Friesen, Agatha Hamm (1885-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Nov 14 p. 6

Birth date: 1885 Dec 16

text of obituary:

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— Funeral services were held at the Sister Frieda Memorial Chapel on Saturday afternoon for Mrs. Agatha Friesen, 71, widow of the late Dr. D. A. P. Friesen of the Bethel College faculty. Dr. J. H. Langenwalter and Rev. Russell Mast officiated. Mrs. Friesen, the former Agatha Hamm, was born in Russia and was married to Mr. Friesen at Gretna, Manitoba. They lived at North Newton from 1925 to 1942 while Dr. Friesen taught physics and chemistry at Bethel College, then moved to Georgetown, Texas where he served on the faculty of Southwestern University. Mrs. Friesen had resided at the Bethel Home here since last year. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. G. A. Ediger of Appleton, Wis., Mrs. P. G. Pankratz of Wichita, Mrs. P. D. Hooge of Kindersley, Sask.; one son, Wilfred, of Richland, Wash.; three brothers and seven grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Nov 21 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. A. P. FRIESEN

Mrs. Agatha Friesen, our beloved mother, was born in Rosenthal, South Russia, on Dec. 16, 1885, to Mr. and Mrs. Gerhardt Hamm and with her family immigrated to Gretna, Manitoba, Canada, in 1892 where she spent her girlhood years.

Upon her confession of faith she was baptized in the Gretna Mennonite Church at the age of 19. On July 25, 1907, she married Abraham Penner Friesen of Steinbach, Manitoba. To this union were born five children, one of whom died in infancy.

The years 1911 to 1923 were spent in Steinbach, Manitoba, where Dr. Friesen was superintendent of schools.

In 1923 the family moved to Bethel College where Dr. Friesen taught until 1943. Here they were members of the Bethel College Mennonite Church. In 1943 our parents moved to Georgetown, Texas, where they were associate members of the St. John's Methodist Church until the death of our beloved father on July 31, 1953.

From that time to May 1956, mother made her home with each of her children after which she entered the Bethel Home For Aged in Newton, Kansas. Following an acute illness of four weeks she passed away on the morning of Nov. 6, 1957, at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital.

Her capacity for friendship, her willingness to be of service to others in everyday life endeared her to family and friends. Her strength of character and cheerful disposition were a source of inspiration to her family and the memory of them will forever by cherished by her children.

Mrs. Friesen leaves to mourn three daughters, Mrs. Gus Ediger (Wilhelmine) of Appleton, Wis., Mrs. Peter Pankratz (Elfrieda) of Wichita, Kansas, Mrs. Peter Hooge (Louise) of Kindersley, Saskatchewan; and one son, Wilfred John Friesen of Richland, Wash.

There are seven living grandchildren: Anita, Ronald, Marilyn and David Pankratz, John Hooge, Fritz Barnes and Linda Marie Friesen. Frances and Peter Friesen died in infancy.

She is survived by three brothers: George Hamm of Rosthern, Sask., Henry Hamm of Altona, Manitoba, and J. K. Hamm of Vancouver, B. C. Two sisters, Anna Neufeld of Winkler, Manitoba, and Agnes Swartz of Vancouver, B. C., and two brothers, Andrew Hamm of Rosthern and Abraham Hamm of Saskatoon, preceded her in death. — The Children.