Mennonite Weekly Review - September, 2010
  Balzer, Arlene F. Schmidt;   Beck, Anna Ruth Weaver;   Boehr, Laura Friesen;   Dick, William R. "Bill";   Enns, Frieda Rempel;   Friesen, Bertha Epp;   Regier, Ruby Buller Buller;    Schmidt, Dorothy M. Unruh;   Shoemaker, Ila "June" Litwiller;   Stucky, Luella Funk;   
Mennonite Weekly Review - September 6, 2010 - 88th Year, No. 31 - p. 13

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Enns, Frieda Rempel


Frieda Rempel Enns, 92, of Goessel, Kan., died July 7, 2010. She was born May 7, 1918, to Peter J. and Helena Schmidt Rempel near Inola, Okla.
She was baptized on May 20, 1934, at Eden Mennonite Church, Inola, Okla. She would later transfer her membership to Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church in Goessel.

At the age of 19, after the death of her father, she moved to Goessel with her mother and three siblings. Her employment included the Owl Café in Goessel. She later worked at Bethesda Hospital in the laundry and later as a housekeeper.

She married Elmer Enns on June 14, 1942, at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel.

Spiritual life was an important and vital part of her life as she had daily devotions and prayer. She sang in the church choir, taught the 2-year-olds Sunday school class and the primary class on Wednesdays. She was a member of the Alexanderwohl mission society. She baked pies and zwieback for church functions, including the MCC sale.

Community involvement included the Goessel Book Club, Town and Country Garden Club and Goessel Women’s Christian Association. She helped with the annual blood bank drive, child care for the mothers group, and with Threshing Days. She volunteered at the Heritage Museum and Bethesda Home.
She enjoyed work in her flower and vegetable garden, raised chickens, attended to her fish pond, and shared her flowers and plants with others.
In 1987 her husband, Elmer, was diagnosed with ALS and she became his main caregiver. He died in 1988. In 1995 she moved to a duplex on the Bethesda Campus.

Survivors include three children, Elmer Enns Jr. and his wife, Peg, of Texarkana, Texas, Barbara Voth and her husband, James, of Henderson, Neb., and Lewis Enns of Wichita; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Jacob, Ella, Herb, Paul, Helen and Anna.

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Boehr, Laura Friesen


Laura (Friesen) Boehr, 88, of Henderson, Neb., died Aug. 19, 2010. She was born Nov. 5, 1921, to Peter D. and Katharina Friesen on a farm in Hamilton County.

Upon her profession of faith in Jesus Christ, she was baptized and accepted in the fellowship of Bethesda Mennonite Church on May 12, 1940, where she remained a faithful member.

She graduated from Henderson High School in 1939. She worked for various families doing housework and child care.

She married Donald Boehr on April 20, 1941, and they celebrated 68 years together.

They farmed and moved to Henderson in 1978. She worked at the nursing home for a few years. She enjoyed mission societies, teaching Sunday school and spending time at the Senior Center. She loved to embroider, crochet and piece quilt tops and quilt. She enjoyed babysitting for the grandchildren. She appreciated the Bible study group she and Don were a part of, and she truly believed in prayer. They traveled to see their children and also to the Holy Land, Europe, Hawaii and many states.

Survivors include her six children, Stan Boehr and his wife, Karren, of Henderson, Vivian Pereboom and her husband, Bill, of Littleton, Colo., Stuart Boehr of Grand Rapids, Minn., Laura Jane Steingard and her husband, Dale, of Henderson, Doris Miller and her husband, Ken, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and Brenda Srof and her husband, Jody, of Goshen, Ind.; a sister, Leona Epp of Henderson; a brother-in-law, Harland Epp of Henderson; and in-laws Kay Boehr of Blair, Jean Boehr of Pennsylvania, Sarah Regier, Newton, Kan., and Rachel Hiebner of Henderson; 15 grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; six brothers and two sisters.

Memorial services were held at Bethesda Mennonite Church. Burial was in Bethesda Cemetery of Henderson.

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Regier, Ruby Buller Buller


Ruby Fern Buller Regier, 88, died Aug. 12, 2010, in Corn, Okla., where she had lived for 18 months after moving from her longtime home in Enid. She was born Sept. 21, 1921, to Joe and Dena (Jantz) Buller in Goltry.

When she was 11 years old, she accepted Jesus as her Savior.

She graduated from Oklahoma Bible Academy in 1939, where she met a young teacher, Walter Regier, whom she married on July 13, 1941, in Zoar Mennonite Church of Goltry.

She was a partner in ministry with her husband as he pastored churches for the next 55 years. She hosted missionary and guest speakers, played piano and vibraharp, led choirs, gave special music, organized children’s choirs and gave piano les-sons. They ministered at Friedenstal Mennonite Church, Durham, Kan., 1942-45; Eicher Mennonite Church, Wayland, Iowa, 1945-48; Meadow Mennonite Church, Colby, Kan., 1948-54; First Mennonite Church, Clinton, Okla., 1954-65; Comins (Mich.) Mennonite Church, 1965-68; Gospel Mennonite Church, Peoria, Ill., 1968-72; Groveland (Ill.) Evangelical Mennonite Church as interim pastor, 1972-73; Faith Mennonite Church, Geneva, Neb., 1973-77; and Medford (Okla.) Mennonite Church as part-time pastor, 1977-95.
She was a member of Grace Mennonite Church in Enid.

On Aug. 11, 1991, they celebrated their golden anniversary with family and friends. In 1998 the Lord took her lifelong partner home.

Survivors include three sons, Charles Regier and his wife, Carol, of Corn, Jerry Regier and his wife, Sharyn, of Atlanta, Ga., and James Regier and his wife, Linda, of Oklahoma City; a brother, Robert Buller and his wife, Mary Ann, of Goltry; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her older brother Virgil, her two older sisters, Mildred Schmidt and Opal Penner, her younger brother, Elgin, and her youngest sister, Matilda.

Memorial services were held at Enid Mennonite Brethren Church. Burial was in Enid Memorial Park Cemetery.

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Shoemaker, Ila "June" Litwiller


Ila June Shoemaker, 83, of Greencroft Healthcare Center, Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 23, 2010, from the effects of pulmonary fibrosis.  She was born on June 12, 1927, to Albert and Verna (Conrad) Litwiller in Morton, Ill.

She married Donald Shoemaker on June 22, 1947, in Morton.

She graduated as valedictorian from Morton High School and attended Goshen College for one year. She and her husband spent more than 50 years farming the Shoemaker family farm near Dakota, Ill.

She was an active member of Freeport (Ill.) Mennonite Church for more than 50 years, teaching children in Sunday school and Bible school, where she made each child feel loved and valued. She sang second soprano with the Chapel Singers, a ladies sextet, for more than 35 years and was an active participant in Mennonite Women.

She volunteered as a teaching aide at South Side School in Freeport, assisting with students with severe developmental disabilities. She was a member of the Happy Day Home Extension unit in Illinois. In later years she and Don took their turn to sit with the homeless in Freeport.

In 2005, they moved from the farm to Greencroft in Goshen, where they could be closer to their children. She was a member of College Mennonite Church. She will be remembered for living her faith through her kindness, hospitality, unconditional love and encouragement shown to family, friends and strangers alike.
Survivors include her husband, Don; four children, Larry Shoemaker of Goshen, Joyce Yoder and her husband, John, of Bryan, Ohio, Sandra Friesen and her husband, Doug, of Goshen, and Nelda Wittig and her husband, Bill, of Iowa City, Iowa; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Jean Eigsti and Leda Podbelsek.

Services were held at College Mennonite Church. Burial was in Violett Cemetery in Goshen.

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Balzer, Arlene F. Schmidt


Arlene F. Balzer, 81, of North Newton, Kan., died Aug. 24, 2010, at Kidron Bethel. She was born Nov. 25, 1928, to Albert and Anna Caroline “Annie C” Lehrman Schmidt in Goessel.

She attended Greenfield School and graduated from Goessel High School in 1947. She attended Bethel College and taught in a rural school between her sophomore and junior years. She graduated from Bethel College in 1952 and taught fourth grade for three years. She worked 10 years for Kansas Children’s Service League in Wichita and obtained a master’s degree in social work from the University of Colorado in Denver.

She married Wayne Schroeder, a widower, of Hillsboro in June 1965 and adopted his two daughters. She then began working for Kansas Social and Rehabilitative Services in Marion and Emporia as a 10-county regional supervisor. She also served on the Bethel College Department of Social Work advisory board. After 28 years with SRS she retired to Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton. She married John Balzer and joined him in Inman on Dec. 22, 1996, until his death in October 2007. She then returned to Kidron Bethel.

Survivors include a brother, Hartzel Schmidt and his wife, Ilene, of North Newton; a sister, Joan Gray and her husband, Bob, of Newton; two daughters, Jenny Crow and her husband, Doug, of Emporia, and Joyce Peirce and her husband, Rudy, of Massachusetts; four sons, John Schmidt and his wife, Kay, of Walton, Tim Schmidt and his wife, Lisa, of Whitewater, David Balzer and his wife, Kris, of Inman, and Paul Balzer and his wife, Janet, of South Dakota; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her infant brother, Donald; her first husband, Wayne Schroeder, and her second husband, John Balzer.
Memorial services were held at Bethel College Mennonite Church.  Cremation has taken place.


Mennonite Weekly Review - September 13, 2010 - 88th Year, No. 32 - P. 9

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Dick, William R. "Bill"


William R. “Bill” Dick, 67, died April 1, 2010, at Kansas Medical Center in Andover, Kan. He was born April 15, 1942, in Ootacamund, South India, to Mennonite Brethren missionaries J.J. and Anna (Baerg) Dick.

He moved with his family to Abbotsford, B.C., when he was 15, graduating from high school there. He attended Tabor College in Hillsboro, where he met Violet Wohlgemuth. They were married May 23, 1964, and made their home in Hesston for the last 40 years.
He loved meeting new people and his lifetime career in sales and marketing reflected that. He worked for Roofmart International Inc. of Chapman since 1991 and has traveled many miles locally, nationally and internationally for his work. He also enjoyed traveling with his family, planning family and church ski trips, fishing, golfing and reading.

He was a member of Koerner Heights Church in Newton, where he had been active in leadership, strategic planning and in teaching elementary children.
Survivors include his wife, Vi, of Hesston; two daughters, Noelle Dickinson and her husband, Craig, and Hilary Dick, all of Newton; a son, Aaron Dick and his wife, Katie, of Olathe; four sisters, Helga Good and Helen Friesen, both of Beaverton, Ore., Marge Sykes of Corvallis, Ore., and Elizabeth Olausen of Quesnel, B.C.; and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Harold, Paul and two brothers who died in infancy.

A memorial celebration was held at Koerner Heights Church.

Mennonite Weekly Review - September 20, 2010 - 88th Year, No. 33 - p. 9

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Friesen, Bertha Epp


Bertha (Epp) Friesen, 90, of Henderson, Neb., died Aug. 27, 2010. She was born to Jacob C. and Helen (Dick) Epp on Feb. 2, 1920, two miles south of Henderson on the family farm.

She graduated from Henderson High School in 1938.

Music was her gift. In the sixth grade she was the grade-school accompanist on a pedal organ. In high school she sang in the young women’s quartet. She accompanied many musical groups and played for the church for many years.

She gave her life to Christ as Savior and Lord. She requested baptism in 1940 and became a member of Bethesda Mennonite Church, which she loved and served all her life.

Though she and Elmer Friesen grew up on farms two miles apart, they did not know each other until high school. Two years into high school they began dating and had a long courtship ending in marriage on Sept. 19, 1941. They enjoyed almost 69 years of marriage.

She and Elmer had many similar interests, such as reading, traveling, attending music concerts and going to church conferences. In their many travels, they crossed Mexico from the Gulf to the Pacific Ocean, visiting some Mennonites. Their most enjoyable trip was in 1994 to visit Mennonite colonies in Paraguay.

In 2005 she was confined to a wheelchair after breaking her femur.

Survivors include her husband, Elmer; two sons, E. James Friesen and his wife, Joan, and Phil Friesen and his wife, Sherryl, all of Henderson; a daughter, Sherryl Lantz and her husband, Keith, of Keyport, Wash; seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Edwin; and her sister, Esther.


Mennonite Weekly Review - September 27, 2010 - 88th Year, No. 34 - p. 9

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Schmidt, Dorothy M. Unruh


Dorothy Schmidt, 94, of North Newton, Kan., died Sept. 3, 2010. She was born July 11, 1916, to Harrison and Anna Schroeder Unruh.

She grew up near Hillsboro. She was baptized in 1930 and joined Johannesthal Mennonite Church, later Trinity Mennonite Church, at Hillsboro.

On May 7, 1937, she married Reinhold F. Schmidt. They moved to his home place near Grace Hill Mennonite Church. She joined Grace Hill and continued to be a faithful member until her death.

From 1933 to 1935 she attended Bethel College and received a teacher’s certificate. In 1935 she began a 25-year journey as an elementary school teacher. From 1935 to 1937 she taught in two one-room schools in Marion County. In 1958 she renewed her teacher’s certificate and returned to teach in elementary schools for 23 more years, four in Harvey County and 19 in Butler County. She took evening and summer classes and graduated from Bethel College in 1965. She retired from teaching in 1981.

In 1984 they attended Mennonite World Conference in Strasburg, France. After retiring from the farm in 1976, they built a house near East Harvey Lake, where they lived until Reinhold’s death in 1987. Then she moved into a house in North Newton and in 1990 to Kidron-Bethel Retirement Village.

She taught Sunday school, served on the educational committee and spiritual council, Women in Mission, the Kidron-Bethel Auxiliary, Et Cetera Shop and Newton Medical Gift Shop. She wrote numerous family genealogies and translated the Grace Hill church book from German into English.

Survivors include her children, Randall Schmidt and his wife, Rachel, of Eudora, Betta Ruth Kym and her husband, Marlin, of Moundridge, Deanna Entz and her husband, Reynold, of Whitewater, and Ralph Schmidt and his wife, Jeanne, of Whitewater; a sister, Eunice Esau of Hutchinson; 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Reinhold F. Schmidt; two brothers, Chester and Allen Unruh; a daughter-in-law, Rosalie Voth Schmidt; and a great-grandson, Matthew Cole Schmidt.

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Beck, Anna Ruth Weaver


Anna Ruth Beck, 85, died Sept. 6, 2010, at Hesston, Kan. She was born Sept. 25, 1924, to Lucinda Ella (Neuhauser) and Reuben M. Weaver in Harper.

She married Howard Beck on Sept. 26, 1943. They shared life on the farm, were active in soil conversation and developed the Wheat Bin business.

She was active in Hesston Mennonite Church, the Hesston community, Hesston College, and most recently Showalter Villa. Because of her gifts she was often the chair or secretary of groups. She served in most areas of church life including as elder. Music was her favorite avenue of worship.

Survivors include a son, Duane Beck and his wife, Lois, of Raleigh, N.C.; a daughter, Marlene Yoder and her husband, Todd Blandford, of Battle Creek, Mich.; three sisters and a brother, Dale Weaver of Hutchinson, Alta Fry of Elk Falls, Mary Shue of Harper and Wanda Good of Harrisonburg, Va.; five grandsons and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by an infant daughter; her husband, Howard, in 2005; four sisters and six brothers.
Memorial Services were held at Hesston Mennonite Church. Her body was bequeathed to medical science at the KU Medical Center.

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Stucky, Luella Funk

Luella Stucky
, 89, of South Hutchinson, Kan., died Sept. 3, 2010, at Mennonite Manor. She was born Dec. 14, 1920, to Peter F. and Elizabeth Penner Funk in Hillsboro.

She was a South Hutchinson resident since 1973, moving from Hutchinson, where she had lived since 1939. She was a graduate of Hillsboro High School and secretarial college in Hutchinson. She had been a secretary-bookkeeper for Great American Life and Russell Electric and the co-owner of the Partridge Milling Co. She was a member of First Mennonite Church in Hutchinson.

On April 19, 1949, she married Richard J. Stucky in Hillsboro.

Survivors include two sons, Mark Stucky of Indonesia and Bryce Stucky of Hutchinson; three daughters, Rita Williams of Hutchinson, Geneva Bussard of Burlington and Elaine Frank of Des Moines, Iowa; a sister, Marie Boldt of Reedley, Calif.; eight grandchildren, Ben and Katie Bussard of Manhattan, Kara Stucky of Singapore, Daniel Stucky of Dallas, Texas, Kate Frank of Ames, Iowa, Mariel Stucky of Texas, Ian Frank of Iowa and Grant Bussard of Burlington; and a step-grandchild, Sheri Williams.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Stucky, on May 26, 1996; and by three sisters.

Memorial services were held at First Mennonite Church, Hutchinson. Burial was in First Mennonite Church, Moundridge.


Copyright 2003 - All rights reserved - Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, PA
Used with permission by the Archives of the Mennonite Church, Goshen, INDIANA
Permission granted to private family researchers to use selected portions of these files to tell their family stories.
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