Derksen, Katharine Friesen (1895-1973)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1973 Mar 23 p. 31

Birth date: 1895 Apr 22

text of obituary:

KATHARINE DERKSEN

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee." And so it was for Tina Derksen. Life began for her in 1895, in Bllumstelin, South Russlia, when she was born to Peter and Katharina Friesen. lit was here she spent an enjoyable childhood and yo'uth. After completing her element,a'ry education she spent three years in further education a1 the Girls' School in T'ieog'e. In 1918, she entered into holy matrimony with John Derksen. It was shortly a'~ter that the Russ'ian RevoJ,ution broke out. Starvation, disease, and Waf plac'ed their very I'ives in jeopardy, but God spared them! During the'se trying times a religious mvival passed through southern Russia . Tina committed her life to Christ and has since that day enjoyed the Upon her confession 'of faith, tog ether with he'r husband, 'she was baptized and joolined the :feHowship of the Evangel'ical Mennonite Brotherhood. Because of political and e'conomic upheavel, and a foreiboding future, the family emigrated from Russia to Newton Sliding, Man'itoiba in 1926. The escape to freedom, the sa,fe journey to Canada, and the new opportunities were cause fOor much thanks9'iving. In 1942 the family moved to the Niagara area to take up fwit farming, and in 1959 to re·tirement in St. Catharines. A s wife, mo,ther, grandmother, and friend she diisplaye,d, by Ithe sustaining grace of God, a I·ife of thankfuln ess, love and 'concern for the phys,ical and spiritua'i welfare of others. During the last year her hela lth gradually deCillined . At the ag,e of 77 years, she quie'tly passed o,n to be with the t !ord. She is survived by her husband, thre,e daughters, thre·e sons, one son-,in-,Iaw, thre'e daoughters ,in law, fouflte'en grandchildren, and two sisters. Two children predeceased her. The family moums h er loss but Me fully confident of Chnist's a'Ss'urance when rHe says, "I am the resurr,eoc,tion and the I,i'fe. He 'that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shaH he live." John 11:2