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Schmidt, Helena Lois (1898-1972)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Jun 8 p. 8
Birth date: 1898 Sep 25
text of obituary:
. . .
• Sister Lois Helena Schmidt, 73, a member of the Bethel Deaconess Sisterhood since 1929, died Saturday at the Bethel Home after a long illness. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at the First Mennonite Church, with Dr. Albert Epp in charge. A native of the Goessel community, Sister Lois is survived by four sisters, Mrs. John Ensz of Reedley, Calif., Mrs. Abe Thiessen of Buhler, Mrs. Mary Martens of Newton and Mrs. Robert Bogema of Kalamazoo, Mich; and three brothers, Rev. Rudolf Schmidt of Buhler, Rev. August Schmidt and Ted Schmidt, both of Newton.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Jun 15 p. 11
text of obituary:
SISTER LOIS SCHMIDT
Helena Schmidt was born on Sept. 25, 1898 at Goessel, Kan. to Peter P. and Anna Schmidt. She acquired her elementary and high school education at Buhler, Kan. and in the Academy of Bethel College. She also graduated from BIOLA in Los Angeles, Calif.
She was baptized in December 1916 at the Mennonite Church of DuBois, Idaho by Rev. Leonard Dirks. Early in life Helena had a desire to enter some definite field of service for the Lord. In 1929 she entered the Bethel Deaconess institution for a course in nursing and in search of God's choice of service for her. She graduated as a registered nurse in 1932 and in 1933 accepted the invitation of the Bethel Sisters to become a deaconess. Since then she has been known as Sister Lois. On Nov. 29, 1939 Sister Lois joined the First Mennonite Church of Newton, where she was a faithful member until death.
The Scripture verse that Sister Lois called her chosen life verse was II Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Through the years Sister Lois served in different departments in the hospital and home, dedicated, capable, devoted, cheerful, and industrious. She served as a deaconess, nurse, in the laundry, kitchen supervisor in the household department, as well as at the bedside when needed.
Preceding her in death were a brother, Alvin, and a sister, Esther. Those who survive and cherish her memory are three brothers and four sisters: Sara and husband John Ensz, of Reedley, Calif.; Rudolf and wife Katie of Buhler, August and wife Esther of Newton; Ted and wife Marie of Newton; Anna and husband Abe Thieszen of Buhler; Mrs. Mary Martens of Newton; and Justine and husband Robert Bogema of Kalamazoo, Mich.; also a brother-in-law, Waldo Rempel, of Newton and one sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Schmidt of Buhler.
The Mennonite obituary: 1972 Aug 22 p. 496