Mennonite Weekly Review
March 3, 2003
81st Year, No. 9
p. 11

Ruth E. Willems
Ruth E. Willems, 87, of Goshen, Ind., died Jan. 29, 2003, as a result of cancer. She was born Aug. 21, 1915, to D.D. and Maggie (Kuhns) Miller in Protection, Kan.
She married Abe L. Willems on Nov. 29, 1941, in Yoder, Kan.
She accompanied her husband to Rhode Island in Civilian Public Service from 1942 to 1945. They lived in Berlin, Ohio, from 1945 to 1956, and in Goshen since 1956.
A 1937 graduate of LaJunta (Colo.) Nursing School, she also graduated from Hesston (Kan.) College in 1939 and Goshen College in 1960. She practiced nursing for several years and taught school for 24 years.
She was a member of the state and local Retired Teachers Association. She was a member of College Mennonite Church in Goshen, where she participated generously in church activities. She was an avid walker, enjoyed a variety of handicrafts and was dedicated to her family.
Survivors include her husband, Abe; two sons, Arnold and his wife, Wanda, of Laramie, Wyo., and Ken and his wife, Ann, of White Pigeon, Mich.; a daughter, Rhonda Swartzendruber and her husband, Douglas, of Malibu, Calif.; a sister, Ethel Stutzman of Goshen; two brothers, D. Paul Miller of Normal, Ill., and Dennis Miller of Elkhart, Ind.; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, N. Emerson Miller.
Funeral services were held at College Mennonite Church. Burial was in Elkhart Prairie Cemetery in Goshen.

Mennonite Weekly Review
March 10, 2003
81st Year, No. 10
p. 11

Benjamin J. Sawatzky
Benjamin J. Sawatzky, 80, of North Newton, Kan., died Feb. 16, 2003, at Via Christi-St. Francis Medical Center in Wichita. He was born June 23, 1922, to Jacob Ferdinand and Cornelia (Klassen) Sawatzky in Manitou, Man.
He married Leona F. Friesen on Aug. 20, 1943, in Mountain Lake, Minn.
He grew up in Saskatchewan and Montana. He graduated from high school in 1940 in Madrid, Neb. He then graduated from Bethel College in North Newton in 1952 with a degree in industrial arts and a minor in Bible.
He served as a missionary in India from 1953 to 1971. He served the Champa Christian Hospital as business manager and in maintenance. He served as pastor at Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson, Neb., from 1972 to 1979. He remained in Henderson until 1988, when he moved to Kidron-Bethel Retirement Community in North Newton.
He was a member of Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton. His hobbies included woodworking, reading, crossword puzzles, needlepoint and handwork.
Survivors include his wife, Leona; two sons, Steven of Littleton, Colo., and Monroe of Henderson; two daughters, Rosemary Kuehl of New Ulm, Minn., and Margaret Sawatzky of North Newton; two brothers, Reynold of Goshen, Ind., and Gordon of Greeley, Colo.; a sister, Annie Deckert of North Newton; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters.
Funeral services were held at Bethel College Mennonite Church. A graveside service was held at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.

Thelma Ruth King
Thelma Ruth King, 88, of Albany, Ore., and formerly of Lebanon, died Feb. 22, 2003, at Mennonite Home. She was born Aug. 7, 1914, to Roy S. and Lora Hartzler Yoder in Hubbard.
She went to La Junta, Colo., where she attended nursing school and became a registered nurse. She married Donald E. King on May 7, 1941, in Portland.
They moved to Harper, Kan., and then to Goshen, Ind., so he could go to school for one year. He became a pastor and they lived in Pigeon, Mich., from 1946 to 1961. They moved to Hesston, Kan., where he pastored Whitestone Mennonite Church. In 1968 they made Lebanon their home. He preceded her in death on Oct. 14, 1976.
She was a mother, pastor's spouse, nurse and homemaker. She was an active member of Lebanon Mennonite Church and a member of the board of directors for Mennonite Village. She enjoyed quilting and helping people in need.
Survivors include two sons, Loren O. King of Suffolk, Va., and Timothy D. King of Eugene; a daughter, Nelda F. Miller of Shipshewana, Ind.; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; a son, Wendell R. King, in June 2000; and four brothers.
Memorial services will be held at Lebanon Mennonite Church. Burial was in Gilliland Cemetery.

Ellen George
Ellen M. Zimmerman George, 89, of Woodstock, Ill., died Jan. 22, 2003, at her home. She was born Dec. 15, 1913, to Joseph and Tillie (Hostetler) Zimmerman at Protection, Kan.
When she was 9 years old, her family moved to Harper, Kan. In her youth she accepted Jesus as her Savior and was baptized at Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church near Harper.
On June 18, 1944, she married LeRoy George. He preceded her in death on Dec. 23, 1993.
At the time of her death, she was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church in Woodstock.
In fall 1942 she responded to a call to become head cook at a newly opened Civilian Public Service camp in Glacier National Park at Belton, Mont. She later worked in the kitchen at Woodstock Residence rest home for 30 years before retiring.
Survivors include two sons, William of Woodstock and Donald and his wife, Julie, of Haymarket, Va.; a daughter, Barbara Hannah of Rockville, Md.; a sister, Grace Detweiler of Phoenix, Ariz.; a brother, Roy Zimmerman of Hutchinson, Kan.; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy; a sister, Arleta Butz; and a brother, Vernon Zimmerman.
A memorial service was held at Calvary Baptist Church. Burial was in Pleasant Valley Mennonite Cemetery of Harper, Kan.

Dan P. Kaufman
Dan P. Kaufman, 87, of McPherson, Kan., died Feb. 28, 2003, at Mercy Hospital in Moundridge. He was born Jan. 18, 1916, to Jacob S. and Mary (Goering) Kaufman in rural Moundridge.
On Nov. 23, 1943, he married Viola Goering at Moundridge. She preceded him in death on July 4, 1996. On Oct. 4, 1997, he married Helen Goering Krehbiel at McPherson.
He was a lifetime resident of McPherson County and graduated from Moundridge High School in 1935. He was a farmer and former employee of Central Kansas Hatchery. He was a member of Eden Mennonite Church of rural Moundridge.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Krehbiel-Kaufman; two sons, Jay of McPherson and Douglas of Hutchinson; two daughters, Rozetta Wedel and Denise Stucky, both of Moundridge; a stepson, Gene Krehbiel of McPherson; a stepdaughter, Vickie Williams of McPherson; three brothers, Pete of North Newton, Alvin of McPherson and Kenneth of Moundridge; four sisters, Marilyn Kaufman of North Newton, Carol Siemens of Newton, Arlene Ediger of Henderson, Neb., and Lucille Henry of Hutchinson; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Viola; a brother, Emil; and three sisters, Olga Waltner, Helen Kaufman and Gladys Kaufman.
A memorial service was held at Eden Mennonite Church. A graveside service was held at Eden Mennonite Church Cemetery.

Lester J. Glick
Lester J. Glick, 84, of Madison, Miss., died March 1, 2003, at his home. He was born June 6, 1918, to Christian C. and Maggie (Yoder) Glick near Sugar Creek, Ohio.
He became a respected social work educator and practioner, with degrees from Goshen (Ind.) College, Ohio State University and Washington University. He began the social work program at Goshen and the graduate school of social work at the University of Southern Mississippi. He served as an associate dean at the Syracuse University School of Social Work and taught at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. He held leadership roles in residential programs for troubled youth, including Boys Village in Smithville, Ohio, the Eckerd Foundation and Florida Sheriff's Ranch.
His Mennonite faith led him to a life of service. During World War II he was in the alternative service program for conscientious objectors, working in mental health institutions. He served as a subject for a groundbreaking University of Minnesota starvation experiment after his retirement, worked with churches on family life programs, created the Charis Counseling Center at Bahia Vista Mennonite Church in Sarasota, Fla., and led disaster recovery efforts at Homestead and Sandford, Fla., for Mennonite Disaster Service. He was a counselor and role model for many. He was a member of St. Matthews Methodist Church in Madison since moving there in 2001.
His love for his wife, Doris, and his family, especially his grandchildren, was a source of great strength for all. He authored an autobiography and compilation of the Glick family history. He loved baking, gardening and travel.
Survivors include his wife, Doris; four children, Ron and his wife, Mary, Christina Glick and her husband, Edward Guillot Jr., Priscilla Clark, and Byron and his wife, Michelle; a brother, Leon; two sisters, Grace Glick and Carol Kaufman; and eight grandchildren.
Memorial services were held at St. Matthews Methodist Church. Burial was in Walnut Creek Mennonite Church Cemetery.

Mennonite Weekly Review
March 17, 2003
81st Year, No. 11
p. 11

Alvin Funk
Alvin Leonard Funk, 91, of Aberdeen, Idaho, died Aug. 21, 2002, at Pocatello Regional Medical Center. He was born Jan. 20, 1911, to Peter F. and Maria Wiebe Funk in Aberdeen.
He married Doris E. Mills on Aug. 31, 1934, in Corvallis, Ore.
He graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1929 as salutatorian. He attended Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., Idaho State University and graduated with honors from Oregon State University in Corvallis with degrees in electrical and civil engineering. While at OSU he met his sweetheart, Doris. After college he worked as a chief field engineer and surveyor for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Alvin as postmaster of Aberdeen. He served the community for 35 years, retiring in 1974.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944, serving in the Philippines. His wife served as postmaster until he returned.
His hobbies were surveying, community and church service. His passion was his family. He was an active member of the Aberdeen Rotary Club since 1946, a Paul Harris Fellow, active in the American Legion, Aberdeen Post 59, where he served as chaplain for many years, and he served as president of Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce.
He was an active member of First Mennonite Church in Aberdeen, serving in many positions in the church. He was also active in Schowalter Foundation, Mennonite Mutual Aid and Pacific District Conference Mennonite Men.
Survivors include his wife, Doris; two daughters, Janice Edmonds of Pocatello and Myrtle "Marty" Freeburne and her husband, Jerry, of Aberdeen; a son, Dean and his wife, Sharon, of Pocatello; 11 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Ronald Funk of Nampa.
The memorial service was at First Mennonite Church of Aberdeen. Burial was in Homestead Cemetery of Aberdeen.

Doris E. Mills Funk
Doris E. Mills Funk, 87, of Aberdeen, Idaho, died Jan. 31, 2003, at a health care facility in Pocatello.
She was born July 27, 1915, to Clarence Hugh and Myrtle Bashaw Mills in Spokane, Wash. After several years in Oregon, they moved to the Medicine Hat, Alta., area to farm. They then moved to Corvallis, Ore., where she spent most of her school years.
She was a vocal soloist, often singing live on the radio in the Corvallis and Albany area.
While attending her church near the campus of Oregon State University, she met her future husband, Alvin Funk. They were married Aug. 31, 1934. That same year they both graduated; she from high school and he from college.
After their marriage they made their home in Aberdeen, raising three children, being active in the community and the Mennonite church, which they loved so much.
This period was interrupted by World War II, when he was called to military service. In his absence, she was appointed to fill his position as postmaster in Aberdeen.
When her children were a little older, she became a correspondent for the Salt Lake Tribune, Idaho State Journal and The Aberdeen Times, writing special articles. She taught ceramics classes at her home and hosted bridge club games.
After her children grew up, she went into nursing and entered the program at St. Anthony Hospital, receiving her LPN in 1964. She was a nurse at Harms Memorial Hospital in American Falls.
Survivors include her children, Janice Edmonds of Pocatello, Myrtle "Marty" Freeburne and her husband, Jerry, of Aberdeen, and Dean and his wife, Sharon, of Pocatello; 11 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Betty Smith.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Alvin; and two brothers, Dean and Kelly.
Funeral services were held at First Mennonite Church in Aberdeen. Burial was in Homestead Cemetery.

Marie E. Hofer
Marie E. Hofer, 85, died Feb. 28, 2003, at Freeman (S.D.) Community Nursing Home. She was born Sept. 8, 1917, to Christian and Justina (Tschetter) Hofman near Bridgewater.
In 1936 she graduated from Freeman Academy. Upon her confession of faith, she as baptized on Aug. 21, 1932, and became a member of the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church.
On Aug. 28, 1938, she married Joe Matt Hofer. After their marriage she transferred her church membership to Hutterthal Mennonite Church of rural Freeman.
They farmed in the west Freeman and Clayton areas for 36 years. Her life centered around her family, her church, community and Freeman Junior College and Academy Auxiliary. She enjoyed participating in church through teaching Sunday school, Women in Mission, and entertaining pastors, missionaries and foreign students attending Freeman Junior College.
In 1975, they retired from farming and moved to Freeman. She worked in the dietary departments at Freeman Junior College and Freeman Community Hospital. In 1979 they helped organize and open the Et Cetera Shop in Freeman, which they managed for six years. She enjoyed clerking and volunteering in the shop until 2001.
She moved to Salem Mennonite Home for the Aged in Freeman in September 2001. On Jan. 26, 2003, she was admitted to Freeman Hospital and transferred to Freeman Community Nursing Home on Feb. 4.
Survivors include two daughters, Donna Thieszen and her husband, Elmer, of Henderson, Neb., and Edie Tschetter and her husband, Larry, of Freeman; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Joe Hofer, on Oct. 28, 1996.

No obituaries --- March 24, 2003

Mennonite Weekly Review
March 31, 2003
81st Year, No. 13
p. 8

Laura R. Schrag
Laura R. Schrag, 89, of Moundridge, Kan., died Feb. 14, 2003, at Memorial Home. She was born June 3, 1913, to H.J. and Martha Krehbiel Wedel near Elyria.
She married Arthur G. Schrag on Aug. 31, 1930, at Moundridge. He preceded her in death on April 20, 1997.
A longtime McPherson County resident, she was a homemaker. She was a member of Eden Mennonite Church of rural Moundridge.
Survivors include three children, Gordon K. and his wife, Annie, of Moundridge, Joyce Hall and her husband, Howard, of McPherson, and Larry and his wife, Teresa, of Inman; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at Eden Mennonite Church. Burial was in the Eden church cemetery.

Sara F. Miller
Sara F. Miller, 78, of Macon, Miss., died March 1, 2003, at her home. She was born Oct. 12, 1924, to Noah J. and Mary (Bontrager) Fry in New Mexico.
She was a homemaker and a longtime resident of Mashulaville, near Macon, and a member of the Mennonite Church community. She will be remembered by family and friends as a loving wife, mother and grandmother who devoted her life to helping others.
"Mom Sara's" funeral was attended by more than 400 of her racially diverse family and friends. At the funeral was the Mashulaville African-American community, her (Native) Choctaw Indian children and friends, her white children, a host of her Amish nephews and nieces, Mississippi Mennonites of all colors and several Vietnamese friends. The church service theme was "Have You Been to Jesus' Table?" A meal was served at The Dormitory, the place where the Millers raised their extended family and shared table space with so many over the years.
Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Andrew Miller; nine sons, Larry Miller, Richard Gillett, Robert Gillett, Rodney Gillett, Roger Gillett, Velton Farmer, Howard Polk, Travis Wallace and Jerry Bell; seven daughters, Anita Gillett, Celia Tubby, Mary Sue Clark, Deanie Ashford, Maggie Farmer, Shirley Grant and Linda Bell; two brothers, Ezra Fry and Jake Fry; 34 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Joe Fry; two sons, Kenneth Miller and Randall Gillett; and a grandchild.
Funeral services were held at Brush Fork Baptist Church. Burial was in Mount Olive Cemetery.

Mary Lois Weaver
Mary Lois Weaver, 84, of Waldron Island, Wash., died Feb. 25, 2003, of multiple myeloma. She was born Jan. 3, 1919, to Mark and Effie (Miller) Bender in Grantsville, Md.
She grew up in Casselman Valley of southwestern Pennyslvania. Her extended family were people of Mennonite and Amish tradition, who were a strong and sustaining influence upon her life.
She attended Goshen (Ind.) College, where piano study became her primary interest. She married Robert F. Weaver of Goshen on June 25, 1941. They lived in Oregon, Pennsylvania and Indiana, and first moved to Waldron Island in 1955. Ten years later she graduated from Western Washington State College.
She loved music of many kinds, loved to make music on the piano and to sing. She was knowledgeable about the natural world and was particularly interested in birds, mushrooms, astronomy and plants, both wild and cultivated. She was an insatiable reader. Until illness intervened, she daily walked miles on the roads of Waldron.
She taught Head Start in Mount Vernon, Wash., kindergarten in Friday Harbor, second grade in Neah Bay on the Makah Indian Reservation and all grades in Waldron's one-room schoolhouse for 15 years.
Survivors include her husband, Robert; three children, Nellie Habegger of Lost Prairie, Ore., and Anna Scruton and Chris Weaver of Waldron; two sisters, Bernice Bartholomew of Albuquerque, N.M., and Anne Johnson of Fort Worth, Texas; seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by a son, Andy, in 1990.
Burial was in the Waldron cemetery by her family.

Dennis D. Miller
Dennis D. Miller, 83, of Elkhart, Ind., died Feb. 26, 2003, at East Lake Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born Aug. 19, 1919, to David D. and Maggie (Kuhns) Miller in Protection, Kan.
He married M. Anne Miller in 1976.
Survivors include his wife, Anne; a son, Douglas D. and his wife, Sharon, of Poolesville, Md.; a daughter, Jacqueline A. Miller of Reston, Va.; two stepsons, Robert Richardson of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Donald Richardson of Gaithersburg, Md.; a stepdaughter, Robin Stallman of Fairfax, Va.; a sister, Ethel Stutzman of Goshen; a brother, D. Paul Miller of Normal, Ill.; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and five step-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Emerson, and a sister, Ruth Willems.
Burial was in Elkhart Prairie Cemetery in Goshen.

Carl Haury Rupp
Carl Haury Rupp, 92, of Denver, Colo., a former Kansas farmer, died March 12, 2003, in Denver. He was born June 6, 1910, to Moundridge, Kan., area settlers Stella and Otto Rupp. He grew up on a farm near Moundridge. He was baptized and joined West Zion Mennonite Church.
He graduated from Moundridge High School in 1928, and attended Bethel College, North Newton, for two years in 1929-30. He received his bachelor's degree in agriculture after studying at Kansas State University 1934-35.
His first job after graduation was as an assistant county agent in Belleville. In 1936, he returned to help his parents on the wheat and livestock farm. After Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, he worked in a hospital in Colorado Springs. In October 1943, he began serving with the Lurline in the Merchant Marines throughout the South Pacific, New Guinea and Australia. After that, he worked on the farm until a job came up in 1946 as an agricultural farm agent in Ulysses.
He married Marie Flaming on May 16, 1947, in Liberal. They moved to the farm near Moundridge.
His life revolved around his farming career and church activities. He sang in the Kansas Mennonite Men's Choir and enjoyed attending Mennonite conventions.
His trips over the years included taking a Mennonite heritage trip to South America, going to Russia on a media and the arts tour, to Japan, China, Mexico, Germany, Switzerland, England, Belgium and France. Another highlight was the Alaskan cruise he took in 2001.
A hearty and determined man, he farmed in Kansas well into his 80s. Family was important to him. In his earlier years he volunteered in disaster relief around the country. He kept up with current events and Bible reading until the end of his struggle with congestive heart failure.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Marie; two children, Larry Rupp and Carla Rupp; and four grandchildren.
Services were held at West Zion Mennonite Church, Moundridge, and at First Mennonite Church, Denver. Burial was in West Zion's cemetery.