Arno Friesen

Arno J. Friesen was born in Watonwan County, Minnesota. The second of five children, he was raised on a farm North of Butterfield and educated in the Country School and Mountain Lake Bible School. He was a faithful member of Bethel Mennonite church, Mountain Lake, Minnesota until 1972, then of the First Mennonite church of north Butterfield, Minnesota. Arno was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob L. and Helena (Toews) Friesen, older sister Eveline, and younger sister Rosella, a son, Allen Jacob, and grandson, Shawn Roth and his wife of 69 years, Mabel (Sawatzky) Friesen who passed away in 2007. He is survived by two brothers; Jake T. of North Newton, Kansas and Elmer G. of Mountain Lake, three children; Carolyn and Paul Roth of North Newton, Kansas, Stanley and Gladys Friesen, Mountain Lake, Minnesota and John C. Friesen, Lincoln, Nebraska; three grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. After marrying Mabel Sawatzky on September 29, 1937, they raised their family on the farm northeast of Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Arno was active as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher. He loved music and sang faithfully in the church choir and was a member of the Mountain Lake Choral Society. He set an example of love for his Lord and Savior by leading family devotions every morning. Arno and Mabel prayed faithfully for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He made sure that his children received the education that they needed for their future. He was active, as a young man, in the Christian Endeavor program in which young people received training as lay leaders of the church. He enjoyed giving speeches, a skill he developed by taking the Dale Carnegie course. He took an interest in a music conducting class offered by the church. Arno farmed throughout his life. Even in retirement, after buying a house in Windom, he made a trip to the farm almost every day to help Stan with the field work. He was an integral part of producing GLAD CORN until the fall of 2009. Together, Arno and Mabel served on the board of the American Sunday School Union. Arno was active as a member of Gideons International. Arno and Mabel traveled to Taiwan to visit their son, John, and also to travel seven countries of Europe together. These were unexpected blessings in their retirement years. In recent years Arno and Mabel returned to the farm under the loving and watchful care of Stan and Gladys. Arno longed to go home to his Heavenly Father and on the evening of June 10 he died peacefully at home. The family would like memorials made out to Gideons International.