Plett, Delbert (1948-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2004 Nov 22 p. 6

Birth date: 1948 Mar 6

text of obituary:

Expert on history of Kleine Gemeinde dies

By Robert Rhodes
Mennonite Weekly Review

STEINBACH, man. — Delbert Plett, a historian who focused on preserving the legacy of Kleine Gemeinde Mennonites and other conservative Anabaptists, died Nov. 4. He was 56.

Plett, who split his scholarly pursuits with a legal practice, took an interest in the conservative and plain Mennonite sects. In the 14 books he wrote and in others he published through the historical society he founded, Plett recorded the heritage of Anabaptist groups he believed were being overlooked or even misunderstood.

A highlight of plett’s work is the multi-volume “Kleine-Gemeinde Historical Series,” published by Crossway.

In a review of a book from the series, Saints and Sinners: The Kleine Gemeinde in Imperial Russia, 1912 to 1875, Kevin Enns-Rempel wrote in Mennonite Life: “The name Delbert Plett has become virtually synonymous with Kleine Gemeinde Mennonite historiogrpahy. Plett . . . has single-handedly lifted the Kleine Gemeinde from their previous obscurity and placed them into the mainstream of Russian Mennonite historical studies.”

The Kleine Gemeinde, or “small church,” became the Evangelical Mennonite Conference in 1956. It has 52 congregations, all in Canada.

Since 1995, Plett had edited the Mennonite history journal ‘’Preservings,’‘ published by the Hanover Steinbach Hi8storical Society, founded by Plett in 1988.

Packed with copious articles and photos Plett gleaned from diverse contributors, Preservings reflected Plett's range of interests in conservative church groups.

Among these were the Old Colony Mennonites and other Low German-speaking sects. Plett believed the cultural integrity of these groups was being endangered not only by modernizing social trends but by evangelism by other Mennonites.

Plett especially was an avid defender of the Old Colony communities of Mexico and Canada.

Born march 6, 1948, at Steinbach, Plett grew up on a farm in Manitoba's Blumenort district.

A member of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference, he studied law at the University of Manitoba and in 1975 formed the Plett, Goossen & Associates law firm in Steinbach.

He also organized many tours to points of Mennonite history. In June, as he succumbed to liver cancer, Plett made the last of these trips — to a bicentennial observance for the Molotschna Mennonite colony in Ukraine.

Plett is survived by a brother, Norman; a sister, Kathy Peters; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral was held Nov. 10 at Blumenort Evangelical Mennonite Church. Burial was in Steinbach Heritage Cemetery.

The D. F. Plett Historical Research Foundatin has been established in Steinbach to carry on Plett's work.