Martha Baerg

Martha (Classen) Baerg was born on February 3, 1926 to Abe L. and Agnes (Bartel) Classen in Meade, KS. She was the oldest of 9 children. She passed into the arms of her loving Heavenly Father on September 10, 2014 at the Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake, MN at the age of 88 years, 7 months and 7 days. She attended McNulty School in Meade County for her elementary education. The family moved to DeRidder, LA for a year and a half, returning back to Meade in September of 1941. Martha and sister Ann both graduated from Meade Bible Academy in 1948. This was the first graduating class of MBA. Martha graduated from Grace University with her BA degree in 1951. In 1985 she earned her Master's Degree in Human Resources and Leadership from Azusa in California. Martha accepted the Lord as her personal savior at age 16. She was later baptized, upon the confession of her faith, by Rev. Orlando Wiebe on August 6, 1944 and joined the EMB church at Meade, KA. She transferred her membership to the Cornerstone Bible Church in Mountain Lake on April 27, 1997. Martha's heart was for missions and to serve others which was indicated by her spending 5 summers working for the Go Ye Mission in the Ozarks. She also served and additional year at InFaith Mission in South Dakota. She answered her call to missions and went to Japan to assist in Pioneer Church Planting. She faithfully served in Japan from 1951-1996 as a career missionary with SEND Int'l. Along with her sister Ann, she assisted in planting 7 churches. On May 5, 1989 she married Henry Baerg at the Christian Academy Chapel in Higashi Kurume, Japan. They served together as missionaries with SEND Int'l for 7 1/2 years and were married for 24 years. Upon retirement, they made their home in Mountain Lake and opened their doors to many friends and students from Japan who were traveling through. Martha volunteered with hospice, at Good Samaritan Village, Elizabeth House, and was active leading Bible Study, teaching Sunday School, and attending prayer meetings. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Henry in 2013; and sisters- Lisbeth (stillborn), and Esther Ratzlaff. Martha is survived by 4 sisters- Ann Classen, Lone Tree in Meade, KS, Alma Regier of Meade, KS, Arlene (D Junior) Stoesz of Mountain Lake, and Leona (Harold) Buller of Hillsdale, OK; 2 brothers- John (Rose) Classen of Topeka, KA, and Menno (Susanna) Classen of Aurora, NE; and many nieces, nephews, and Baerg extended family. Visitation 9:30 am - 10:30 am Monday, September 15, 2014 Cornerstone Bible Church 1019 Prince Street Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Service Information 10:30 am Monday, September 15, 2014 Cornerstone Bible Church 1019 Prince Street Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Interment Information First Mennonite Cemetery-Butterfield 65401 320th St. Butterfield, Minnesota, United States 56120