Obituary for Rhoda Potter
Rhoda Waddell, the fifth in a family of ten children born to James and Elizabeth Waddell, was born in Gallia County, Ohio, on September 28, 1957. When thirteen years of age she came with her parents to Vernon County, Wisconsin, and settled on a homestead in Webster township. There, amidst the privations and hardships known to pioneer life, she grew to womanhood.
On October 27, 1876 she was united in marriage to Thomas Taylor and together they made their home in Clinton township. After only eleven years this union was broken by the death of her husband, and she was left with three small children to care for.
On July 29, 1888, she was married to Adelbert Potter, and moved to the farm in Webster township that has since been their home. The added burden of caring for two families of children, eight in all, was cheerfully undertaken and nobly borne, the same motherly care given to each one.
Three more children were born to this union, and through her strength was many times taxed to the limit in caring for large family, yet no task was ever too great to be undertaken for any of them. - a fact when she demonstrated when, at the death of her step-daughter, Cora Burnard, she took the baby Mae, when only ten weeks old, and brought her up as her own child, sharing equally with the other children, a mother's love and devotion.
She is survived by all of her children, Charlie Taylor and Sadie Parker of Lafarge; William Taylor of Centralia, Wash.; Alfred Potter of LaFarge; Hazel, at home; Elsie Looker and Mae Rue of Beloit, Wis.; four step-children, Willie and Walter Potter of LaFarge, Wis.; Eddie Potter of Ontario; and Nina Baird of Tacoma, Wash.; and fourteen grandchildren.
Five sisters and three brothers are still left, Mary Strait, of Patriot, Ohio; Sarah Jenks of Medina, N.Y.; Lydia Calhoon, Rebecca Campbell, Harriett Smith, James, John and Joseph Waddell, all of this vicinity.
Not only the family, but the entire community, has sustained a real loss in the passing of one who has always given of her best in service for others. She will be sadly missed by a host of friends, whose love and respect she so justly merits, and although we find it hard to say, in our hearts, "Thy will be done.", yet "We sorrow not as others who have no hope," and wittingly commit her into the care of Him who does all things well.
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, December 31 at S.D.A. Church at LaFarge, conducted by Elder A.J. Lockert of La Crosse, and she was laid to rest beside her husband in the Star Cemetery.
Card Of Thanks
We wish to express out heartfelt gratitude to all our friends who have assisted us so much, by their many words and acts of kindness, since our terrible loss. Also for the floral offerings.
