Friesen, Helen Benke (1896-1965)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Nov 11 p. 11

Birth date: 1896 May 29

text of obituary:

MRS. JACOB G. FRIESEN

Helen Benke Friesen was born May 29, 1896 at Aurora, Nebr. to Andrew and Mary Benke.

At the age of six she came with her parents to Munich, North Dakota. She received her elementary education in the Moscow country school.

In 1914, at the age of 18, she felt the need of a Saviour and upon true repentance and upon confession of her sins she received the assurance of sins forgiven through the atoning blood of Jesus and was baptized and added to the Rosehill Mennonite Brethren Church. She was active in the church by singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school.

On Dec. 14, 1916 she was united in holy matrimony to Jacob G. Friesen at the home of her parents by Rev. John Guenther. This union was blessed with two daughters. After their marriage they lived in the Munich community where they continued to reside on the farm even following their retirement in 1959.

She suffered a stroke on Aug. 26 which left her paralyzed and unable to speak. She was hospitalized 39 days until she quietly passed from this life into the presence of the Lord on Oct. 4, 1965. She reached the age of 69 years, four months and five days.

She is survived by her husband; two daughters, Marie, Mrs. Andrew Wiens of Munich, and Erna, Mrs. Frank Sawatsky of Minneapolis, Minn.; seven grandchildren; two brothers, John and Jack Benke; four sisters, Susan, Mrs. Henry M. Penner, Katie, Ella, and Anna Benke, all of Fresno, Calif.

We as husband and family remember her as a God-fearing and praying wife and mother. — The Family.