The Death of Johanna Bertha Feige One of Caroline Feige's younger sisters, Johanna Bertha, was killed at the age of ten in an accident that took place near the family's home in Bentheim. The story of her tragic death was related to us by Hein Schlüter. According to Hein, his great-grandmother and Johanna often played together. Hein's great-grandmother was born in 1856 and Johanna in 1857. They lived close to one another.
Hein, a talented artist, drew a map showing the relationship of the places involved in the story:    1. The house of Hein's great-grandmother.    2. The Gericht (court house), where the Feiges lived.    3. A well. The girls would play together near the well.
	The Gericht (court house), where the Feige family lived.
Near the well was a sandstone gate, an archway with two posts and a lintel between the two. (Hein drew this example.) The girls were playing at such a gate. Somehow the stone lintel fell on Johanna, killing her immediately. Hein said that his great-grandmother was shocked by this event, something she remembered for the rest of her life.
The Feige family, obviously deeply saddened by this tragedy, erected a large tombstone honoring their daughter. The inscription says: Hier ruhet sanft in dem Herrn Johanne Bertha Feige geb. den 19 Juli 1857, gest. den 3 Mai 1868. Here resting peacefully in the Lord Johanne Bertha Feige born 19 July 1857, died 3 May 1868. Some years ago, the church in Bentheim removed many of the tombstones from around the church. Only the largest and most significant were left to stand. One of those that remains is that of Johanna Bertha. Drawing of Johanna's tombstone by Hein Schlüter.
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