Mennonite
Weekly Review -
June 2009
Beckler, Lawrence W.; Bender, Paul E.;
Diener, Clayton H.; Ewy, Raymond Arthur;
Klassen, Selma Freni Strausz;
Neufeld,
Daniel A.; Richard, Phil Lamarr; Roth, Dennis E.;
Mennonite Weekly Review - June 1, 2009 - 87th Year, No. 22 - p. 9
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Bender, Paul E.
Paul E. Bender, 83, of
Belleville, Pa., died May 13, 2009. He was born July 9, 1925, to Lewis
and Barbara (Miller) Bender in Kalona, Iowa.
He married Leona M. Miller on Dec. 10, 1949.
He served in Civilian Public Service for three years in Terry, Mont.,
during World War II, attended Eastern Mennonite University and Penn
State University, and was ordained for ministry in 1949.
He taught school in Salisbury, Pa., while operating a watch repair shop
in Grantsville, Md. He moved to Belleville to be principal at
Belleville Mennonite School, pastored several churches, including
Allensville Mennonite Church for 22 years, and owned and operated a
watch and clock repair business and a tax preparation service.
He was a member of Allegheny Mennonite Conference since 1948, a 19-year
member of Big Valley Mennonite Historical Society, and an active member
of Barrville Mennonite Church, serving as elder, teaching Sunday school
and occasionally preaching. He enjoyed his family, friends, astronomy,
biking and genealogy.
Survivors include his wife, Leona; six children, Lois Arnold of Bronx,
N.Y., John Bender and his wife, Mildred, of Greensboro, N.C., Roy
Bender and his wife, Connie, of Lancaster, Titus Bender and his friend,
Amy, of Belleville, Miriam Ferguson and her husband, John, of
Mechanicsville, Va., and Loren Bender and his wife, Judy, of New
Holland; a brother, Daniel Bender and his wife, Ora; four sisters, Nina
Yoder, Mary Miller and her husband, Lloyd, Vera Yoder, and Gladys
Fisher and her husband, Robert; a sister-in-law, Frieda Bender; 14
grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Kevin Ray; a grandson, Ryan Bender;
a son-in-law, Roger Arnold; and a brother, Clarence.
Services were held at Maple Grove Mennonite Church. Burial was in
Allensville Mennonite Cemetery.
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Neufeld, Daniel A.
Daniel A. Neufeld died March 7, 2009. He was born Nov. 19, 1917.
A graduate of Whittier (Calif.) College in 1941, he served in Civilian
Public Service prior to embarking upon a career as a teacher. In 1942
he entered the CPS camp in North Fork, then moved to Three Rivers. Son
Paul was born in Dinuba before his wife, Gladys, joined him in Terry
and Belton, Mont. The next stop was Freeman, S.D., where he taught at
Freeman Academy and daughter Phyllis was born. Then it was on to
Hillsboro, Kan., and Tabor College, where he taught and coached, and
daughter Joyce was born. The family finally settled in the Reedley
area, where he continued to teach, and daughter Christine was born.
He is remembered as one who served — as a teacher, as a principal at
Immanuel High School, as Hartland Camp director, and as a volunteer at
the MCC Nearly New Store in Reedley. In retirement, he directed the
U.S. Mennonite Brethren Christian Service Program.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Gladys; a son, Paul, and his
wife, Judy, of Wasco; three daughters, Phyllis Byers of Oakhurst, Joyce
Braun and her husband, Bill, of Fresno, and Christine Wall and her
husband, Sam, of Madera; two brothers, Charles and his wife, Verna, and
Raymond and his wife, Ethel; brothers-in-law Bob Willems and his wife,
Lucille, and Norman Willems and his wife, Lollie; sister-in-law Verna
Wright and her husband, Cliff; four grandchildren and nine
great-grandchildren.
Burial was in Kingsburg Cemetery. A memorial service was held at
Kingsburg Mennonite Brethren Church.
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Mennonite Weekly Review - June 8, 2009 - 87th Year, No. 23 - p. 9
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Beckler, Lawrence W.
Lawrence W. Beckler, 86, of
Seward, Neb., died March 8, 2009, in Peoria, Ariz. He was born Dec.
11, 1922, to William and Anna (Roth) Beckler on a farm southwest of
Milford, Neb.
He was a charter member of Bellwood Mennonite Church in Milford. He
also attended Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale, Ariz. He was a
member of Rotary International, Seward Country Club, Seward County
Historical Society, Seward Area Chamber of Commerce, Mennonite Economic
Development Associates, and served on Seward City Council and Southeast
Community College Board of Governors. He was the former owner/ operator
of Beckler’s Implement of Seward.
Survivors include his wife, Lillian (Stutzman) Beckler, of Seward; two
sons, Richard Beckler and his wife, Ruth, of Lincoln, and Larry Beckler
and his wife, Teri, of Pasadena, Calif.; two brothers, Robert Beckler
of Beaver Crossing and Charles Beckler of Friend; two sisters, Mary
Jantzi of Lebanon, Ore., and Donna Stauffer of Milford; four
stepchildren, Rebecca Kremer and her husband, Dale, of Sun City, Ariz.,
Warren Eicher and his wife, Donna, of Lincoln, Tamara Wergin and her
husband, Ron, of Lincoln, and James Eicher and his wife, Kaye, of
Columbus; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nine
step-grandchildren and nine step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Della (Reeb) Beckler; a
brother, Orie Beckler; and a sister, Edna and Wallace Stauffer.
Memorial services were held at Bellwood Mennonite Church of Milford.
Burial was in Seward Cemetery.
Mennonite
Weekly Review - June 15, 2009 - 87th Year, No. 24 - p. 9
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Klassen, Selma Freni Strausz
Selma Freni (Strausz) Klassen,
94, died April 7, 2009, at Schowalter Villa in Hesston, Kan. She was
born Jan. 2, 1915, to Peter J. and Anna (Flickner) Strausz near
Moundridge.
She was baptized upon her profession of faith on June 16, 1929, at Eden
Mennonite Church of Moundridge. She later transferred her membership to
Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church at Goessel, where she was involved with
Willing Workers Sewing Circle, the education committee, and teaching
Sunday school and Bible school.
She married Rudolph A. (R.A.) Klassen on October 22, 1937. He preceded
her in death on Dec. 1, 1990.
Their first home was in Newton. They established a farm near Goessel in
1944, where they lived until 1962. At that time, they moved to Lebanon,
Kan., where they lived for 11 years. They were associate members of
Lebanon United Methodist Church. She was active in Women’s Society of
Christian Service and taught Sunday school and Bible study classes. She
was also a 4-H leader. They moved back to Goessel in 1973. She moved to
Schowalter Villa in 2003.
She was a graduate of Moundridge High School and Salt City Business
College in Hutchinson. She worked as a clerk, typesetter and
secretary. She loved the Lord dearly and had a passion for Bible study
and Bible teaching. She had a heart for missions and devoted her life
to God, family, church and community.
Survivors include four children, Donald Klassen and his wife, Roine, of
Sioux Falls, S.D., James Klassen and his wife, Ly, of Dallas, Texas,
Vernell Miller and her husband, Paul, of Hanston, and Cynthia Goerzen
and her husband, Les, of Goessel; a brother, Melvin Strausz and his
wife, Viola, of Hutchinson; eight grandchildren and seven
great-grandchildren.
Besides her husband, she was also preceded in death by an infant
daughter, Agnetha Ann; and six siblings, Lorena, Orlando, Ruth,
Benjamin, Esther and Walter.
A memorial service was held at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church of
Goessel.
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Diener, Clayton H.
Clayton H. Diener, 90, of
Hesston, Kan., died June 4, 2009. He was born Dec. 10, 1918, to Harry
A. and Amanda (Selzer) Diener in Proctor, Mo.
He married Inez Snyder on June 22, 1945, in Albany, Ore.
He was a retired surgeon. He worked in general medical practice in
Puerto Rico, Haven and Hesston prior to serving as chief of surgery at
the Veterans Administration Hospital in Wichita for 25 years. He was a
member of Whitestone Mennonite Church of Hesston.
Survivors include his wife of almost 64 years, Inez Diener; three sons,
Don Diener and his wife, Maria, of Las Vegas, Nev., Dwight Diener of
Hesston and Dennis Diener of New Haven, Conn.; three brothers, Edward
Diener and his wife, Esther, of Archbold, Ohio, Paul Diener of Hesston
and Herman Diener and his wife, Mary Ellen, of Hutchinson; and a
sister-in-law, Carrie Diener.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Daniel, Truman, Willard and
Harold Diener.
Memorial services were held at Whitestone Mennonite Church of Hesston.
Burial was in Eastlawn Cemetery.
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Roth, Dennis E.
Dennis E. Roth, 78, of Corry,
Pa., died May 28, 2009. He was born June 18, 1930, to Irvin and Esther
Hershberger Roth in Seward, Neb.
He was raised and educated in Nebraska and moved with his family to
Corry in 1947. As a young man he helped his father on the family dairy
farm. He spent two years in Illinois in alternate service with the
Mennonite church.
He married A. Joanne Imhoff on Nov. 16, 1957, in Carlock, Ill.
He was the owner and operator of Corry Peat Products, where he was
first in partnership with Russ Graham and later with his sons. He was
an active member of Beaverdam Mennonite Church. Over the years, he
served as an elder, a trustee and an usher in the church. He enjoyed
motorcycling, traveling, and held his private pilot’s license. He
especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, A. Joanne Roth; two sons,
Randal Roth and Roger Roth and his wife, Kathy, all of Corry; a
daughter-in-law, Katherine Roth Daniels of Tampa, Fla.; a sister,
Marlene Sorenson and her husband, Dick, of Columbus; three brothers,
Lonnie Roth and his wife, Jane, of Norristown, David Roth and his wife,
Martha, of Corry and Norman Roth and his wife, Christy, of Waterford;
seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Bruce Roth.
A memorial service was held at Beaverdam Mennonite Church. Burial was
in Lawn Cemetery of Beaverdam.
Mennonite
Weekly Review - June 22, 2009 - 87th Year, No. 25 - p. 21
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Richard, Phil Lamarr
Phil Lamarr Richard, 56, of
Hesston, Kan., died June 7, 2009, at Newton Medical Center. He was born
Aug. 3, 1952, to Elmer J. and Eunice M. (Amstutz) Richard in Orrville,
Ohio.
He accepted the Lord as his personal Savior and joined Pleasant Hill
Mennonite Church, Sterling, Ohio, in 1964. He graduated from Norwayne
High School in 1970, and from Goshen (Ind.) College in 1974.
He worked for several radio stations as news director/general manager,
followed by employment in communications at Mennonite Board of Missions
in Elkhart, Ind., and Eastern Mennonite Missions in Salunga, Pa. In
July 2002, he became director of communications at Hesston College.
He married Sandi K. McLaughlin on Oct. 23, 1999, at Akron (Pa.)
Mennonite Church.
They began their married life in East Petersburg, Pa. They served a
three-month volunteer term with Christian radio station KYKD in Bethel,
Alaska, in 2001.
He was a member of Hesston Mennonite Church, where he participated in
the bell choir and one of the praise teams. His hobbies included
sports, sports card collecting, coin collecting, reading, journaling,
and playing and listening to music. He enjoyed playing the piano and
was recently learning how to play the organ. He had a great sense of
humor and loved to tell jokes. He had a gift of compassion and a
sensitive, caring spirit.
In March of 2006, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. In March of 2009,
it was discovered that the cancer had metastasized to other parts of
his body. Through it all, he kept his deep faith in God.
Survivors include his wife, Sandi; his father, Elmer, of Creston, Ohio;
three siblings, Sidney and his wife, Sandra J., of Goshen, Ind.,
Kristina Gerber and her husband, Steve, of Creston, Ohio, and Kent and
his wife, Rita, of Talmage, Pa.; 13 nephews and nieces and a
great-niece.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Eunice.
Memorial services were held at Hesston Mennonite Church. Burial will
take place in Ohio.
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Ewy, Raymond Arthur
Raymond Arthur Ewy, 86, retired
farmer of Reedley, Calif., died June 4, 2009. He was born Aug. 19,
1922, to Reinhold and Matilda Ewy.
A graduate of Riverview Elementary, Reedley High School and Bethel
College in North Newton, Kan., he loved learning and did so his entire
life. He was active in First Mennonite Church, Reedley, in local
farming organizations, and served 14 years as Riverview representative
to the KCUSD school board. He enjoyed nature, farming, gardening,
travel, music and sports.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Ellen; three children, Dorothy
Boldt and her husband, David, William Ewy and his wife, Hearthy, and
Ron Ewy; a brother, Arnold Ewy and his wife, Melva; and six
grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Daniel Ewy; and a sister,
Frances Woodward.
A memorial service will be held on Aug. 8 at First Mennonite Church of
Reedley.
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Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, PA
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INDIANA
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