Friesen, Henry A. (1909-1941)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1941 May 13 p. 15

Birth date: 1909 Mar 13

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1941 Mar 19 p. 1

text of obituary:

Winter's Worst Blizzard Takes Heavy Toll of Life and Property in No. Dakota and Minnesota.

TRAGEDY STRIKES ALSO MENNONITE COMMUNITY AT MUNICH, NORTH DAKOTA

The great blizzard which swept through several northern states over the past week-end took a heavy toll of life and property. Review readers will be especially grieved over the tragedy which struck also the Mennonite community at Munich, No. Dakota, where three lives were lost in the storm.

Mrs. Henry Adrian, the Review correspondent at Munich, gives the following report of the sad incident:

Munich, N. D., March 17. — The unexpected snowstorm of March 15, which struck our community a little after six o'clock in the evening took the lives of three of our neighbors, — Mrs. Jacob Hoffman, three-year-old Yvonne Hoffman and Henry A. Friesen.

They were returning home from Devil's Lake and had stopped on the road at their driveway to wait in their car for the storm to let up. But as it didn't, they began to walk to the house. But because of the strong wind and being all tired out they said they couldn't go on. So Mrs. Jacob Hoffman, their three-year-old daughter Yvonne and Henry A. Friesen sat down and said goodby to mr. Hoffman, who said he was going to the house and would return for them.

He got to the house, changed clothes and returned, but couldn't find the three where he left them. Looking for them without avail, he went to Jacob Harders. Mr. Harder returned with him and they found the three lifeless bodies a few feet from where Mr. Hoffman had left them, at 1:30 Sunday morning. They were about 300 feet from the house.

Mr. Hoffman suffered a badly frozen face and hands. Because of the snow-blocked roads no funeral arrangements have yet been made.

Henry Friesen was a cripple and at the time had been doing some carpenter work at the Hoffman home. He is a son of Mrs. J. C. Dick. Mrs. Hoffman was the former Annie Quiring. Her parents have both died. Henry Friesen was our neighbor, living about one mile north. The Hoffmans live about one an one-half miles west.

Mr. Friesen and Mrs. Hoffman were lying face down. Yvonne was lying on her back, all badly dark and faces drawn. The place where they froze to death is on the Hoffman yard, four miles south of Munich, on the former Peter J. Quiring farm. — Mrs. Henry Adrian.

Large Crowds Attend Funeral Services For Three Storm Victims

THREE FROZE TO DEATH IN GREAT STORM OF SATURDAY NIGHT, MARCH 15

Munich, No. Dak., March 21. — A very large crowd attended the funeral of the three storm victims Mrs. Jacob Hoffman, her daughter Yvonne Hoffman, and Henry A. Friesen, who froze to death in the great snowstorm of Saturday night, march 15. The funeral services were held yesterday at two o'clock in the afternoon at the Munich community hall and at the J. c. Dirks house.

The following is the obituary of the storm victims:

Mrs. Jacob Quiring Hoffman

Annie Quiring Hoffman was born Aug. 14, 1911, near Munich, No. Dak., the only daughter of Peter J. and Agnes (Harder) Quiring and met her death in the snowstorm march 15, 1941, on their farm. She reached the age of 29 years, 7 months and 1 day. Her parting words to her husband were, "I'm ready to go."

Funeral service were held Sunday at the home at 1 o'clock, with Rev. Guenther speaking on Isaiah 55, 8 and 9. The services at the city hall were opened by Rev. Fadenrecht, who read Paslm [sic] 90. A girls' trio sang a special number. Rev. Walter spoke on 1 Cor. 15, 13 and 14 and 42 to 44. Then followed a song by a quartet. Rev. Edw. Duerksen spoke on Rev. 21 and Rev. Ortman closed with Amos 3, 6.

Mrs. Hoffman leaves to mourn her deeply bereaved husband, her mother-in-law, 4 brothers-in-law, 3 sister-in-law, and many uncles, aunts and cousins.

Mrs. Hoffman was baptized at the Salem Mennonite church at Munich in 1933. She was married to Jacob Hoffman Nov. 25, 1935. She was born, maried [sic] and died in the same place. Burial was in the Mennonite cemetery east of Munich where her mother and father are laid to rest. her mother died in 1914; her father died July 29, 1939.

Yvonne Ann Hoffman

Yvonne Ann Hoffman was born September 28, 1937, at Devils Lake, N. Dak., the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hoffman. She also died in the same snow storm of march 15. She reacher [sic] the age of 3 years, 5 months and 18 days. A short life that will be greatly missed by her Father. Services were held with her mother and burial was made by her mother's side.

Henry A. Friesen

Henry A. Friesen was born March 13, 1909, at Henderson Nebr., the son of Peter K. and Marie (Abrahams) Friesen. He reached the age of 32 years and 2 days. He was baptized April. 21, 1930. From 1937 to 1940 he attended the Northwestern Bible school at Minneapolis intending to become a worker for the Lord. he had been elected itinerant minister for this district.

He had been ding some carpenter work at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hoffman. Saturday they went to Devil's Lake to get a few items needed to finish the cupboard and sink at the home. Returning, they got as far as their road when thE storm came up.

Funeral services were held at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Dicks, at one o'clock March 20, with Rev. Ortmann [sic Ortman] in charge.

Services at the town hall were opened by Rev. Fadenrecht who read Psalm 90. the girls trio sang and Rev. Waltner spoke on 1 Cor. 15, 13 - 14 and 42- 44. A song by a quartet followed. Rev. Edw. Duerksen spoke on Rev. 21 and Rev. Ortman closed with Amos 3, 6.

Mr. Friesen leaves to mourn his departure his mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. Dick, one brother, Nick Friesen; two sisters, Mrs. Henry Thiesen (Marie), Munich, Mrs. Arthur Ortman (Tena) Warroad, Minn.; three step brothers, Clarence and Henry J. Dick, Munich; and Elmer of Minneapolis.

Mr. Friesen was Sunday School teacher for the English class at church and will be greatly missed by his boys. he was always sympathetic and understanding. he was crippled by paralysis at the age of three. Pallbearers were Clarence, Henry and Elmer Dick, Nick Friesen and Arthur Ortman.

Mrs. Hoffman's pallbearers were Isaac, Henry, Dan and Ludwig Hoffman, Deitrich [sic Dietrich] Dick and Willard Shultz.

Yvonne Hoffman's pallbearers were Donald Rupp, Robert Harder, James Thiessen and Lewis Hoffman. — Reported by Mrs. Henry Adrian.

The Mennonite obituary: 1941 Apr 8 p. 8
The Mennonite obituary: 1941 Apr 15 p. 12