Friesen, Erna Reimer (1918-1948)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Jul 8 p. 3

Birth date: 1918 Jul 25

Great sorrow came to the Corn, Okla. community when seven persons, all residents or former residents there, lost their lives in the flood waters which covered Highway 66 near Hydro the evening of June 22.

The car carrying the group of four adults and four children became stalled in the rapidly rising waters. They tried to wade out of the danger area, but found it necessary to take refuge in a parked car, and only the husband and father of the one family, Harvey Friesen, escaped when several sudden waves covered the car. Those who died were Harvey's wife and three children; his sister, Mrs. Edgar Rogolsky and son; and his brother, Wilson Friesen.

A mass funeral for the seven victims was held at the Mennonite Brethren church at Corn on Sunday afternoon, June 27, with an estimated 3,000 persons in attendance. The obituaries follow.

text of obituary:

MRS. HARVEY FRIESEN

Erna Friesen nee Reimer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. D. Reimer, was born July 25, 1918, at Corn, Oklahoma and passed away, drowning in a car as a result of a flood east of Hydro on Highway 66, June 22, 1948. She reached the age of 29 years, 11 months and 27 days. Seeing the need of a personal Savior she accepted the Lord and was baptized and received into the Corn M. B. church November 4, 1934.

In spite of a serious accident in which she injured her back she enjoyed good health throughout her life. She received her education in high school and in the Bible school.

Erna was joined in holy matrimony to Harvey Friesen on August 7, 1938. This union was blessed with joy and happiness for nine years, 10 months, and 15 days, which indeed was too short. During the war, in the two years absence of her husband, she took care of the family while Harvey was in service. For a few months she lived in Abilene, Texas; however when Harvey was sent overseas she moved to Corn.

Erna was devoted to her family and was deeply moved when her husband was called to serve his country in foreign lands. Only God knows what she suffered during that time. She was a loving and helpful wife. She had a very pleasing disposition and was a praying mother and wife to Harvey and the children.

She was much interested in Christian work and therefore very active in it. It was hard for her to see her sister Edna, Mrs. John Ratzlaff, leave for Africa as a missionary.

She leaves to mourn her departure her husband, her parents, five sisters, Lydia, Edna, Melba, Martha Ann, and Lois; two brothers, Herbert and Harvey; both grandfathers, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

She was accompanied in death by her three darling children. Carolyn Joyce, Jimmy Wayne and Gary Allen, who went into the watery grave with her.