Mertie Alice Wheeler
Obituary of Mertie Alice Wheeler
Mertie Alice Wheeler, sister of Merrill Wheeler of southeastern Sioux County, died August 5 at his home after living a prominent life of service. The funeral service was held at the Hemingford Seventh-day Adventist Church, and burial was in the Crawford Cemetery.
She was born October 6, 1882, in Keokuk County, Iowa. Later she moved with her parents, John and Dora Wheeler, to a farm near Cambridge, Neb. by covered wagon and experienced the life of a pioneer living in a dugout house.
At an early age she was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. After finishing elementary education she moved with her parents to Lincoln, Neb. and continued schooling at Union College, graduating with the class of 1900. She began secretarial work at once and was employed at the college in various capacities until 1922. She was secretary to four college presidents and served as an instructor in shorthand and library science, and registrar of the college during this time.
Upon leaving Union College she served in the same capacity at Walla Walla College, College Place, Wash. until 1933.
At the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1905 she was asked to serve on the reporting staff and served in that capacity until 1926. Her last years in denominational work were in the Nebraska Conference and for the Christian Record Publishing Association. Failing health forced her to retire from active work in 1952.
She was preceded in death by her father, mother, two sisters and one brother. She leaves one sister, Mrs. Gladys Williams, of Washington, D.C., one brother, Merrill Wheeler, Marsland.