Eitzen, Lena Baerg (1923-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 May 11 p. 9

Birth date: 1923 Jun 18

text of obituary:

LENA BAERG EITZEN

Lena Baerg Eitzen, 85, formerly of Lustre, Mont., and Mountain Lake, Minn., died May 3, 2009, in Newton, Kan. She was born June 18, 1923, to Henry G. and Elisabeth Rahn Baerg in the Lustre community of Valley County, Mont.

On Sept. 5, 1943, she married Alvin D. Eitzen in the Bethel Lustre Mennonite Church in Frazer, Mont. After their marriage, they lived and farmed in Mountain Lake for one year, but for the next 36 years they lived and farmed in the Lustre community in Montana. She served in Sunday school, in the Mission Society of the church and with music. She was active in the women’s organizations of the former Northern District Conference and General Conference Mennonite Church.

In April 1981, she and Alvin retired and moved to Mountain Lake, Minn., where they continued to be actively involved in church and community life. Alvin preceded her in death on Dec. 3, 2004. In December 2006, her family moved her to Presbyterian Manor in Newton due to her Alzheimer’s disease.

Survivors include her children, Howard Eitzen of Great Falls, Mont., Erwin Rempel of Newton, Kan., Norman Rempel of Fresno, Calif., Barbara Rempel Busenitz of Elbing, Kan.; and their families.

She was preceded in death by three sisters, Susie Baerg, Anna Baerg and Elisabeth Kliewer; and three brothers, Ruben, Arthur and Clarence.

Funeral services and burial were held at Lakeview Gospel Church in Mountain Lake, Minn.