Banman, Frieda Schmidt (1904-2003)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2003 Nov 24 p. 2; 2003 Nov 25 p. 2

Birth date: 1904 Dec 29

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Dec 8 p. 8

text of obituary:

FRIEDA SCHMIDT BANMAN

Frieda Schmidt Banman, 98, of North Newton, Kan., died Nov. 24, 2003. She was born Dec. 29, 1904, to John J. and Elizabeth Rempel Schmidt near Goessel.

She was baptized at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church.

She married Arthur Banman on Aug. 26, 1926, at Alexanderwohl. They moved to a small farm, where their early years of marriage were difficult during the Depression.

Beginning in 1936, for 15 years she and her husband were custodians at Alexanderwohl. In 1952, they moved to North Newton and began employment at Mennonite Press. They joined Bethel College Mennonite Church.

She was a faithful member and active in the women's circle. For many years she was chair of the funeral committee. She enjoyed volunteer work, and with her husband served at the Mennonite Central Committee relief sale and the Et Cetera thrift store in Newton.

In 1962, they served a two-year term with MCC in Congo, managing a guest house, working with building projects and relief concerns. In spite of a serious bout with hepatitis that almost took her life, and the tribal war around them, this was a wonderful time in her life.

She was a creative homemaker, cook, rug maker and quilter. She enjoyed having guests in their home. They loved to travel, visiting Europe, Mexico, Canada and Paraguay.

Survivors include three daughters, Lela Trewett of Shawnee, Marjorie Neufeld of Goshen, Ind., and Joan Wiebe of North Newton; three sisters, Wilma Unruh of Goessel, Elisabeth Stretch of Del Ray Beach, Fla., and Irene Janzen of Salida, Colo.; two brothers, Herman Schmidt of Reno, Nev., and Gerald Schmidt of Hilton Head, S.C.; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Art; a daughter, Elaine Ruth; and five brothers, Herbert, Orlando, John, Alfred and Raymond.

Memorial services were held at Bethel College Mennonite Church. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.