Valencia, Mary Becker (1913-2007)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Mar 19 p. 7

Birth date: 1913 Aug 2, Kansas
Date of Death: 2007 February 18, Columbia

text of obituary:

Missionary dies at 93 in Colombia

Mennonite Mission Network

BOGOTA, Colombia — Mary Becker Valencia, 93, longtime missionary in Colombia with Mennonite and Presbyterian ministries, died Feb. 18.

Valencia was born Aug. 2, 1913, on the farm of her parents, Eva and John Becker, near Newton, Kan. She graduated from Bethel College in North newton with majors in Bible and German in 1940.

Before going on for a master of religious education degree at New York Theological Seminary, she served as interim editor of The Mennonite from March to September 1941.

Unable to obtain a visa for India, Valencia became one of the first four mission workers sent to Colombia by the former General Conference Mennonite Church Board of Missions in 1945. They began a boarding school on a farm at Cachipay for children whose parents suffered from leprosy. Students there went on to become church leaders, teachers, nurses, lawyers, administrators and workers in a variety of technical and professional fields.

With her marriage to Héctor Valencia on Jan. 1, 1950, Mary began serving along with him in various Presbyterian ministries. Héctor taught at Bluffton (Ohio) University from 1964 to 1967.

She taught in the Mennonite school, Colegio Americano, and contributed to the church in many ways, such as serving on committee, teaching Sunday school and vacation Bible school, founding and directing a choir and organizing women's groups.

In 1975, the Valencias moved to Newton, where Héctor served a secretary for Latin America for the former Commission on Overseas Mission of the General Conference. Mary contriubted time as archivist at the Mennonite Historical Library and Archives at Bethel College. In 1981, the Valencias returned to Colombia and served with COM until 1987. His role included being executive secretary of the Mennonite Church of Colombia for several years.

Valencia is survived by two children, maria Victoria of Bogotá, Colombia, and Daniel Alfonso of Heidelberg, Germany; and two grandchildren.

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MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Goessel, Kansas
Daughter of Johann and Eva (Frey) Becker
Married Hector G. Valencia 1950 January 1
Interim editor -- The Mennonite 1941
Missionary -- Columbia 1945-1949

Bethel alumni note:
Bethel College BA 1940

Photo holdings:
Individual -- Used by The Mennonite 10/22/1985 p. 521
Individual -- Bethel College Alumni Office

Sources:
Wedel Sisters Gen. B-105, B-106
Alumni card
The Mennonite 10/22/1985
Grandma Online profile 777044