Magdalena Schneider was born August 18, 1857 in Neudorf, South Russia. She was the daughter of Katharina (Landenberger) & Johann Georg Schneider. She received baptism and was confirmed in the Christian Church in Neudorf. In 1880 she immigrated to Yankton, South Dakota. On June 26, 1880 she became the second wife of Jakob Kirschenmann. His first wife, Eva (Bender) Kirschenmann, passed away September 12, 1879 leaving five young children ranging in ages 3 to 11 behind: Ludwig, Christina, Jacob J, John, and Eva).

Magdalena & Jakob were blessed with thirteen children: twins Friedrich & Georg, Karl, Magdalena, Theobald "TH", Edward, Emma, August, twins Emil & Emanuel, Benjamin, and Eugene. Friedrich and Georg died in infancy. Magdalena would have been 42 1/2 years old when her youngest son Eugene was born. Being the eldest of ten children, Magdalena probably had no problem raising a large family. Even with the older children helping with the younger ones, she had to be one busy lady. There were step-grandchildren older than quite a few of her own children.

Magdalena's husband Jakob passed away on November 23, 1922. Eugene, the youngest son, got the home place - the original homestead where all the children were born. Magdalena lived with her son Eugene and his family until two weeks previous to her death. The summer kitchen on the farm was made into an apartment for Magdalena around 1935. This was much better because she had her own little place and Eugene's family could still look out for her.

Magdalena never learned to speak English but she could understand some of it. She used to make the best "Kaez Knepps" which are cheese buttons (a noodle dough filled with cottage cheese) sealed and dropped into boiling water. One of her favorite fruits was oranges and they were on every grocery list. She always had lemon drops on hand, and it was something to give the grandkids when they came.

Most of the dresses that Magdalena wore had long sleeves. The theory is that it keeps you cool as well as warm. Everyone always wore long sleeves when they worked in the field. When clothes were worn out, she would tear them up into strips and crochet them into rugs for the floor. She also knitted many mittens and scarves for people. She used to make her own laundry soap out of lye and lard.

Magdalena seemed like a tough person with not too much to be happy about, but she loved her family and missed them when they didn't come to visit. She always had her "cry" after the ones from California came and left again.

It is believed that she was hospitalized only one time about three months before she passed away. She was diagnosed with stomach cancer and she suffered a great deal with this. It is amazing how many of her children passed away with the same thing. Her last days were spent in her stepdaughter's (Eva) home in Tripp, South Dakota. She had "round-the-clock" care by her family; different ones took turns driving to Tripp and spending the night sitting with her. Eugene treasured the fact that he was there through the night on the last night of her life. Eva had previously spent three weeks at the summer kitchen providing nursing care but she just couldn't be away from home any longer.

Magdalena passed away on Saturday, September 4, 1943 at 1:30 PM at the age of 86 years 21 days. Those who mourned her departure were her 11 children: Christian Kirschenmann, TH Kirschenman, August Kirschenmann, Benjamin Kirschenmann, Edward Kirschenmann, Emanuel Kirschenman, Eugene Kirschenman, Karl Kirschenman, Magdalena (Kirschenmann) Schaeffer, Emma (Kirschenmann) Spitzer, and Emil Kirschenmann; 4 step-children: Ludwig Kirschenmann, Jacob J Kirschenmann, John Kirschenmann, and Eva (Kirschenmann) Stoebner; 33 step-grandchildren; 80 step-great-grandchildren, and 16 step-great-great-grandchildren; and 2 brothers Christ Schneider and Friedrich Schneider.

Magdalena was a member of the Saron Reformed Church located southeast of Menno. Funeral services were held on September 8th at the Eggers Funeral Home in Tripp, South Dakota. Services were also held at the Salem Reformed Church in Menno and at the Saron Cemetery located 12 miles southeast of Menno. Her remains were laid to rest beside her husband, Jakob Kirschenmann.