Harder, Lydia Niessen (1916-1978)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1978 May 12 p. 34

Birth date: 1916 Feb 09

text of obituary:

MRS. LYDIA HARDER

(Mrs.) Lydia Harder was born in south Russia on February 9, 1916, the daughter of Frank and Katharina (Wiebe) Niessen. In 1923 the family moved to a farm in Canada, at Aberdeen, Sask. Here, in 1931, she accepted the Lord as her personal Saviour. Baptism and membership in the Aberdeen Mennonite Brethren Church followed. Early in her Christian life she displayed a desire to serve the Lord, and was able to attend Bethany Bible Institute.

On June 18, 1939 she married John Harder, a widower with three small children for whom she cared with loving tenderness. The Lord gave them three more children, and the Harders were grateful that all their children accepted Christ. After farming for a time at Hepburn, Sask., and Coaldale, Alta., the Harders moved to Abbotsford, B.C. They fellowshipped at the South Abbotsford Church, and transferred to the Central Heights Church when it was started, in 1950. In 1951 the church called them to be deacons, and in 1953 they were ordained . Mrs. Harder served faithfully as a Sunday school teacher and leader of the ladies group. In 1959 they transferred to the Clearbrook MB Church.

Mrs. Harder underwent surgery for cancer in 1975. Although recovery seemed possible at first, the illness spread. On April 18, 1978 her suffering ceased and the Lord took her home to Glory . She leaves to mourn her beloved husband of 38 years, John Harder ; five daughters and one son and their spouses: Betty (Mrs.) Abe Esau, Martha (Mrs. Ben) Peters, Ruth (Mrs. Paul) Friesen, Harold and Gail Harder, Lydia (Mrs. Henry) Boldt, and Esther (Mrs. Evert) Busink; 15 grandchildren; three brothers, Henry, Peter and William Niessen; and many relatives and friends.