Bargen, Bernhard (Benny) (1901-1972)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Nov 16 p. 3

Birth date: 1901

text of obituary:

Former Bethel College Professor Dies

Word was received here that Prof. Bernhard (Benny) Bargen, 70, retired Bethel College faculty member, died Tuesday morning at the bruderhof of the Society of Brothers, Farmington, Pa., where he had been receiving nursing care since late July.

Mrs. Bargen, a resident of Wheatland Homes in North Newton, had gone to Farmington last Saturday to be with him. Memorial services and burial will be at Farmington, although the time of the services was not learned here.

A native of Mt. Lake, Minn., Prof. Bargen was associate professor of economics at Bethel College from 1935 to 1946, 1953 to 1957, and from 1959 until his retirement. He had served as manager of the General Conference Publication Office, Newton, and of the Mennonite Press at North Newton.

Prof. Bargen had been an administrator and teacher in Kansas high schools before joining the Bethel faculty. He attended Bethel College, received the A. B. degree from Friends University, Wichita, and the master's degree from the University of Kansas.

Survivors include his widow, the former Esther Kliewer, and three children, Ralph of Chicago, Eldon of Avon Lake, Ohio, and Mrs. Paul (Joyce) Koehn of Concordia.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Nov 23 p. 11

text of obituary:

Service Held at North Newton

Memorial to Bethel Prof.

A memorial service for Bernhard (Benny) Bargen, who died Nov. 14 at the New Meadow Run Bruderhof of the Society of Brothers near Farmington, Pa., was held Friday evening, Nov. 17, in fellowship hall of the Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton, of which he was a member.

Prof. Bargen, who suffered from cancer of the spine, had been flown to Farmington in July at the invitation of the bruderhof to receive the needed nursing care. He was a former resident of the bruderhof at Rifton, N. Y. and had continued as a member of the Society.

A number of friends and former associates attended the Friday evening service, seated in circles around a centerpiece of green pine boughs and a lighted white taper, symbols which are commonly used at the bruderhof. Favorite hymns of Prof. Bargen, long-time professor at Bethel College, were sung in German and English, led by Rev. Lester Hostetler.

Mrs. Paul (Joyce) Koehn of Concordia, a daughter, and her mother, Mrs. Esther Bargen of North Newton, who went to Farmington on Nov. 11 and remained for the burial service, shared this experience with the group. The two sons, Ralph and Eldon, also came before their father's death but were unable to remain. During the family's stay, Prof. Bargen was no longer able to speak but was conscious and aware of their presence and their words to him.

Mrs. Koehn told of the excellent nursing care given her father by the brothers of the Society, as well as the many expressions of love and concern expressed to him and also to her and Mrs. Bargen by the brothers, sisters and children of the bruderhof, who felt that Prof. Bargen's coming to them was a great gift. The children made many artistic cards and other art items for him.

Following Prof. Bargen's death on Tuesday, members of the Society made all preparations for the burial, including construction of a wooden casket. On Wednesday, brothers of the Society carried the casket the seven-eighths of a mile to the bruderhof cemetery for the burial. This was followed by a memorial service and love meal, which included much singing as well as remembrances of Benny Bargen.

The service at North Newton concluded with sharing of memories of Prof. Bargen by friends and associates, the singing of a hymn, and closing prayer by John Esau.