter, who has kept house for her grandfather for the past 10 years in Hartington and Vermillion.

Mr. Rhodenbaugh came to Hartington from the Manning, Iowa, area about 25 years ago. His life in this city was that of a retired farmer and he owned property here at the time of his death. Mrs. Rhodenbaugh died in July 1923, and Mr. Rodenbaugh went to stay with his daughter in Vermillion in March 1929.
Cedar County News, Hartington, Nebraska December 24, 1931