Helen Friesen

Helen Elisabeth Friesen was born on November 3, 1925 at the Salvation Army Hospital in Wichita, KS, and was adopted at the age of three months by John H. and Martha (Claassen) Wiebe of Whitewater, KS. Following her graduation from Whitewater High School, Helen continued her education at Bethel College in North Newton, KS. In June of 1941 Helen was baptized upon confession of her faith at the Emmaus Mennonite Church in Whitewater. On December 2, 1947, Helen was united in marriage to Willard Friesen, whom she met while at Bethel College, at the Emmaus Mennonite Church. They made their home in Butterfield, MN until 1990, when they moved to Mountain Lake, MN. She was a member of Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake, where she served as an organist, choir director, taught Sunday School, as Sunday School Superintendent, on the music committee, and was a member of the Worship and Sew. She was also active in many areas of the Northern District and General Conference Mennonite Church. Helen had a special gift of music, and it was very important in her life. Helen also taught piano, was a member of the Butterfield PTA, participated in the Mountain Lake Choral Society, wrote a weekly column for the Observer/Advocate in Mountain Lake and Butterfield, and she had several of her works published. She also enjoyed reading, cooking, baking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, writing letters and music. Helen became a resident of the Sogge Memorial Good Samaritan Center in Windom, MN in August 2005, and this is where she died on Monday, March 2, 2009 at the age of 83 years. Helen was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Donald Friesen in 2008; and two brothers, Howard Wiebe and Eldon Wiebe. She is survived by her husband, Willard Friesen of Mountain Lake; two sons, Douglas (Sandra) Friesen of Elkhart IN, and Alan (Charlene)Friesen of Webster, SD; daughter-in-law, Patsy Friesen of St. Cloud, MN; 10 grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; a sister, Agnes (Edgar) Harder of Whitewater; a brother, Willard (Mary Ann) Wiebe of Whitewater; two half sisters and a half brother whom she met later in life and became very good friends with; good family friend, Justina Neufeld; many other relatives and friends.