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In this section:
Elizabeth Willems
Elizabeth Willems passed away Mar. 6. She was born Jan. 12, 1901 to Gerhard and Anna Derksen in Hochfeld, Russia. When she was 4, the family came to Canada. She grew up in Borden, Sask., attending school for only a few years. In 1915 she accepted Christ. In September 1918 she was baptized and joined Borden MB Church. She was an excellent cook. She was in charge of baking and cooking for 6 of her sisters’ weddings. She helped others with their housework when they needed help. She married Isaac A. Willems Feb. 28, 1935. They were mission-minded and often hosted preachers in their home. She was practical and resourceful, knowing how to make something beautiful out of very little. She was an usher and helped in the kitchen in Brotherfield MB Church, Waldheim, Sask. She supported Isaac in all his endeavours. In 1953 they moved to Saskatoon, where they worked as janitors. In 1956 her mother moved in with them; Elizabeth cared for her for over 10 years. Until 1978, she and Isaac enjoyed going out to their quarter-section in Waldheim to work a small garden and walk among the grain. In 1979, after Isaac died, she moved into a suite in Central Place in Saskatoon. In 1996 she moved to Bethany Villa. After breaking a leg and an arm, she moved to Warman (Sask.) Mennonite Special Care Home. Predeceased by Isaac, 2 brothers and 7 sisters, she is mourned by sisters Maria Martens and Susan Hamm; and brother Henry.
Christine Ruth Wiebe
Christine Ruth Wiebe passed away May 24 in Wichita, Kan. She was born Nov. 19, 1954 to Walter and Katie (Funk) Wiebe in Waldheim, Sask. She was a parish nurse at St. Thomas of Canterbury and St. Gertrude Parishes in Chicago. She had a deep love for life, her friends and social justice, which was reflected in her writings, including a book she authored. She is mourned by her mother of Wichita; brother James of Wichita and sisters Susan Harms of Wichita and Joanna of London, Ont. A memorial service was held May 26 in the chapel of St. Gertrude Parish Ministry Center.
Helen Dyck
Helen Dyck of Steinbach, Man. passed away May 2. She was born Jan. 15, 1913 to Johann and Amelia Dyck in Slavograd, Siberia, Russia. After World War I, the family moved back to Molotschna, settling in Klippenfeld. Johann ran a flour mill. During the Russian Revolution, they fled to Halbstadt for a time. In 1925 they immigrated to Burwalde, Man. Here she and her sister accepted Christ, attended Sunday school and sang in the choir. They later moved to Winnipeg, attended North End MB Church and were baptized in 1935 by C.N. Hiebert. After a bout of pneumonia, she moved to Steinbach, where she worked in P.B. Reimer’s grocery and Reimer’s Dress Shop; for 16 years she was a buyer and shop assistant. She carefully chose her own elegant wardrobe. She then worked for 9 years as a drapery seamstress at Ray’s Interiors. In 1969 she survived a battle with cancer and returned to work until her mother suffered a stroke. She cared for her at home and then faithfully visited her in Rest Haven. She was a member of Steinbach MB Church. She taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and served with the ladies’ group. She was meticulous. She enjoyed embroidery and needlepoint, creating beautiful tapestries and afghans. She was fun-loving, full of humorous stories, and loved doing puzzles. She enjoyed a train trip to B.C., a bus trip with her sister to Toronto and 2 Christmas vacations in Mexico and Hawaii. Predeceased by her brother Herman, she is mourned by her sister Erna. The funeral was May 9 in Steinbach MB Church, with Neil Rempel and John Arendt ministering.
Walter Janzen
Walter Janzen of Winnipeg passed away May 15. He was born Mar. 29, 1928 to Henry H. and Catharine Janzen in Kitchener, Ont. He and his wife Edith (Neufeld) pastored MB and other churches in Winnipeg, Harvey, N.D., Minot, N.D., Morden, Man., Jamestown, N.D., Port Rowan, Ont., St. Catharines, Ont., Winkler, Man. and Killarney, Man. They retired in 1994. He is remembered for his joy in serving the Lord and his love for his family. He is mourned by Edith; children Les, Marilyn Cecil-Smith, Richard, Kenneth and Barbara Janzen-Schmidt; 6 grandchildren; 3 brothers and 3 sisters. The funeral was May 19 in Portage Ave. MB Church, with Claude Pratte and Albert Baerg ministering.
Menno Wiens
Menno Wiens of Port Rowan, Ont. passed away May 13. He was born Nov. 3, 1941 to Frank and Helen Wiens in Watrous, Sask. When he was 2, the family moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. At an early age, he was led to the Lord by his mother. As a teen, he was baptized and joined Virgil (Ont.) MB Church. In 1963 he began attending Winkler (Man.) Bible Institute. At 22 he purchased his first farm, farming in the summers between semesters at school. He married Maggie Mueller Nov. 11, 1966. They bought a home on the E/W line, then moved to a small fruit farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake. In 1974 they moved to Port Rowan to farm full-time. He also worked for 10 years at the GM plant. He was a cheerful, faithful worker in church, where he worked with the youth, taught Sunday school, led worship, sang in the choir and served on various committees, including the board of elders. In April 1998 cancer was found. He had surgery. Liver cancer was found May 9, 2000. In all of this, his faith in God encouraged many. Predeceased by a brother, he is mourned by Maggie; children Leanne Reimer of Port Rowan, Nicole Ens of Winnipeg and Brad of Port Rowan; 5 grandchildren; and 5 sisters. The funeral was May 16 in Port Rowan MB Church, with Sandy Young and Rudy Bartel ministering.
Elizabeth Neufeld-Martens
Elizabeth (Betty) Neufeld-Martens of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away Feb. 17 of cancer. She was born July 16, 1924 to Henry and Anne Neufeld in Katrinaslav, Russia. When she was 2, the family immigrated to Aberdeen, Sask. In 1940 they moved to Virgil, Ont. At 17, she accepted Christ. In 1943 she was baptized. She married Frank Neufeld Jan. 5, 1946. They moved to Abbotsford, becoming active members of Clearbrook MB Church. In the mid-1970s they joined Central Heights MB Church, Abbotsford. Frank died in January 1991. She was blessed with good friends. She married Jake Martens Dec. 30, 1994. A year later, she began to experience health problems, and after another year was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. She enjoyed 2 1/2 more years of relatively good health. Predeceased by Frank and a sister, she is mourned by Jake; children Lil Goodwin, Herman, Dolores Wall, Marge Giesbrecht, Judy Abrahams and Flo Rempel; stepchildren Art, Alvina Woods and Linda Edworthy; 22 grandchildren; 6 stepgrandchildren; 1 stepgreat-grandchild; 6 brothers and 2 sisters. A memorial service was held Feb. 22 in Central Heights MB Church, with Paul Dyck, Herman Neufeld and Lyndon Plett ministering.
Charles Lindsay Johnstone
Charles Lindsay Johnstone of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away May 21. He was born Aug. 6, 1926 to Charles and Edith Johnstone in Moncton, N.B. While he was young, the family moved to Sackville, N.B. He entered into a personal relationship with Christ, was baptized and joined Main St. Baptist Church. After high school, he worked for 1 year in the Bank of Nova Scotia. He attended New Brunswick Bible Institute, Hartland, N.B. Between his first and second year there, he served for a year in the Canadian army. He was stationed near Truro, N.S., where he met Lillian Frizzell. After graduation from NBBI in 1947, he pastored two daughter churches of The People’s Church in Truro. He married Lillian in 1949. In 1950 they went to Bolivia under Evangelical Union of South America, which later merged with Gospel Missionary Union. They served in Bolivia for 32 years, mainly among the Guarani Indians. He served as the GMU B.C. representative 1982-87. He taught for 2 1/2 years at the GMU Bible Institute in Panama. They moved to Abbotsford, where they again fellowshipped in East Aldergrove MB Church. He is remembered for his love of sharing God’s Word and his commitment to prayer. He is mourned by Lillian; daughter Beth Bevens; 2 grandsons; and 1 brother. The memorial service was May 26 in East Aldergrove MB Church, with Herb Neufeld ministering.
Agatha Falk
Agatha Falk of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away May 30. She was born July 9, 1918 in Ukraine. She immigrated to Canada in 1924. She married Ben Henry Falk Aug. 19, 1939 and joined South Abbotsford MB Church. She was a committed wife and mother who enjoyed working in her home, raising her children and helping Ben on the farm. She loved the country. She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a prayer warrior for them and was deeply moved by their personal trials and triumphs. She longed to see her Heavenly Father. Predeceased by 1 sister, 4 brothers and 2 granddaughters, she is mourned by Ben; children Ed, Walter, Joan Willms, Nancy Williams, Kathy Reimer and Paul; 17 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; 1 brother and 6 sisters. The funeral was June 5 in South Abbotsford MB Church, with Steven Berg and David Epp ministering.
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© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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