The Mennonite - February 2015

"for the record" - Deaths:


The Mennonite, February 2015, pages 47-49, Vol. 18, No. 2.

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Albrecht.- Lyle J., 79, Bay Port, Mich., died Dec. 20, 2014. Spouse: Alice M. Hoffman Albrecht. Parents: Mose and Mary Gunden Albrecht. Children: Starla McKenzie, Barry; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: Dec. 24 at Michigan Avenue Mennonite Church, Pigeon, Mich.

Bechtel.- Elmer J., 96, Ligonier, Ind., died Dec. 24, 2014. Spouse: Mildred Amelia Reed/Reynolds (deceased). Parents: Eden S. and Mary Etta Rudy Bechtel. Children: Melva Sanders, Eva Miller, Arlene Hartsough, Pauline Graff, Elmer "Jay;" four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral: Dec. 29 at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, Ind.

Beck.- Berneda P. Short, 92, Archbold, Ohio, died Dec. 26, 2014. Spouse: Donald V. Beck (deceased). Parents: Edwin and Wilma Short Short. Children: Rex, Dianne Roth; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Funeral: Dec. 28 at Fairlawn Haven Chapel, Archbold.

Davidhizar.- Ellen Catherine Jennings Oyer, 83, Canby, Ore., died Nov. 27. 2014, of a stroke. Spouse: Paul Samuel Davidhizar. Spouse: John Oyer (deceased). Parents: Ervin Brunk Jennings and Alice Louise Groff Jennings. Children: Phil Oyer, Stan Oyer, Gary Oyer; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. Funeral: Dec. 13 at Zion Mennonite Church, Hubbard, Ore.

Fretz.- Helen Christine Habegger, 92, Goshen, Ind., died Jan. 6 at Greencroft Healthcare. Helen was born April 19, 1922, in Forsythe, Mont., to Alfred and Barbara Hirsch Habegger, who were missionaries to the Northern Cheyenne Native Americans in Busby, Mont., 20 miles east of the Custer Battlefield. Her parents are deceased as are her siblings, Marden, Jeanne, Esther, Lois, and Bernard. One brother, David Habegger, of Elkhart, survives, as do her four children, Barbara (Archie) Ross of Longmont, Colo., Susan Boushele of Pocatello, Idaho, James H. (Mary) Fretz of Killingworth, Connecticut, and Joseph H. (Ann) Fretz of Centennial, Colo.; seven grandchildren, Jason, Don, Christina, Charles, Samuel, Zachary, Emily; and four great-grandchildren, Ezra, Isaac, James, Bridget Helen, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Helen's husband, J. Herbert Fretz, preceded her in death on Aug. 10, 2013, and is buried at Deep Run West Mennonite Church cemetery, Bedminster, Pa. According to her wishes, after cremation, Helen will be buried there with him. Helen's early education was with the Cheyenne in Busby, Mont., and they gave her the name Voesta, which means "White Buffalo Cow" in Cheyenne, a rare occurrence. Her father baptized her at age 13 upon her confession of faith, along with several Cheyenne youth. She completed her high school education in Berne, Ind., while living with her grandparents, David and Matilda Habegger. She met her future husband while attending Bluffton College in Bluffton, Ohio. She graduated in 1944, as an educator. After teaching high school for a year in Arcanum, Ohio, while Herb was attending Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, they were married on June 9, 1945, in Berne, with her father, Alfred Habegger, officiating. Helen and Herb were married for 68 years. Helen taught third grade for one year in Blue Bell, Pa., while Herb finished his senior year at seminary. They then moved to Bedminster, Pa., where Herb became the pastor at the Deep Run West Mennonite Church from 1945 to 1953. Herb's grandfather, Allen M. Fretz, had been pastor there for 60 years. Helen and Herb moved to Freeman, S.D., where he was pastor at Salem Mennonite Church from 1953 to 1963. Helen enjoyed staying home for 18 years to raise and care for her family. Gardening, sewing, and doing projects with the children were pleasurable and treasured times. When the family moved to Goshen, Ind., where Herb was pastor of the Eighth Street Mennonite Church from 1963 to 1968, Helen earned her Master's Degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, and she taught Consumer and Home Economics at Whiteman Junior High School in Goshen from 1964 to 1987. Helen willingly served her Lord as a pastor's wife, taught Sunday School, worked on the Fellowship Committee, and served one term as deacon at Hively Mennonite Church in Elkhart, Ind., where Herb worked at the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary for 20 years from 1968 to 1988. Helen and Herb again became members at Eighth Street Mennonite Church in Goshen in 1989. The children thank the staff of Greencroft Healthcare for the loving care they gave Mom. Helen and Herb will be greatly missed by their children. A memorial service was held Jan. 9 at Eighth Street Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Ginder.- Verna M. Gruber, 97, Lancaster, Pa., died Sept. 23, 2014. Spouse: Herman Ginder (deceased). Spouse: Lester M. Brubaker (deceased). Parents: Irvin and Cora Martin Gruber. Children: Gerald G. Brubaker, Ray G. Brubaker, Phyllis Clugston; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 28 at Erisman Mennonite Church, Manheim, Pa.

Gnagey.- Omar J., 84, Archbold, Ohio, died Oct. 4, 2014. Spouse: Velma Sauder Gnagey. Parents: Elias and Amanda Gnagey. Children: Kathy G. Short, Les, Marv, Gail, Doug; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: Oct. 10 at Tedrow Mennonite Church, Wauseon, Ohio.

Graber.- LeRoy, 94, Freeman, S.D., died Dec. 13, 2014. Spouse: Virginia Kleinsasser Graber. Children: Jan Johnson, Randy, Kim, Nancy Ratzlaff, Viki, Donald; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Memorial service: Dec. 27 at Salem-Zion Mennonite Church, Freeman.

Greene.- Donna J. Tyson, 66, Telford, Pa., died Dec. 21, 2014. Spouse: Dale H. Greene. Parents: Millard and Jeanette Moyer Tyson. Children: Jeffrey A., David L.; one grandchild. Funeral: Jan. 10 at Anders-Detweiler Funeral Home, Souderton, Pa.

Hertzler.- Ruth Harnish Stoner, 88, Mechanicsburg, Pa., died July 29, 2014. Spouse: Norman Lloyd Hertzler (deceased). Parents: Daniel and Sabina Stoner. Children: Duane, Dale, Dean, Julia Quickel, Jeanette Martin; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren. Memorial service: Aug. 2 at Slate Hill Mennonite Church, Camp Hill, Pa.

Hofer.- Harold G. Pullman, 76, Marion, S.D., died Dec. 26, 2014, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Spouse: Phyllis June Tschetter Hofer (deceased). Parents: John A. and Mary S. Pullman Hofer. Children: Steven, Bryan Harold; five grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 2 at Hutterthal Mennonite Church, Freeman, S.D.

Hofer.- Phyllis June Tschetter, 73, Marion, S.D., died Dec. 26, 2014, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Spouse: Harold G. Pullman Hofer (deceased). Parents: Emil J. and Barbara Hofer Tschetter. Children: Steven, Bryan Harold; five grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 2 at Hutterthal Mennonite Church, Freeman, S.D.

Kaufman.- Shirley A. Stalter, 76, Goshen, Ind., died Jan. 5 of cancer. Spouse:
Merrill J. Kauffman (deceased). Parents: Fred and Mary Heatwole Stalter. Children: Joy Detweiler, Kent, Steve; five grandchildren; two step-grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 10 at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Keim.- William R., 74, Berlin, Ohio, died Nov. 11, 2014, of cancer. Spouse: Eva Yoder Slabach Keim. Spouse: Carolyn Schlabach Keim (deceased). Parents: Roman and
Mary Beachy Keim. Children: Robbie Keim, Maria Keim, Eric Slabach, Kimberly Mullet, Heather Fike, Bethany Keim; six grandchildren. Funeral: Nov. 13 at Walnut Creek Mennonite Church, Walnut Creek, Ohio.

Kennel.- Arthur J., 85, Rochester, Minn., died Dec. 14, 2014, of Parkinson's Disease. Spouse: Lois Kennel. Parents: John E. and Anna Mary Summers Kennel. Children: Susan Harrison, Kurt; five grandchildren. Celebration of life service: Dec. 23 at Charter House, Rochester, Minn. Celebration of life service: April 2015 in Lancaster County, Pa.

Metzler.- Eugene K., 87, Manheim, Pa., died Sept. 15, 2014. Spouse: Jean S. Hollinger Metzler. Parents: John N. and Mary B. Metzler. Children: K. Marlene Knode, Darwin, Gerald C., LeAnn Parmer; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren. Memorial service: Oct. 5 at Erisman Mennonite Church, Manheim.

Miller.- Freda Miller, 74, Trail, Ohio, died Nov. 18, 2014, following a lengthy illness. Parents: Valentine and Sara Schlabach Miller. Children: Allan, Roger, Scott, Stacy Mishler; six grandchildren. Funeral: Nov. 21 at Walnut Creek Mennonite Church, Walnut Creek, Ohio.

Miller.- Sally R. Gall, 81, Goshen, Ind., died Oct. 8, 2014, of a brain tumor. Spouse: Kenneth L. Miller (deceased). Parents: Claude and Lulu Umbaugh Gall. Children: Bruce, Ed; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Oct. 14 at Silverwood Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Miller.- Velda Fern Slabach, 83, Goshen, Ind., died Nov. 29, 2014. Spouse: Lloyd A. Miller. Parents: Joseph and Lydia Ann Miller Slabach. Children: Linda D. Miller, Wayne E. Beachy, Keith R. Beachy, Karol D. Beachy, Kenneth L. Beachy; step-children: Joanna Becker, Julia Lee; 20 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Dec. 3 at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Miller.- Viola Ruth Miller, 80, Goshen, Ind., died Dec. 17, 2014. Spouse: Crist W. Miller. Parents: Dan R. and Katie Schrock Miller. Children: Krista Murray, Kenneth, Ronald; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Memorial service: Dec. 22 at North Goshen Mennonite Church.

Preheim.- Calvin James, 82, Freeman, S.D., died Dec. 23, 2014. Spouse: Dorothy A. Hofer Preheim. Parents: Henry J. and Ella Schorzman Preheim. Children: Jill Zerger, Ross, Todd; five grandchildren; two step-grandchildren. Funeral: Dec. 29 at Salem Mennonite Church, Freeman.

Schmidt.- Jeanette Wiens, 87, Newton, Kan., died Sept. 19, 2014, of Alzheimer's disease. Paul Schmidt (deceased). Children: Vyron, Dennis; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Funeral: Dec. 22 at Waterford Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind.

Schwartzentruber.- Earl David, 85, Goshen, Ind., died Dec. 20, 2014. Spouse:
Genevieve Leichty Schwartzentruber. Parents: David and Barbara Streicher Schwartzentruber. Children: Douglas, David, Donita S. Rhodes; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: Dec. 27 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Shank.- Audrey Brunk, 82, Harrisonburg, Va., died Jan. 18, 2015. Parents: J. Ward and Stella Brunk Shank. Funeral: Jan. 24 at Greenmount Church of the Brethren, Harrisonburg.

Stalter.- John D., 97, Goshen, Ind., died Dec. 28, 2014. Spouse: Kathryn Mumaw Stalter (deceased). Parents: John D. and Ida Yoder Stalter. Children: Sanford, Kathy Najar, Loretta Cross. Funeral: Jan. 3 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Swartley.- Valeria Landes, 95, Souderton, Pa., died Dec. 26, 2014. Spouse:
William D. Swartley (deceased). Parents: Henry T. and Clara Schlosser Landes. Children: Carol L. Longacre, Janet L. Goshow, Betsy L. Heavener, William L.; 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren. Funeral: Dec. 30 at Souderton Mennonite Homes.

Weaver.- Nathaniel "Nate" David, 29, Berlin, Ohio, died Nov. 27, 2014. Parents:
Robert C. and Kathy Miller Weaver. Funeral: Dec. 1 at Walnut Creek Mennonite Church, Walnut Creek, Ohio.

Weber.- Patricia King, 82, Waterloo, Ontario, died Dec. 10, 2014, of ovarian cancer. Spouse: John Weber. Parents: Ivan and Margaret King. Children: John, Susan Weber, Robert, Peggy Nitsche, Ann Weber Boon, Timothy; 11 grandchildren. Funeral: Jan.4 at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church, St. Jacobs, Ontario.

Witmer.- Ethel M. Wenger, 90, Lancaster, Pa., died Aug. 9, 2014. Spouse: J. Stanley Witmer. Parents: Clayton S. and Mary S. Wenger. Children: Jay E., Linda E. Witmer; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Memorial service: Aug. 30 at Erisman Mennonite Church, Manheim, Pa.

Witmeyer.- Donna Jean Unger, 84, Burr Oak, Mich. and Goshen, Ind., died Jan. 10, 2015. Spouse: Byron Witmeyer (deceased). Spouse: Simon Bontrager (deceased). Parents: Donald and Berdine Folk Unger. Funeral: Jan. 15 at Hohner Funeral Home, Three Rivers, Mich.

Yoder.- Dorothy J. Miller, 84, Hesston, Kan., died Dec. 7, 2014. Spouse: Gene Yoder. Children: Brent, Ken, Beth Hostetler; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: Dec. 9 at Eastlawn Cemetery, Hesston.

Yoder.- D. Virginia Ash, 90, Springs, Pa., died Dec. 25, 2014. Spouse: Raymond J. Yoder (deceased). Spouse: Samuel Brenneman (deceased). Parents: Clyde and Elsie Killius Ash. Child: Norma Jean Doyle; one grandchild. Funeral: Dec. 29 at Springs Mennonite Church.

Zehr.- Floyd J., 85, Lancaster, Pa., died Sept. 18, 2014, following a stroke. Spouse: Pearl Bauman Zehr. Parents: Elias and Martha Zehr. Children: David, Kenton, Mary Ann, Bonnie; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Graveside service: Sept. 20 in Croghan, N.Y. Memorial service: Oct. 2 at Maple Grove Mennonite Church, New Wilmington, Pa.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


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