Friesen, Peter J. (1870-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Mar 16 p. 3

Birth date: 1870 Oct 17

text of obituary:

REV. PETER J. FRIESEN

Rev. Peter J. Friesen, the son of Jacob Friesen and Helena Penner Friesen, was born October 17, 1870, in the village of Schoenfeld, in the Bergthal Colony, Russia. In 1874, at the age of four, he came with his parents to America.

In the spring of 1875 the father, Jacob Friesen, bought a farm nine miles northeast of Mt. Lake, where Peter grew to manhood and lived until 1909.

June 23, 1909, he was married to Maria Sawatzky, and in the fall of the year the young couple made their home in Mt. Lake. In the early fall of 1912 they bought a farm two miles northwest of Butterfield, where an only son, Arnold, was born to them on May 22, 1914. On this farm he spent the rest of his years, filled with work and contentment.

Young Peter received his Sunday school instruction in what is today the Gospel Mennonite church, where father Jacob Friesen attended with his entire family. When Bethel church was organized in 1889, the Friesen family transferred their membership to that church. June 19, 1894, Elder Regier baptized Peter, upon his confession of faith.

The deceased remarked just a few weeks before the end that throughout his early years he had felt a persistent call to the ministry. This inner call was strengthened when the church elected him evangelist. He felt he had to prepare for work in the church and in the years 1894 to 1899 he attended Bethel College. His school work was interrupted by sickness and death in the parental family.

Upon graduation he was ordained to the ministry. He preached his first sermon on Gal. 6, 14: "But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."

He considered it rare good fortune that in the fall of 1900 he could go to Europe and especially to Russia, where he visited various churches. From the time of his return in 1901 he was the steady co-worker of Elder Regier and Rev. Balzer in the care of Bethel church and its affiliated church at Butterfield. He had been in regular active work in the church for almost 35 years.

He was ever a tireless worker, devoted to his family and to the church. In the summer of 1947, he lost his eyesight completely. From that time on life became a little difficult, but he was patient and never complained. Feb. 5 of this year he was seized with an illness that took away his speech and his consciousness. He was unconscious for 12 days prior to his death on February 16.

Shortly before his last illness he remarked: "Wir haben hier keine bleibende Stadt, wir wollen keine hier." He had put his trust in God.

The deceased had five brothers and two sisters: Jacob Friesen, the oldest in the family was struck by lightning in 1895; Mrs. J. D. Schroeder and Mrs. H. A. Wall died in 1940 and 1931, respectively. Four brothers survive: Abram of Butterfield; Henry in California; John of near Butterfield; and Gerhard at Newton, Kansas.

Funeral services were held from the Bethel Mennonite church in Mt. Lake on Monday, Feb. 20 at 2:00 o'clock. Rev. A. W. Friesen and Rev. I. J. Dick officiated at the last rites. Interment was made in the Mt. Lake cemetery.

Pallbearers were Roland, Benno and Willard Friesen of Butterfield; John S. and Jacob L. Friesen and Leonard Schroeder, all of Mountain Lake.