Lydia Mae Yoder was born Feb. 22, 1932, in Thomas, Okla., the daughter of John E. and Edna Mae (Yoder) Yoder. On Nov. 27, 1952, she was united in marriage to Henry E. Bontrager in Weatherford, Okla. They moved to the Kalona community in March of 1957, where Lydia was a homemaker. She was a faithful member of the Sharon Bethel Church, active with Iowa Clothing Center, and she served meals to tour groups for 20 years for the Kalona Historical Society. She enjoyed making quilts, gardening and tending to her flowerbeds. Lydia passed away on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, at her home in rural Kalona at the age of 87 years.
Lydia is survived by two sons: E. Wayne Bontrager of Kalona and Delmar (Carolyn) Bontrager of Wellman; two daughters: Laverta (Evan) Beachy of Kalona and Loretta (Elam) Stoltzfoos of Kalona; nine grandchildren: Derek Beachy, David Bontrager, Jonathan (Hannah) Bontrager, Shaena (Freeman) Beachy, Jacob Stoltzfoos, Ashley Bontrager, Bradley (Debra) Stoltzfoos, Gregory Stoltzfoos and Aaron Stoltzfoos; six great-grandchildren: Erin and Bentley Bontrager, Monica, Logan, Dallas and Addison Beachy; a brother: Toby E. Yoder of Paris, Texas; and three sisters: Barbara Stutzman of Decatur, Bertha Schrock of Larussell, Mo., and Dorothy Kinsinger of Oakland, Md.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, brother: Dave E. Yoder, and sister: Sylvia Yutzy.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, at the Sharon Bethel Church. Ministers in charge were Leighton Yoder and Gabriel Beachy. Burial was in the Sharon Bethel Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for Washington County Hospice. The Yoder-Powell Funeral Home is caring for Lydia and her family.
