Just, Fred (1869-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Aug 6 p. 9

Birth date: 1869 Dec 17

text of obituary:

REV. FRED JUST

Rev. Fred Just was born to Martin and Wilhelmina Just, nee Liedtke, December 17, 1869, in South Russia, and went to meet his Savior, whom he had trusted, July 1, 1953, at 5:10 p.m., after a long illness. He reached the age of 83 years, six months, and 14 days.

He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour at the age of 16 and was baptized by Elder John Foth, August 5, 1887, and received into the Mennonite Brethren church of Ebenfeld, Kansas.

He was united in holy wedlock with Florentina Patzkowsky, November 12, 1891, by Elder John Foth. This union was blessed with seven children, three sons and four daughters: Fred, Martin, and Herbert; Minnie, Mrs. P. J. Wall; Annie, Mrs. Henry G. Heier; Mary, Mrs. Albert Ollenburger; and Martha, Mrs. Friesen. He has 18 living grandchildren, four preceded him in death; 16 great-grandchildren, one went to glory.

In 1901, during the pioneer days of the sod house and the dirt floors, our father together with his brother M. M. Just were ordained for the Gospel ministry by the Mennonite Brethren church of Fairview, Oklahoma. Grandfather and grandmother Just fasted the entire day on this occasion when their sons were separated for the ministry.

For a number of years our father has been privileged to serve in the Lord's vineyard. He conducted many evangelistic campaigns and was called to numerous sick and deathbed besides the many services he rendered to the needs of individuals.

In those years, he was much away from home, and it was mother who carried on courageously, taking care of farm and family. She did it in the strength of the Lord, whom she trusted. The children will never forget the admonitions of father to live so as to please God in his absence and be a help to mother. This has brought us in our early youth close to our Saviour, and his great wish that we all accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour was fulfilled. It brought much joy to his heart. We see the fruit of father's labor, as many tell us, it was by his ministry they were led to accept Christ as their Saviour.

About 1916 our parents moved from Fairview to Balko, Oklahoma, where he served the M. B. church for 14 years. In 1930, they moved to California.

On January 2, 1939, mother went to be with her Lord. She had shared joys and sorrows with father for 48 years. He found another faithful companion in Augusta Bekker of Lodi, and were married by Bro. George Warkentin on February 8, 1941. She stood by him in his long and severe suffering. When the care for him in the home became too difficult, he was taken to the Mennonite Brethren Home for the Aged in Reedley where he received loving care for over two years, and where he also died.

Left to mourn his passing are his wife, the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren 6 stepchildren—Daniel Bekker, John Bekker, Susie Abbot, Anna Sentter, Bertha Randals, Edna Ranque; 13 step grandchildren; and one step great grandchild; four brothers and their wives and two sisters with their husbands — Jacob J. Just of Hillsboro, Kansas, John and Henry of Reedley, Pete Just of Fairview, Oklahoma, Annie, Mrs. J. P. Karber of Perryton, Texas, Elizabeth, Mrs. H. H. Kornelsen, Hillsboro, Kansas; nephews, and nieces, and many friends. His parents, four brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.

We do not mourn as such who have no hope, for "blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them." Christ gives the victory. — The Family.