The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-10-17
OBITUARY

About two weeks ago, telegraphic
message was received at the home Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Wylie Nelson announc-
ing the serious illness of Mrs. Belle
NJ Spur in a hospital in New Haven,
Conn. James Nelson and his mother
left Immediately for the East, arriving
there two days later. They found
Mrs. Spur in most critical condi-
tion, being too weak to submit to an
operation which the doctors thought
would be necessar' She passed away
on Sunday NOR 8, October 13, her
sister and nephew 2 g with her at
the time of her dea,, X
Mrs. Belle M. sp>< as born in
Stratford, Canada, in e., 1st 1860.
She was among the first g. IS coun-
ty pioneers, coming to Va|> q 7ity in
1879. She was married to % H.
Sampson, brother of Admira o. T.
Sampson in the early eighties, H. p
onto the farm now owned by -
Cook on Getchell Prairie. Her h -
band lived only three years after their
union, dying of dyphtheria. Mrs.
Spur was elected county superinten-
dent of schools in 1887, serving in that
office four years. During the last
year of her service as superintendent
she was married to B. NJ. Spur, who
followed her in office. Her only son
Clinton, was born in August 1899, in
Valley City. When he was four years
old his mother moved to Moundsville,
Va, where they lived until 1908, when
they returned to Valley City remain
ing until Clinton graduated from the
ionc III 1I c3
to New Haven, Clinton entering Yale
college. His mother kept house for
him during the time of his college
training. When he graduated from
Yale in 1918, his mother went with
him wherever his work took him, and
with the exception of one year when
she accepted the position of dean of
women in the Normal school in this
city she was his constant companion.
In the years 1905 and 1906 Mrs. Spur
was the natron in charge of the Epis-
copal hall. Indeed it was very largely
through her that this institution was
started and was such success from
its beginning. Last year she bade
farewell to her beloved boy, wiling
~ giving him as her most priceless
offering to her country in it's time of
need. She offered herself, and was
awaiting her call to serve as hostess
"over there not knowing or realizing
that her strength was not sufficient,
and that her race was well nigh run.
Hers was indeed royal nature. To
be with her was constant benediction;
all who knew her loved her. Ever
genial and happy, untiring in her la
l1r o+I rl, ha, in,
doing good. She was ever radiant
with splendid optimism; she did not
know how to be discouraged, though
her life had in it many hard and Bit
ter days. AS dean Of women she en-
deared herself to- the .whcle student
body, and as the head of the Episcopal
hall, she made a lasting memorial for
herself. When at Yale she gathered
at her house every student who SEEM
ed to need a mothers care or mothers
advice; her home was the rendezvous
OF tic student boys. She was loyal
consistent. active, splendid church
woman, working wherever work was
needed and the workers seemed to lag.
To have her present was an inspira-
tion to others to do their best. Out
side the church, she gave herself un-
stintingly to every branch Of woman's
work, being always ready to carry the
heaviest burdens, and do the lions
share. And, because Of her willing
ness to work, she often overtaxed her
strength, breaking down her health in
her anxiety to do more than her share
in every good work. We may well
thank God for the privilege Of having
known her She has now finished her
course in faith, and is at rest in the
bosom Of the Father God.