Leisy, Elva Krehbiel (1891-1982)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1982 Dec 30 p. 11

Birth date: 1891 Dec 1

text of obituary:

Kansas Pioneer's Oldest Descendant, 91, Dies in Dallas

Elva Krehbiel Leisy, 91, daughter of H. P. Krehbiel, founder of the Herald Publishing Company, died Saturday, Dec. 25, in Dallas, where she had resided since 1938.

She was the oldest surviving descendant of Christian Krehbiel, early Kansas Mennonite pioneer.

Memorial services were to be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, in the Bethel College Mennonite Church chapel, North Newton, Kan., with Ron Krehbiel, Harold Schultz and Vern Preheim officiating.

Leisy was born on Dec. 1, 1891 at Halstead, Kan., to Henry Peter and Matilda Krehbiel. On Aug. 14, 1917 she married Ernest E. Leisy. They both taught at Bethel College before moving to Dallas, where he was a professor at Southern Methodist University. He died in the 1960s.

She donated the building which houses the General Conference Mennonite Church offices in Newton, and a few years ago established the E. E. Leisy endowed chair in the English department at Bethel College in honor of her husband.

Surviving are one son, James F. Leisy of Atherton, Calif., one daughter, Margaret ( Mrs. Jack) Steineger of Kansas City, Kan.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1983 Mar 17 p. 11

text of obituary:

ELVA KREHBIEL LEISY

Elva Krehbiel Leisy was born Dec. 1, 1891, at Halstead, Kan., to Henry Peter and Matilda Kruse Krehbiel, who came to Harvey County in the 1870s. Henry Peter Krehbiel was the founder of the Herald Publishing Company, which published the "Mennonite Weekly Review."

She attended school at Bethel Academy and graduated from Oberlin college. She taught school at Moundridge and taught English at Bethel college, where she met Ernest E. Leisy. They were married Aug. 14, 1917, by her father.

In 1927, after Leisy had received his doctorate at the University of Illinois and taught both there and at Illinois Wesleyan, they moved to Dallas, where he taught English at Southern Methodist University until shortly before his death in 1968. He also taught summers at Duke University, University of Colorado, University of Washington, University of Vienna and the University of Bonn, West Germany.

As Elva traveled with her husband she wrote travelogues which were published in the "Review." In 1961, she translated the autobiography of her grandfather, Christian Krehbiel, "Prairie Pioneer." She also wrote her 523-page autobiography, "Remembering," as yet unpublished.

She and her husband were honored with the Alumni Award from Bethel College in 1965. She was president of the PTA, the SMU Women's Club, the SMU Mothers' Club and the Senesa Club. She was chairman of the junior high Sunday school for 30 years and later taught Bible class until she was 82. She was also active in the Dallas Council on World Affairs. Book and Drama Group, AAUW, Women's Missionary Society and Craig Class.

Three children wer born to the couple -- Melvern K. Leisy, who was killed in an airplane crash in California in 1965; James Leisy, chairman of the board of Wadsworth Publishing company, former member of the board of directors of Bethel College and presently on the President's Council of Advisors of Bethel college; and Margaret L. Steineger, wife of Sen. Jack Steineger and a member of the Kansas Arts commission. Seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren also survive.

Services were held Dec. 28, 1982, in Dallas, and on Dec. 29 in North Newton, Kan., with interment at Halstead Mausoleum.

A memorial chair in the English department has been established at Bethel College in the names of Dr. and Mrs. Leisy.