Plank, Helen Klassen (1923-1949)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Jul 21 p. 3

Birth date: 1923 Feb 26

text of obituary:

MRS. HELEN KLASSEN PLANK

Mrs. Ned (Helen) Klassen Plank was born February 26, 1923, to Gerhard and Anna Klassen in Elizabethtal, South Russia. She immigrated with her parents to Old Mexico in 1924. There they lived two years and in July, 1926, came to the U. S. A. and settled in Kansas. Through her father she became a naturalized citizen of the U. S. A.

She received her elementary education at Goessel and Elbing, Ks., then attended Whitewater high school three years and graduated from Goessel high school in 1942. (Her mother passed away in 1935, and her father remarried again.)

Helen experienced a conversion and received Christ as her personal Saviour in a childlike faith and was baptized on this confession in July, 1942. She was received as a member into the Buhler Mennonite Brethren church.

She entered nurses’ training at the Bethel Deaconess hospital, Newton, Kansas, in 1943, completed the three-year course and graduated in 1946. Following this she worked at Wesley hospital, Wichita, for two years.

On August 26, 1948, she was married to Ned Plank after which Ned attended Norman University, Okla.; and Helen nursed at Capital Hill hospital in Oklahoma City. Their home was in Oklahoma City, Okla.

On April 7, 1948, Helen became ill rather suddenly; a left cerebral embolism struck the brain which left her right side paralyzed and she was unable to speak. Annie, her sister and also a nurse, left her position and took care of Helen. this was a great consolation and help to her. The doctors gave hope for a complete recovery. In about 10 days she was able to walk with assistance. her speech was returning slowly.

We as a family praise the Lord, who heard us as we gathered at the Art Wall home for prayer in behalf of Helen. She had spoken some words on the same day we prayed for her. How wonderful, He heard us; to Him be glory forever. This gave us all the opportunity to see and talk with her again. We are thankful that Helen left a testimony that she was ready to go if the Lord wanted it.

She had two relapses and the latter left her paralyzed on the left side and unconscious for seven and a half hours, and then she passed away in the Lord, with her husband, Ned, and her sister Annie at the bedside, on June 8, 1948, at 4:00 p.m.

The funeral was held June 11 in the Wichita Gospel Center church, Wichita, Ks., of which she was a member since her marriage.

The Heavenly Father did what was best for her, and we believe he made no mistake. We will miss her happy disposition which she scattered freely wherever she went.

She leaves to mourn her beloved husband, Ned Plank, and her parents and family, Gerh. and Sarah Klassen; Arthur, Mary and John Arthur Wall; George, Linda and LaVerne Dale Klassen; Pete and Lorina Klassen; Miss Annie Klassen; Bennie Klassen; and Miss LaWanda Klassen.