Mrs. Mary Pencker was born March 10th, 1841, at Lunden, Germany and on December 1st, 1872, was united in marriage to Mr. William Pencker. In 1882, they with their children came to America and settled on a farm in Hayes Township, Crawford County. On April 13th, 1907, the husband and father was called to the great beyond, leaving a sorrowing wife and family. The following year Mrs. Pencker with, her daughter, Elsie, moved to Woolsey, South Dakota, where she resided until her death, Saturday, August 22, 1914, reaching the age of 73 years, 5 months, and 22 days.

Five children are left to mourn the loss of their mother. They are John Pencker, of Manning, Iowa; Mrs. William Baak, of Verdi, Minnesota; Mrs. Herman Baak, of Woolsey, South Dakota; William Pencker, of Ute, Iowa; and Miss Elsie Pencker, of Woolsey, South Dakota. She also leaves to mourn her death fourteen grandchildren. Those from out of town who attended the funeral were, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Koester, Mr. and Mrs. Short, of Vail; Mr. and Mrs. Bollen, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Hanemann and daughter, of Denison; Mr. and Mr. August Voss, of Woolsey, South Dakota; Herman Baak, of Woolsey, South Dakota; Mrs. William Baak, of Verdi, Minnesota; Miss Elsie Pencker, of Woolsey, South Dakota; and Mr. and Mrs. William Pencker, of Ute, Iowa.