Friesen, Richard (1944-2010)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Sep 6 p. 11

Birth date: 1944 Feb 25

text of obituary:

Mission worker dies in Argentina

By Lynda Hollinger-Janzen

Mennonite Mission Network

FORMOSA, Argentina — Richard Friesen spent hundreds of hours in hospitals in and around Formosa. Friesen, 66, died in one of those hospitals Aug. 11 and was buried in a Toba (an indigenous ethnic group) cemetery in San Carlos two days later.

"We are happy to provide the place for Richard's body to rest," said Rafael Mansilla, leader of the Toba New Testament revision team and Toba chief and church leader. "He was a missionary and a man of God in our community."

In keeping with the communitarian worldview of his people, Mansilla placed Friesen's contribution in the context of 50 years of Mennonites walking alongside the indigenous peoples of the Argentine Chaco. He thanked Mennonites for the value they place on Toba language, spirituality and culture.

Although Richard and Ruth Anne Friesen moved to Argentina in 2004 to coordinate the revision of the Toba New Testament, the couple made twice weekly hospital visits a priority.

Patients, their family members and medical personnel were touched by the Friesens' compassion, said Gretchen Kingsley, a coworker on the Mennonite team in the Chaco.

Stanley Friesen, Richard's brother, said that Richard's burial alongside the people he worked with was consistent with his life and ministry.

In 2004, as Friesen prepared for his most recent ministry, he wrote, "My goal is to come to love my Toba brothers and sisters and to be loved and accepted by them."

Linda Shelly, Mennonite Mission Network director for Latin America, expressed appreciation for Friesen's strong linguistic abilities, which aided revision of the Toba New Testament and a New Testament study guide. Both have been completed and are awaiting publication by the Argentine Bible Society.

Friesen was born in Dhamtari, India, Feb. 25, 1944, to Genevieve and John Friesen, who served with Mennonite Board of Missions, a predecessor agency of Mennonite Mission Network. He graduated from Hesston (Kan.) College in 1964, Goshen (Ind.) College in 1966 and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in 1970.

Friesen then spent 1971-72 with MBM in Santa Rosa, Argentina.

After his marriage to Ruth Anne Belser in 1982, they served with the Overground Railroad, Jubilee Partners and Mennonite Central Committee. From 1983 to 1992, the Friesens worked along the south Texas border area, interviewing war refugees for asylum in Canada and the U.S. For four years, they ministered among indigenous people through Mennonite Central Committee in Guatemala.

The Friesens joined Plow Creek Mennonite Church and Fellowship in Tiskilwa, Ill., working on the fellowship's farm. They also taught English as a second language.

Friesen is survived by his wife, Ruth Anne; and brothers Stanley, Weldon, Delbert and William.

A memorial service was planned for Sept. 5 at Reba Place Church in Evanston, Ill.