Epp, Betty Nora Schmidt (1920-2008)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2008 Feb 4 p. 9

Birth date: 1920 Jun 1

text of obituary:

BETTY NORA SCHMIDT EPP

Betty Nora Schmidt Epp, 87, of Goessel, Kan., died Jan. 18, 2008. She was born June 1, 1920, to Alvin and Mary Isaak Schmidt at Dubois, Idaho. Later that year, they returned to Buhler to the family farm.

She graduated from Buhler High School as class salutatorian in 1938. She was baptized at Buhler Mennonite Church on Aug. 5, 1935.

She attended Bethel College for three years, receiving a teacher certificate. She taught one year at Thomas Grove and four years at Willis near Buhler.

She married her college sweetheart, Aaron J. Epp, on June 1, 1944, at Buhler Mennonite Church.

Their first pastorate was at Inman Mennonite Church, where she directed choirs. In 1949 they moved to Chicago so he could attend Mennonite Biblical Seminary. In 1952 he was called to First Mennonite Church in Reedley, Calif., where they spent nine years. Then they were at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel for nine years. She took her responsibility as a pastor’s wife seriously, attended sewing circles and directed the children’s choir. This was the first time she taught adults, which became her ministry. In 1965 she was elected president of Women’s Missionary Association, serving seven years. In January 1970, she was elected as the first woman to serve on the MCC board. They served First Mennonite Church in Aberdeen, Idaho, 1970-75. Then they spent eight years working as missionaries with Old Colony Mennonites in Mexico. She designed a new three-story missionary residence and Blumenau Mennonite Church. In 1983 they retired to Goessel to be near their children and grandchildren.

Survivors include two daughters, Patricia Schmidt and her husband, Myron, and Mary Schmidt and her husband, Jim; a sister, Rosa Mae Haugsness; a brother, Alfred Schmidt; four granddaughters and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Aaron, 1992; and by a brother, Orlando Schmidt.

Memorial services were held at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. Burial was in Alexanderwohl Mennonite Cemetery.