Thiessen, Kathryn Toews (1908-1991)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald' obituary: 1991 Apr 5 p. 28

Birth date: 1908

text of obituary:

KATHRYN THIESSEN

Kathryn Thiessen of Clearbrook, B.C. passed away Jan. 28. She was born May 11, 1908 to Abram and Katherina Toews in Langham. Sask . The family moved to a farm near Hodgeville, Sask., and another near Herbert, Sask. in 1912. Her father died when she was 9. Her mother married widower Johann Thiessen. Kathryn enjoyed singing in the Greenfarm MB Church choir. She accepted the Lord during services led by C.N. Hiebert, was baptized May 31, 1925 by Jacob W. Thiessen and joined Greenfarm MB Church. She married her stepbrother Peter J. Thiessen Dec. 1, 1927. They lived on a farm, moved to Herbert for the winter of 1934-35 so Peter could attend Herbert Bible School and then bought another farm in the Wiebe School District. After 14 years of crop failures, they moved to a small apartment in Vancouver, where she did housework for wealthier people. She had considerable illness and many operations. They moved to a small farm near Rosedale, B.C. In 1950 Peter took a mail route. In 1964 they moved to Chilliwack, B.C., where they worked as janitors for Broadway MB Church. Peter died in 1970. She moved to Cheam Golden Age Society homes, Eden Rest Home and then Tabor Home in Clearbrook. She was an excellent cook and housekeeper, working enthusiastically and cheerfully while singing or humming hymns. Predeceased by her husband, 3 sisters and 1 brother, she is mourned by her children Harry of Winnipeg, John of Chilliwack, Ruth of Chilliwack, Viola of Sardis, B.C. and Marjorie Brush of Coquitlam, B.C.; 15 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers and 1 sister. The funeral was Feb. 4 in Broadway MB Church, with Robert Friesen and William Thiessen ministering.