Balzer, Olga Friesen (1907-1964)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1964 Jan 30 p. 5

Birth date: 1907

text of obituary:

. . .

• Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Just of Hillsboro attended funeral services Wednesday for Mrs. Jacob (Olga) F. Balzer, 60, at the Adams M. B. Church near Hooker, Okla. Mrs. Balzer died Sunday night after several years of failing health. Rev. Lloyd Penner and Rev. P. V. Balzer were in charge of the services. Mrs. Balzer is survived by her husband, four sons and one daughter.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Feb 27 p. 8

text of obituary:

OLGA FRIESEN BALZER

Olga Friesen Balzer was born Aug. 4, 1907, to Jacob and Elizabeth Bartel Friesen near Hooker, Okla., on the place where she and her husband were living at the time of her death. Here she grew to womanhood, attending the area schools and Tabor Academy. Several years were spent in teaching in the grade schools. One of the outstanding incidents in her life came in 1957 when she graduated from Adams (Okla.) High School in the same class with her daughter Elnadine, thus achieving a diploma not received earlier.

At an early age she realized her need for Jesus Christ as a Savior, and was baptized and received into the fellowship of the Mennonite Brethren Church by Rev. H. H. Pauls on May 29, 1921. Throughout the rest of her life she remained faithful to the church, serving as a Sunday school teacher for many years.

On Aug. 26, 1928, she gave her hand to Jake F. Balzer in marriage, and journeyed with him until the Lord saw fit to take her to Himself after 35 years and five months of marriage. As a young couple they struggled through the difficult years of dust and drought of the 1930s, living south of Hooker until after the death of her parents, when they moved to the place on which she had been born.

In March, 1961, illness forced surgery, and the verdict was very grave. After much prayer, the Lord speeded recovery, against all expectations, and soon she was able to continue with her work in the home. Several months ago, illness overtook her again, and the Lord took her to be with Him on Jan. 26, 1964, and she entered Glory after a life here of 56 years, five months, and 22 days.

She leaves to mourn her passing, her husband, Jake F. Balzer; her children, Joelle and Josephine, Lehigh, Kan.; Elnadine, Lustre, Mont.; Ronald, Okmulgee, Okla.; Howard and Theodore of the home; one grandson, Brent Alan Balzer; three sisters, Elizabeth, Mrs. D. W. Schroeder, Hooker, Okla.; Sarah, Mrs. H. W. Schroeder, Fresno, Calif., Alma, Mrs. Herman Wiebe, Waka, Texas; and two brothers, J. B. Friesen, Hooker, Okla., and Milton B. Friesen, Balko, Okla. Her parents, one son, and two brothers preceded her into Glory.

Funeral services were held Jan. 29 at the Adams M. B. Church near Hooker, Rev. Lloyd Penner and Rev. P. V. Balzer in charge.