Krahn, Hilda Wiebe (1910-2000)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2001 Jan 25 p. 11

Birth date: 1910 Dec 11

text of obituary:

HILDA WIEBE KRAHN

Hilda Wiebe Krahn was born Dec. 11, 1910, on a farm near Beatrice, Neb., the fifth child of Gerhard A. and Anna Claassen Wiebe. In 1928 Hilda was baptized and became a member of Beatrice Mennonite Church. She graduated from Beatrice High School in 1929 and spent the next eight years helping at home, attending Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., and teaching in rural schools near Beatrice.

At Bethel, Hilda met Cornelius Krahn, newly arrived in this country from his studies in the Ukraine, Germany and Holland. They were married June 14, 1940. Hilda taught in a rural school near Hillsboro, Kan., before they moved to North Newton in 1944. Cornelius taught German and church history at Bethel, was founder and editor of Mennonite Life and did lecturing, writing and editing. Hilda spent much time helping Cornelius develop his skills in speaking and writing English. She began her second teaching career in Newton in 1956, teaching in the Newton schools and at Golden Plains north of town until 1972. She loved teaching first graders to read.

Hilda was a member of Bethel College Mennonite Church. Church activities, which were an important part of Hilda's life, included teaching Sunday shcool, working in the church library and playing in the handbell choir. She was a past president of the American Association of University Women and a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the Bethel College Reading Club. Hilda and Cornelius led many tours to Europe and the Soviet Union. Her life exemplified her faithfulness to God, her love for her family and her concern for peace and justice. She died Dec. 27, 2000.

She is survived by her daughters, Marianne and her husband Stan Miller of Lyons, Kan., Karla Krahn Kuhn-Osius of New York and Cornelia Krahn and her husband Kent Olson of Marshfield, Wis.; eight grandchildren; one great grandchild; and two sisters, Erna Harms and Anna Miller. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Arthur and Edgar Wiebe; and two sisters, Gertrude Penner and Helen Hirschler.