Friesen, Elizabeth Thiessen (1869-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Sep 21 p. 6

Birth date: 1869 Mar 23

text of obituary:

MRS. D. A. FRIESEN

Elizabeth Friesen was born to Rev. Wilhelm and Elizabeth Thiessen either in Muntau or Schoenau, near the Molotschna river in South Russia, on March 23, 1869. On Feb. 17, 1875, her mother passed away, and 17 months later her aunt Sara became her mother. In 1876 she accompanied her parents, two brothers and two sisters to Jansen, Nebr. She had her first year of schooling in Russia and the remaining in private schools in Nebraska.

At the age of 18 she accepted Jesus as her Saviour. For this experience she thanked God repeatedly, also on her bed of affliction. After being instructed in the catechism by her father, using the Bible as his guide, she was baptized by Elder Isaac Peters in 1887 and welcomed into the church of the Lord. As much as we know she never wavered in her Christian life, but remained true to the faith once for all delivered to the saints being a member of the E. M. B. church.

She was married to Rev. Dietrich A. Friesen on April 28, 1889 at Jansen, Nebr. Elder Isaac Peters performed the ceremony. They lived in the Jansen vicinity for 61 years. In 1937 they moved to Oregon and in 1942 to California, where they settled near Dinuba and enjoyed a comfortable home not very far from the M. B. church, which they made their church home and together received rich spiritual blessings. A little over two years ago her health became so poor that she was unable to attend services. The last year and five months she spent in bed. Mother had her first stroke in April 1949 and had had two since. She was very patient in her affliction.

The parents celebrated their golden wedding at Dallas, Oregon in 1939 and their 60th at Dinuba in 1949 in a quiet way, since mother was in bed.

There were 12 children, four of whom died in infancy and Elizabeth in 1940. Those living are William and Abram, Reedley, Calif.; Helena Mulford, Peter, Anna, Margaret of Dinuba, Calif., Sister K. Deloris, Bethel Deaconess hospital, Newton, Kans.

She also leaves two daughters in-law, two sons-in-law, 13 grandchildren, five great grandchildren: six sisters, Mrs. Margaretha Wall, Vancouver, B. C., Mrs. Lena Fleming, Mrs. Sara Schmidt, Mrs. Maria Richert, all in Abbotsford, B. C., Mrs. Aganetha Warkentin, Dalmeny, Sask., Mrs. Susanna Dick, Mountain Lake, Minn.; and four brothers, John and David Thiessen, Abbotsford, B. C., Willie T. Thiessen, Dalmeny, Sask., Rev. Gerhardt T. Thiessen, Orange Cove, Calif.

She had been a widow a little over a year. Father departed this life on Aug. 19, 1949. The Lord took her home on Sept. 4, 1950, at 9:15 a. m. to the mansions above for which she had a great longing. She reached the age of 81 years, five months, 11 days. Our hearts are sorrowful, but with the blessed hope of seeing our loved ones again.

Funeral services were held Friday Sept. 8, at 10:00 a. m. at the M. B. church in Dinuba with Rev. B. J. Braun in charge. Comforting thoughts were suggested from I. Thes. 4: 13-18. Mrs. Ernest Schellenberger sang three selections, one "Meine Heimat ist dort du Hoeh," which she had asked us to sing for her repeatedly.

Rev. J. B. Toews from Reedley spoke comforting words at the grave side.—The Children.