Baerg, Rueben Menno (1914-2001)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Jan 25 p. 23

Birth date: 1914 Apr 28

text of obituary:

RUEBEN MENNO BAERG

Rueben Menno Baerg passed away Oct. 21 in Saskatoon. He was born Apr. 28, 1914 to Frank J. and Elizabeth Baerg in Waldheim, Sask. He was an excellent scholar and a born teacher. He went to school in Waldheim and Hepburn, Sask. He committed his life to Christ at 16. His preaching ministry began at 18 when Hepburn MB Church invited him to be a "helper in the Word". Feeling called by God to ministry, he attended Bethany Bible Institute, Hepburn, graduating in 1932. He was ordained at 28. During the summer, he taught Daily Vacation Bible School and held evangelistic meetings under the Canadian Sunday School Mission. He graduated from teachers' college in 1935 and taught in the Hudson Bay School District near Hepburn for 3 years. He earned a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg, a B.D. from Northwestern Evangelical Theological Seminary in Minneapolis, a liberal arts degree in psychology and counselling from Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan., and, in 1952, a D.Th. from Northwestern. He took pastoral counselling at summer school at Berkeley and Pasadena, Calif. He often spoke of how God miraculously provided for his physical needs during the years of poverty while he was a student. He taught at Northwestern when Billy Graham was president for 2 years. He taught at Bethany 1942-45, at MB Bible College in Winnipeg for 2 years and parttime at Tabor College for a year. He was dean and taught New Testament, theology and Greek at Pacific Bible Institute in Fresno, Calif. for 5 years and was dean and professor at MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno for 9 years, including 2 years as acting president. He was a member of the General MB Conference Board of Reference and Counsel for 9 years, served on the Board of MBMS International for 9 years and was much involved in the US MB District Conferences. He pastored Buhler (Kan.) MB Church for 5 years and Dinuba (Calif.) MB Church for 12 years. His wife Annie died Jan. 1, 1977 after 41 years of marriage. He returned to Canada and pastored Central MB Church in Saskatoon for 6 years. On Aug. 27, 1978, he married Emma Lepp, who had been a missionary to India for 32 years. He continued his preaching and teaching ministry until early 2000. He was a positive influence in his community, a gentle effective witness, a lover of people, a loving husband, a wise counsellor, a great provider and a generous giver. He quoted 2 Tim. 4:7,8 the day before he died. Predeceased by Annie, 1 sister and 2 brothers, he is mourned by Emma; 1 sister and 2 brothers.