Franz, Helen Reimer (1895-1987)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1987 Sep 3 p. 11

Birth date: 1895 Nov 28

text of obituary:

HELEN FRANZ

Helen (Mrs. Leonard J.) Franz, 91, died July 1, 1987, at Salem Home, Hillsboro, Kan. Services were conducted July 5 at the Hillsboro MB Church with Clarence Hiebert and Arthur Flaming officiating. Burial was in the MB Cemetery.

She was born Nov. 28, 1895, at Bingham Lake, Minn., the daughter of John and Katarina (Thiessen) Reimer. Her education included studies in an elementary, one-room school, Mt. Lake (Minn.) Preparatory School, Bethel Deaconess Hospital, Newton, Kan., and Tabor College, Hillsboro.

She married Leonard J. Franz of Inman, Kan., on May 20, 1920. They lived in Hillsboro since 1920, where he was superintendent of schools in Hillsboro. He later served as Tabor College president, academic dean and professor of history.

She served as a nurse during the flu epidemic in Minnesota. She taught German in the Hillsboro Public School in the 1930s and elementary school for three years during World War II. She was assistant to the librarian of Tabor College, 1962-65.

She was one of the founders of the Hillsboro Public Library in the 1930s. She served as the corresponding secretary for the Fourth District of the Kansas Women's Federated Club in the 1940s, was president of the YWCA, and was a member of the Marion County Farm Bureau, FISH, Senior Citizens Club and Federated Women's Club.

In 1978 she was given the Kansas Merit Mother of the Year award in recognition of her service to the family and community. She helped found Tabor Women's Fellowship during her husband's term as Tabor president, 1956-62.

She had been a member of the Hillsboro MB Church since 1924. She taught Sunday school for 52 years and had served as president of the Southern District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Women's organization.

Her husband preceded her in death in 1972.

Survivors include two daughters, Elfrieda Hiebert and husband, Erwin N., Belmont, Mass., and Laura Hiebert and husband, Talmage, Ann Arbor, Mich.; one brother, Frank Reimer, Mt. Lake, Minn.; one sister, Susan (Mrs. P.R.) Lange, Reedley, Calif.; and six grandchildren.

A memorial fund has been established at the Tabor College Library.

Transcribed by Ralph Shetler, Oregon