Hannah Rebecca Madsen

Obituary of Mrs. Madsen (Byron Correspondent): And so another pioneer lady has left us and gone her way. With the passing of Mrs. Rebecca Madsen, many people were called to reminisce on pioneer life in the early days in the Big Horn. Funeral services were held Oct. 28 in the Byron hall with Bishop Malcolm Le Sueur in charge. Mr. and Mrs. Walt Stevens and Mr. and Mrs. Gene Jones sang "Oh, My Father," and "God Moves in A Mysterious Way."

Frank Jones, who has long been a close friend of the Madsens, spoke of the honesty and integrity of these people in their business dealings together. Bishop Frank Brown of Lovell spoke of our debt to these pioneer people who have smoothed our path and made it possible that we might live and and enjoy the comforts we now have.

Mrs. Violet Mangus, a close friend of Mrs. Madsen, and a representative of the Relief Society, paid a lovely tribute to the deceased. The following comment was made at the services: "Mrs. Madsen died at the age of 82 years. She was a little, old frail lady, nearly deaf, nearly blind, her shoulders bent and her face deeply lined. But those bent shoulders and that lined face told a story of burden bearing for others. The faded eyes told of long nights vigil beside a sick child's bed; their brightness had been wiped away by tears. Those scars are life's medals."

Mrs. Madsen was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1857. Her father was a college graduate from Manchester, England. Her mother came from Wales. When Rebecca was four years old her parents crossed the plains to Utah. Her memory of that trip and the hard times that followed was very vivid.

She came with her husband and children to the Big Horn basin with the first colonies and has since lived in Byron. She was the mother of eleven children, and is survived b the following; Mrs. Adam Pryde of Byron; Mrs. Hazel Piggott of Bloomington, Idaho; Mrs. Iva Crocker of Sayle, Montana; Mrs. Sarah Smith of Billings, Montana, and Frank Madsen, McFadden, Wyoming, and seven grandchildren.

Her favorite hymns were "Redeemer of Israel," "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning," and "Guide Us O Thou Great Jevovah." She was laid to rest in the Byron cemetery.

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