Krehbiel, Katie A. Friesen (1886-1972)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Nov 30 p. 12

Birth date: 1886 Nov 30

text of obituary:

Newton and Vicinity

• Funeral services for Mrs. Katie A. Krehbiel, 85, were held Monday afternoon at the First Mennonite Church, with Dr. Albert H. Epp officiating. Mrs. Krehbiel died Nov. 23 at the Bethel Home for Aged, where she had been a resident since 1968. The former Katie Friesen, she was born in Berdjansk, South Russia, and came to a Harvey County homestead with her parents as a child. She taught school and was a typesetter for the Herald Publishing Company before her marriage to Rev. H. P. Krehbiel. He died in 1940. She is survived by a step-daughter, Mrs. Elva K. Leisy of Dallas, Texas, and several nieces with their families.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Dec 7 p. 11

text of obituary:

KATIE A. KREHBIEL

Katie A. Krehbiel was born Nov. 30, 1886 in Berdjansk, South Russia, the daughter of Abraham and Helena Abrahams Friesen. She was the widow of Rev. H. P. Krehbiel, who died in 1940. Since July 16, 1968 she had made her home at the Bethel Home for Aged at Newton, where she died on Nov. 23, 1972.

She is survived by a stepdaughter, Mrs. Elva K. Leisy of Dallas, Texas, and several nieces with their families.

Following is Mrs. Krehbiel's own account of her life:

My life history began in a European city with straight streets and with wide roomy houses surrounded with small orchards laid out in park-like plan. Beautiful flowers bloomed near the house and the government park contained also many beautiful wild flowers.

On a wintry day we departed, traveling not by airship but by sleigh, railroad and ship to a new country. On a spring wagon we reached a lonely homestead in Harvey County, Kansas, which became our new home.

In pleasant days there were playful kittens and frolicking calves. On wintry evenings Mother plied the sewing needle. Sitting nearby, I turned the leaves of the hymn book from which she sang and requested her over and over to sing just one more. Little acts of work furnished entertainment, substituting playmates.

A two-mile road to the school was trudged through pasture land winding around lakes and through tall grass. A long road was made shorter by memorizing and rehearsing some lessons.

When unexpectedly the way opened to attend Bethel, a dream came true. I desired to acquire all the knowledge that I could while there, and I planned my work accordingly. Hence I was kept busy getting my assignments, which left little time for other activities and social events.

Graduation was closely followed by Teacher's Institute and work in a hospital before starting to teach school. I think I had a group of exceptionally lovable, good pupils that first year in Butler County.

Late that summer I joined a group of Mennonite tourists to the western coast. They were all strangers to me but I enjoyed them, especially my seatmate, who was a fellow teacher from Hillsboro. We enjoyed some scenery in Colorado and Utah. But I left them in Ogden, Utah and went to Aberdeen, Idaho where I taught German school for some weeks. After that I continued my trip to the West and South, where I spent a vacation time with my relatives in Pasadena, Calif.

Next spring found me teaching another German school followed by a summer school in Emporia. Then three years of teaching finished my teaching career.

I changed my profession to a trade and became a printer. I learned to love to operate the intertype, especially when it came to setting interesting material. I was at it about 15 years. Then I changed my trade and became a house-keeper and companion. As such, I enjoyed some exceptional privileges. We traveled south to pleasant Texas. At another time we went Eastward and I could listen in on two peace conferences, had a glimpse of New York City and went to Washington, D.C. Here we met our Senator Arthur Capper in Congress Halls, visited other buildings, sat in a federal courthouse awaiting the appearance of federal judges from behind the curtain, and witnessed the session. On the way to Mt. Vernon we stopped at a little church in Alexandria where George Washington was wont to worship.

Next we went to the General Conference at Saskatoon in Canada. The same year we traveled south into Mexico in the interest of establishing a church for the Western District Conference. But signs of finished work appeared, and also our companionship terminated in death. And since 1940 I travel alone.