Editing Thiessen, Anna Thiessen (1892-1997)

''Mennonite Brethren Herald'' obituary: 1977 Apr 29 p. 35

Birth date: 1892

text of obituary:

<center><h3>ANNA THIESSEN</h3></CENTER>

Sister Anna Thiesen was born in 1892 in
the village of Wassieljewka, Russia, the
daughter of Jacob W . and Helena (nee
Siemens) Thiessen. The family moved to
Canada in 1903, settling in Winkler, Manitoba. Three years later they moved to
Herbert, Saskatchewan; in 1908 in nearby
Main Centre she was baptized by Elder B. B .
Janz.
She had a strong desire to serve the Lord,
and this led her to enroll in 1913 in the first
class of the Herbert Bible School, taught by
J . F. Harms. In the fall of 1915 she accepted
the invitation of W. J. Bestvater to work in
the Winnipeg City Mission. After eight years
there she left for two years of training at the
Bible Institute of Los Angeles. When she
returned to Winnipeg she was asked to work
among the many girls who were working in
the city. This led to the establishment of the
Mary-Martha Home, where Miss Thiessen
served from 1925 to 1959, a total of 34 years.
"It was a great privilege for me to learn to
know so many women and I learned to love
them dearly," she later wrote. "My heart
filled with genuine joy whenever I could
direct a soul to the Way which leads to
eternal life."
After retiring, she and a close friend, Tina
Friesen, shared various suites in Winnipeg,
includng Donwood Manor. Here Miss Friesen
passed away in 1976. Sister Thiessen resided
in Donwood Manor until she also passed
away peacefully on April 1. Many former
residents of the Mary-Martha Home attended a funeral service at the Elmwood
Mennonite Brethren Church on April 4.
She leaves to mourn two brothers; three
sisters; and many relatives and friends.

[[Category:Mennonite Brethren Herald obituaries]]