Newsletter Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta

Volume XIII, No. 2 September 2010

Our Experiences in Jeffares: Mennonite by Choice Waldheim and by David Jeffares Surroundings My lineage is Irish and English. My fatherʼs family left northern France by Rosemarie and Arnold Thiessen at the time of the Huguenots and settled on the southeast coast of Ireland. In 2004, the year of the bicen- There were three main branches of endeavour in his family: engineering, tennial of the Mennonites in Mol- farming, and practicing medicine. My fatherʼs branch consisted of farmers otschna, our family was invited by and other agricultural specialists. As well as a large farm, Grandfather Jef- the Ukrainian Government to at- fares owned a stable full of race horses. My father followed the family tradi- tend the celebration of the Wald- tion of farming, both in Eire and in Alberta. Grandmother Jeffaresʼ family heim Hospital. As two of my also farmed; she was an accomplished pianist as well as homemaker to nine brothers were physicians and had children, my father being the eldest. The family belonged to the Church of already visited the area, we had Ireland which my wife found offered worship services very much like those some knowledge of this hospital of the General Conference of Mennonites! from our grandparents. My mother’s family came from England. Cornelius H. Warkentin and Grandfather Bampfield was born into a fam- Aganetha Janz Warkentin built this ily of Church of England clergymen in Corn- hospital in 1907 and it was dedicat- wall. He was to have joined the clergy but ed on Jan. 13, 1908. The hospital studies and preaching were not his cup of was built on the property of the tea. After a few years of unsuccessful school- Warkentins and with their own ing, he was relegated to Canada where he funds. Cornelius was a merchant. could pursue his passion for ranching, first He had a store on the property and in Ontario, then the Okanagan, and, finally, was also the mayor of the town. in Alberta where he took up a pre-emption Aganetha was a midwife, who in the late 1890s. My maternal grandmother trained in Vienna for six months in was one of nine children, all of whom were 1903-1904. Her desire to serve the raised in Yorkshire where the family brewed community as a midwife developed Tetley ale. She was a governess who spent due to a vow she made to God for five years on Madeira Island tutoring a vint- ner’s children. While there, she became flu- (Continued on page 6) James & Sheila Jeffares, parents of ent in French and pursued her greatest love, David Jeffares that of being a concert pianist. She came to FEATURE STORIES the Pine Lake region east of Red Deer in the late 1890s to keep house for Our Experiences in Waldheim her two brothers who had settled there a few years before. My mother’s Jeffares: Mennonite by Choice Editorial Reflections (Continued on page 3) Chairman’s Corner What I did on my Summer Vacation MHSA Fall Event: Saturday, November 20, 2010 From Canada to Mexico and Back Four presentations on Mennonites Outside Canada 2009 MHSA AGM Location: First Mennonite Church, 3650-91 St, Edmonton (789-436-3431) Spring Workshop Presentations 1:00-1:30 pm Vince Friesen—Paraguay 3:00-3:30 pm Menno Klaassen—Uzbekistan Book Reviews 1:30-2:00 pm Dave Toews—Ukraine 3:30-4:00 pm Colin Neufeldt—Siberia Untypical Large Mennonite Family 2:00-2:30 pm Question Period 4:00-4:30 pm Question Period MHSA Members Pass Away 2:30-3:00 pm Coffee What’s Up at Mennonite Heritage Village Archival Images If you have questions, please call Colin Neufeldt 780-433-2127 2 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010

Editorial Reflections: nonites, from the world’s approxi- nous folk just as the original peo- by Lorne Buhr mately 1.5 million, were in attend- ples had helped them more than 75 ance. With such a vast array of years ago. Medical help is a clear Some of the people one North American myth example of how Mennonites wish memories of a is set to rest. On our continent it is to share. In Sommerfeld Colony, year ago will common to debate if Mennonite is for example, there is a newer hos- never vanish. a religious or an ethnic group. But pital reserved to serve non- Nor should the MWC is about gathering as a Mennonites funded by Mennon- they. July 1, church from the corners of the ites. Care statistics over a year are 2009 saw us world and so now our number in- impressive. Km 81 is a hospital taking flights to cludes many, many languages and a dedicated to the treatment of peo- South America, and to Paraguay in delightful range of colours. A ple who have contracted leprosy. particular. Asuncion, Paraguay’s quote from 30 or more years ago is Yalve Sanga is an example of com- capital, was to be the site of the apropos. Journalist Margaret Loe- munity development in areas of 15th Mennonite World Conference wen Reimer said this of the 10th education, health, and agriculture. (MWC). Upwards of 6,000 Men- MWC held in Wichita, Kansas in These were just some of what we 1978—“To say that Mennonites saw. Settlers who came from revo- Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter are church and not an ethnic group lution and war torn Europe said it ISSN 1916-6966 is ridiculous. We are obviously no wasn’t good enough to say thanks is published two times a year. longer made up of only two or and prosper; they had to make a Send submissions and other three groups but we are now a difference by assisting local people correspondence to: group including probably hundreds in whatever ways possible. Lorne Buhr, Editor of different cultures. This sum- ([email protected]) The cooperative movement has mer’s World Conference with rep- Subscription is through membership in been a way to make sure that sur- the MHSA. Cost of membership is $20 resentatives from 44 countries, was vival is possible in years when per year. To join, send payment to: a vivid illustration of this multiplic- drought strikes—perhaps two eve- MHSA ity.” Thus, it did not seem odd at ry five years; that and the Trans 2946 32 Street NE all that the official language of Calgary, AB T1Y 6J7 Chaco Highway, which gets goods 403-250-1121 MWC 2009 was Spanish. to market. Paraguay is landlocked. e-mail: [email protected] I was one of the ones who had Farming is always challenging in a Co-Editors: Lorne Buhr & Dave Toews many opinions, views, and some region where temperatures are ex- Editorial Committee: Dave Toews, information about life in Paraguay. tremely high in summer and where Lorne Buhr, Judith Rempel Before embarking I asked someone rains are not to be depended on. Layout & Distribution: Judith Rempel familiar with Paraguay for advice. Visit our Website: Music was the capstone at the www.mennonitehistory.org “Just remember, Mennonites have MWC sessions. Music which came been there for 75 years,” he said. from the corners of the world. I Executive Right. Our hosts worked mightily was most moved by a Paraguayan Chair: William (Bill) Janzen, Calgary to ensure that some of our myths choir directed by music educator Vice Chair: Ralph Dahl, Calgary were put to rest. Of course they Ed Toews. One of the pieces they Secretary: Erna Goerzen, Didsbury put forth their best efforts, but I sang was a Creole Mass, quite sur- Treasurer: Ellie Janz, Calgary sensed an openness and frankness Members at Large: prising in and of itself. If you ever Henry Goerzen, Didsbury about the problems they face, even get a chance to visit Paraguay—go; Anna Marie Boyes, Calgary after the “Green Hell” as the de- you will be greatly enriched.  Area Representatives: sert-like Chaco had once been la- N Alberta: Suzane Braun Hanser belled, has been somewhat con- Edmonton Area: Colin Neufeldt Chairman’s Corner Tofield Area: Vacant quered. Calgary Area: Irene Klassen Most impressive to me was the by William Janzen E Irrigation District: Mary Burkholder Carstairs/Didsbury Area: Vacant way the Mennonites have showed My wife and I were invited and S Alberta: Dave Wiebe-Neufeldt their gratitude to Paraguay for tak- travelled from Camrose to Red GAMEO Representative: ing them in. They show their Deer on July 12, 1986 for a meet- Wesley Berg, Edmonton thanks by now aiding the indige- ing to explore the idea of organiz- 3 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010 ing a Mennon- pieces and try to fit them together very flexible because we were at- ite Historical into a meaningful account of what tempting to determine where the Society of Al- life was like in our ancestors’ time. organization is and begin dealing berta. It was the I have spent time in the MHSA with items that the Board should first meeting centre and at times I try to be of work on so they can provide direc- after the Men- some help. As I work, I am inter- tion for the organization. We met nonite Histori- rupted by materials that catch my again in September with a more cal Society of eye and the desire to read them, structured agenda to address some Alberta and Saskatchewan realized simply because I once heard about of the questions that have arisen. that it was cumbersome for the the work of an individual and MHSA has been promoting two provinces to work together. would like to know more. I realize itself with a display table at the Checking back, I realize that a time gets more precious as we get MCC Alberta Relief Sale and fur- number of people that attended older and we are not guaranteed ther by having a table of books for that first meeting are still involved. years of opportunity to write what sale at the Mennonite Church Can- The organizational meeting took we know of the story of our ances- ada Assembly in Calgary. I have place on November 1, 1986 in Red tors and then our own story. been in touch with some area rep- Deer. In the life of a person, that is I have come to believe that resentatives. We will try to stay in a long time but in the life of an or- short stories of my youth, some- touch and provide assistance. We ganization it is a brief time. thing about my work and how treasure the opportunity to speak When sitting in the MHSA cen- things were when I attended with people and share what is avail- tre, observing the activity, the col- school, started work, etc., will be- able at the MHSA centre. Any sug- lection of materials, the thrill for come very important for my chil- gestions you may have for letting people when finding information dren and grandchildren when they the people in Alberta know what is about their ancestors, the realiza- get to be my age. I encourage each available at the centre will be care- tion of how important this organi- of you not to procrastinate like I fully considered. We hope to begin zation is becomes clear. have for many years. Collect infor- Special Interest Groups again and Unfortunately, in my youth and mation and write it down before if you have any particular interest working years, the years I had the the day comes when we no longer that you would like to meet with opportunity to listen to the stories are capable of doing so. others for discussions and search- es, please let us know. of my parents and the people in The Board had a brief meeting our church and community, my after the Annual General Meeting At present our centre is open energies wanted to go in other di- in April and then we met once on Thursday of each week, but rections. Now I hear other people more on May 13 for an orientation should there be someone that finds lament the same thought, “Why meeting, learning to know each it difficult to come at that time, let did I not ask my parents before it other and the volunteers in the us know and we will try our best to was too late?” Now we pick up the MHSA centre. The agenda was make the centre available. 

(Continued from page 1) fore joining a huge threshing out- fit which landed him on a farm family members were faithful An- across the Three Hills Creek from glicans. my mother’s family. Imagination My father left Eire in 1925 with will tell the reader what happened plans to settle in Australia. He next. My father farmed all his life. passed through Calgary and, after My mother was a capable home- finding nothing but fog and rain in maker who was active in her Vancouver, he returned to sunny church and community affairs; Alberta where he became a lines- she wrote news columns for sev- man for the McGregor Power eral regional papers, enjoyed David & Dolores Jeffares Company in Edmonton. After the working on history book commit- crash in 1929, he homesteaded be- tees, and was an active member of the Alberta Women’s Institute for over 4 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010

Joseph = Margaret George = Daisy Jacob = Helen Heinrich = Helena July 19, 1969 saw us stand- Jeffares Robertson Bampfield Tetley Fast Epp Thiessen Bergen ing before my father-in-law (Eire) (Eire) (England) (England) (Russia) (Russia) (Russia) (Russia) who accepted our wedding James = Sheila Bernhard = Mary vows and challenged us Jeffares Bampfield Fast Thiessen with verses 1-5 in John 2. (Eire) (Canada) (Canada) (Russia) He did all things well and David = Dolores Joan he exemplified everything Jeffares Fast that was good about the (Canada) (Canada) General Conference of Mennonites in Canada. 60 years. While we lived in Calgary, My wife’s lineage is Mennonite. Her fatherʼs Menno Epp was our ecumenically- family came to the Laird district north of minded pastor who often travelled Saskatoon during the “first wave.” Her with me on the bus to work on the grandfather was very involved in formulating days when he was ministering at the German-English Academy in Rosthern Providence Centre. Foothills Men- which is now nonite Church accepted my infant known as baptism and my confirmation as an Jacob & Helena Fast, parents of Rosthern Jun- equivalent for adult baptism. The Bernhard Fast ior College membership service provided a (RJC). meaningful entry into my decision My father-in-law graduated from the to become Mennonite by Choice. The Academy; my wife and her two brothers at- communion service was fashioned tended RJC from which our children both in the Anglican tradition as only graduated. Father-in-law, Bernhard Fast, was Menno could do. I remember the a remarkable man who earned three degrees. tears in my motherʼs eyes as we That education permitted him to teach, be a took communion together that day. school principal and serve as a pastor all at Sunday school teaching and a once! My mother-in-law was a cook par excel- Christmas scene prepared by my lence and she supported her husband in many Bernhard & Mary Fast, parents of class topped off the early stages of ways as an active pastor’s wife, homemaker Dolores Jeffares the road to becoming as good a for many student teachers and a faithful Sun- Mennonite-Anglican/Anglican day school teacher and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) worker. My Mennonite as I could be. From wifeʼs maternal grandmother escaped from Russia with all but one of her then on, there were many signifi- children during the “last wave” in the mid-twenties. They fortunately made cant elements that lay ahead of me it through the Red Gate and found their way to England from which they to discover in the comprehensive sailed on the S.S. Melita to find a safe home with their sponsors near Laird, tapestry of Mennonitism! My expe- Saskatchewan. Most of that family moved to BC where they carved out a riences have been richly blessed by very good living in market gardening. unconditional acceptance in both My teaching career included three years in one-room rural schools, eight Foothills Mennonite and First years in Red Deer, three years with the Department of National Defense in Mennonite (Edmonton) congrega- France, two years as Director of the Center of Education Studies at the Ar- tions. I have served on various midale Teacher’s College in New South Wales, and five years at the Univer- church committees and have en- sity of Alberta. In 1967, while at University to complete my Bachelor of Ed- joyed leading worship and provid- ucation degree, I met my wife-to-be who was completing her M. Ed. at the ing the childrenʼs feature during time. Since I had not established myself in any particular church that year, I regular services. I have worked asked to accompany her to services at First Mennonite Church. That was with the organizers of the annual the beginning of the “Choice.” Who could resist the four-part harmony— Alberta MCC sale and, in one in- something I had never heard so well-sung in the Anglican churches I had stance, with a crew doing Mennon- attended at home near our farm, in Calgary, in Red Deer, or even in Eng- ite Disaster Service (MDS) restora- land! tion in southern Alberta. I have 5 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010 loved my involvement with the board responsible for the Ten Thousand Villages store on Whyte Avenue in Edmonton. I have shared some of my organizational and artistic skills related to the an- nual passion week services in Ed- monton and the 50th anniversary of First Mennonite Church (Edmonton). I am often in awe of what the many sides of the MCC accomplish in the world. I marvel at the fear- less way in which young Mennon- ites go into deprived and some- times dangerous settings to put Godʼs intentions to work in de- monstrable ways. Of great interest to me are the astounding stories of Mennonites who lived through in- credible circumstances to settle in Conference participants enjoying a Sunday picnic Canada and become significant in- with members of the Apollonovka Church west of Omsk, Siberia fluences in all walks of life, not on- the F.M. Dostoevsky Omsk State University, the Chair in Mennonite Stud- ly in Canada, but across the entire ies at the University of Winnipeg, and Fresno Pacific University—attracted world. Ever since I saw When They scholars and observers from Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Ger- Shall Ask several years ago, I have many, the United States and Canada. maintained the utmost of respect for Mennonite history and the on- For many North American Mennonites, the word “Siberia” conjures up going influence present-day Men- images of suffering and tribulation in Soviet gulags, but as participants of nonites exert upon me and the the conference learned, Siberia was more than a place of punishment and world. forced labour. In the first decade of the 20th century, Mennonites from Ukraine and other regions of Russia migrated to the Omsk and Slavgorod In conclusion, although I occa- regions in southern Siberia where they looked forward to starting a new life. sionally appreciate a brush with my Anglican roots, I have never regret- More than 30 conference papers shed new light on the challenges faced ted the decision I made in the early by these Siberian Mennonite pioneers, as well as the plight of Mennonites 1970s to become a Mennonite by exiled to Siberia and the struggles of Siberian Mennonites in the post- Choice. That was one of the wisest Stalinist era. Some of topics covered in the papers included the following: decisions I ever made!  “Siberia in the Mennonite Imagination,” “Mennonite Midwives in Siberia,” “Asiatic Russia and Canada,” and the “Experience of Mennonite Kulaks in What I Did on My Summer Siberian Special Settlements during the First Five-Year Plan, 1928-1932.” There are also plans to have some of the papers published in an upcoming Vacation issue of the Journal of Mennonite Studies; abstracts of the papers have also been by Colin Neufeldt published in Немцы Сибири: Историяи Культура / отв. Ред. Т. Б. In May and June I travelled to Смирнова, Н.А. Томилов. Омск: Издательский дом << Наукаи>>; изд- Russia and Uzbekistan. One of the во ОмГПУ, 2010. stops on my trip was Omsk, West- The conference was more than just three days of fascinating and schol- ern Siberia where I presented a pa- arly presentations. It also included a talent show presented by students at per at a conference entitled F.M. Dostoevsky Omsk State University, a visit to the Omsk Museum of “Germans of Siberia: History and Regional History, and a tour of villages at the German National District just Culture” (June 2-4). The confer- outside of Omsk. ence – which was sponsored by One of the highlights of the conference was a weekend visit to Men- 6 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010 nonite Brethren villages located approximately a hundred kilometres west of have become economic leaders in Omsk. When we arrived at the villages of Mirolyubovka (formerly Alexan- the region and they are very opti- derkrone), Issilkul, Solntsevka (formerly Rosenort, Friedensruh, Tieg- mistic about their future. erweide) and Apollonovka (formerly Waldheim), we were greeted by freck- When I asked some residents led-faced boys and little girls in long dresses chattering away in Low Ger- of Apollonovka about whether man. Life in these Mennonite Brethren settlements centres on agriculture, they plan to immigrate to Germa- as most villagers are shareholders and workers in the village kolletivs ny, most said they had no intention (agricultural cooperatives). of leaving Russia. They confided The inhabitants of these villages have surnames such as Enns, Neufeld, that their relatives in Germany Toews, and Wiens, and many are members of the regional Christian associa- have warned them not to come to tion known as the Omsk Brüderschaft (brotherhood). First organized in 1907, Germany for a number of reasons: the Brüderschaft was re-established in the late 1950s after decades of state Mennonite children often lose their oppression. By the late 1980s the Brüderschaft had more than 2,300 mem- faith and leave the church in Ger- bers, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union the membership declined many, farm land in Germany is sharply with the emigration of a number of Baptist families to Germany. prohibitively expensive, and life in Today the Brüderschaft numbers approximately 1,000 women and nearly 500 Germany is too busy and alienat- men. The “patriarch” for many of these believers is Nikolai Dikman ing. For many Russian Mennon- (Dueckmann) who spent many years between 1950 and 1975 in exile for his ites, Siberia is a land of great eco- religious work and leadership. nomic and agricultural potential, Two other people who have had a tremendous impact on these Siberian and thus they have no intention of Mennonite communities are Walter and Ann Willms from British Colum- moving anywhere else. The Rus- bia. Over the past few years the Willms have spent up to six months of sian government gives each Men- each year in Apollonovka helping Mennonite farmers develop and expand nonite family up to $10,000 to their agricultural enterprises. The Willms were instrumental in importing build a new home—another incen- modern farm machinery to the area and constructing a large grain mill and tive to stay in Siberia.  bakery. As a result of the Willms’ work, the Mennonites of Apollonovka

(Continued from page 1) heim hospital. This was agreed to on the proviso that he would never a request she had prayed for several years. raid the Waldheim village. Her prayer was answered and she was con- The hospital staff treated many strained to go through with her promise. of Machno’s soldiers. The success Aganetha delivered many babies in that com- of this pact spared raids from munity in the hospital and also did home de- Machno but did not prevent the liveries. Bolsheviks to attack later with sim- When the Bolsheviks appeared on the ilar results. scene, the country was in chaos and anarchy reigned. Machno, a marauding The communists developed full pirate in the Ukraine was attacking Mennonite villages—stealing and mur- control of the village in their cam- dering—many of the paign of 1920 and 1921, with the inhabitants. Grandfa- hospital being the last building to ther Warkentin auda- be under their direct influence by ciously requested that 1922. Aganetha Warkentin realized Machno see him about her post as midwife and manager his concerns. This was of the hospital was concluded; she arranged and they had no longer could serve in the same a very spirited discus- capacity. Her husband Cornelius sion about the raids had already left for North America and the opportunity for in 1920, and in 1923 she crossed his wounded soldiers to the Ocean to North America with be treated at the Wald- their three children. In 1924 they 7 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010 moved from Newport, Washington rior grounds were beautiful to Winkler Manitoba and shortly many perennials were bloom- after that to Winnipeg in 1925. She ing and there were small had hoped to continue her mid- pathways in the garden for wifery work in Winnipeg but li- patients to walk about and censing was not available. The enjoy the beauty. Warkentins’ oldest son studied At the welcoming ceremony, medicine in St. Petersburg and a local band played the na- completed his degree in Odessa in tional anthems as well as oth- 1914, intending to work in the er musical selections. The Waldheim Hospital. However, as hospital staff sang to us and soon as the war began, he was sent the mayor of Waldheim welcomed us. The State Health Minister gave a to the front lines to care for short address. wounded soldiers. In 1918 he left Our family, five in all, were called to the platform and presented with for the Netherlands and worked in floral bouquets. The plaque that had been placed on the walls was unveiled. the Dutch Embassy as a secretary. We presented the hospital with photos of our grandparents, which later In 1925 he went to Canada and were placed in the foyer of the hospital. worked for the CPR as an immi- gration agent. As acquiring a li- Our family contributed money for the hospital to repair or replace the cence to practice medicine in Cana- roof and to install toilets. This was completed the following year. Today da would require him to rewrite they wish to improve the hospital by adding more laboratory equipment and exams and do an internship or resi- an electrocardiogram machine. It was the family’s request to keep the hospi- dency he never pursued that possi- tal open for maternity and well baby clinics, as originally it was built for ob- bility. He enjoyed working with stetric use. Communication with representatives in Halbstadt say that the refugees and remained with the hospital continues to function and is an asset to the community. CPR until his retirement in 1956. We are thrilled that our ancestors have been involved in something as When we visited in June of pivotal as medical care in the village of Waldheim, early in the twentieth 2004, the community had made century.  every effort to spruce up the place. In fact, our shoes stuck to the new From Canada to Mexico and Back paint on the floor, because they by Angelica Dyck, had just finished painting that Winnipeg, AB morning. The old laboratory equip- (Editor's note: ment left much to be desired but Angelica Dyck, a we were impressed with the cleanli- student at Canadi- ness and efforts made by the staff. an Mennonite Uni- A lot of the equipment in the small versity, Winnipeg, hospital resembled the equipment was summer student in the Winnipeg General Hospital pastor at First in the 1950s. Mennonite Church, Today the hospital is used for Edmonton. She seniors who are homeless or inca- agreed to tell us of pable of coping on their own. her family history When we visited, 10 beds were oc- which involves living cupied; bathroom facilities con- in Mexico. Here- tained only sinks and no flush toi- with her account.) lets. There was also a problem with I have al- Back: Amanda (sister), Adolfo (brother), Angelica (author), David the roof, leaking on rainy days. The ways claimed (father), Esther (mother), Elllie Zacharias (mom’s sister), Hans windows looked old, but the trim that when get- Zacharias(uncle) had been painted many times to ting a dog, it is Front: Carla Zacharias (cousin), Tina Friesen (grandmother), Henry give a better appearance. The exte- Friesen (grandfather), Patricia Zacharias (cousin). 8 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010

Peter v. Riesen Sara best to get a mutt was educated in a private school in (1751- ) because they are the Bergthal Colony and has left cheaper, friendlier, behind a journal that has helped Jakob Wiebe Peter Friesen Anna Fast Helena Thiessen and healthier. Pure piece his life together. He and his (1760-1804 ) (1780- ) bred dogs are wife Maria Rempel landed in Que- simply a waste be- bec on July 19, 1875 after the jour- Bernhard Wiebe Peter Friesen Helena Wiebe cause with the ney on the S.S. Canadian. They set- (1796-1852 ) (1806- ) amount of money tled in the West Reserve put into them, (Manitoba), a founding family of Abraham Wiebe Peter Friesen Maria Maria Koop (1831- ) (1828-1903) Rempel ( - 1908) they return the Rosenort (known now as Ro- favour with genet- setown). There was a rift in the ic diseases and Old Colony Church (Old Colony Peter Wiebe Peter Friesen Sara Redekop Anna Penner (1858-1897) (1857-1910) chronic disabili- being Chortiza Colony) and Peter ties. That has al- did not agree with their conserva-

David Wiebe Judith Wiebe, Heinrich Friesen Katherina ways been my take tive position. His family joined the (1858-1897) Anna Krahn (1905- ) Friesen on the issue. Bergthal group, also known as I had an Sommerfelders and moved to Margaret Wiebe, Heinrich Friesen Katherina Halbstadt around 1880. Peter and Jacob Dyck “aha!” moment (1936- ) (1939- ) Penner Maria remained there and farmed the other day when I until Peter’s death in 1903. Maria realized that I myself am David Dyck Esther Friesen died five years later. (1959) (1963- ) a purebred. I am a Mexi- can Mennonite whose Peter’s son Peter was born in first language is Low 1857 in Russia but left in 1875 with Amanda Dyck Adolfo Dyck Angelica Dyck German. I think it works his parents. He died at a young age (1982- ) (1986- ) (1990- ) differently with humans in 1910, leaving behind a family built with Anna Penner. This fami- though, because in true Mexican Mennonite fashion I am quite thrifty, I am ly moved to Mexico in the 1920s. healthy, and I would consider myself quite friendly towards others. I have a This is where my family leaves the strongly rooted Anabaptist background that makes its way through western direct Peter line as my great grand- Europe, Russia, Canada, and Mexico. I am fortunate that both sides of my father was the youngest of the sons family have produced books that trace the family tree as far back as they and was named Heinrich, born in were able to go. I find such things quite thrilling. The issue has now become 1905 in Canada. Heinrich married a which side do I find most interesting? Which story do I find most worth Katherina Friesen and had only telling? The simple truth is that I just cannot decide. I will attempt to share two sons, Heinrich and David. with all of you the story of the Wiebe and Friesen families. Heinrich is my grandfather, whom My mother, Esther Dyck, is originally a Friesen girl. An interesting fact I call Opa, born in 1939. Opa mar- about our name is that the earliest ancestor traced, Peter Friesen, is shown ried a Katherina Penner and in many records as named Von Riesen. That last name first originates from farmed in the Darp (village) of San- a province in Holland back to around 1547. The simplest explanation for ta Clara in the state of Chihuahua, the change is that it was sometimes written as v. Riesen and “v” in German Mexico. My mother Esther was is pronounced like an “f.” The change became inevitable. Peter Von Riesen born in 1963, the oldest of three (Friesen) was born in 1751 in Poland, which eventually became Prussian children. territory. After his wife Sara died, Peter Now on to the other side, the took his two children to Russia in 1788, settling in the village of Neuendorf Wiebe side, it can be traced about in the Chortiza colony in 1789. Peter had a son he named Peter, born in as far back as the Friesen line. Take 1780. This was the beginning of nine generations of a direct line of Peter note that I’m tracing my Father’s Friesens which ended with the death of an infant boy. matriarchal line. The farthest back This second Peter Friesen married a Helena Thiessen and that anyone has been able to trace moved to the village of Burwalde in 1803. He did not take up farming like is Jakob Wiebe, born in 1760. his father, but was known as a Tischler (woodworker). His son Peter, born Jakob lived on the Vistula Delta in in 1806, died young leaving only two sons. The Peter Friesen born in 1828 Poland, where the Low German 9 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010 language is known to have originat- David was born. David Wiebe married Judith Wiebe, a first wife who died ed. In 1789, Jakob and his wife An- leaving him one child. He later remarried to Anna Krahn who blessed the na (Fast) Wiebe settled in Russia. world with six more children. David was a minister who made his living as a He died in 1804 in the same village farmer. He had moved with his first wife to Mexico in the 1920s. It was not in which he had settled. As far as I until the age of 43 that he received his call into the ministry while he was know I am the first to realize the living in Blumenort, Chihuahua, Mexico. He was a much loved man whose following discovery as my parents death followed a long journey of suffering This was my great-grandfather. were unaware of the fact. Peter David left behind a daughter, my Oma (grandmother), Margaret Wiebe Friesen and Jakob Wiebe both set- born in 1936 in Blumenort. She was baptized at the age of 19, in 1955 in the tled in Russia in 1789 and they Altkolonier (Old Colony) church and married Jacob Dyck. Jacob’s uncle, both made Neuendorf village of Isaak Dyck, was the Aeltester (Pastor who has the authority to baptize and the Chortiza Colony their home. serve communion) of the Old Colony church in Canada and led the first So perhaps way back in the late migration to Mexico. 1700s my parent’s ancestral fami- Jacob and Margaret Dyck moved to Gnadenfeld, Chihuahua where lies knew each other. they still reside to this day. They have ten children, one of whom died at age Jakob’s son Bernhard was 17 in a car accident. Their second-born son was my father, David Dyck, born in 1796. Bernhard was only born 1959 in Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico. eight when his father died. In 1823 My parents met at the Quinta Lupita school which my father attended he and his wife Helena (Wiebe) after his family left the Old Colony tradition. My parents married in 1982 in Wiebe moved to Neuhorst village the Blumenau Church which could be considered a “Conference” church. where they remained until his Two years later my older sister Amanda was born, followed by Adolfo in death in 1852. Abraham Wiebe was 1986, and then myself, Angelica, in 1990. My parents farmed as a living and born to Bernhard and Helena in served as deacons in an Evangelical Mennonite Mission Church from 1988- 1831. Abraham’s family helped es- 1991. In 1993 David and Esther Dyck left Mexico due to the economy and tablish Fuerstenland Colony in travelled to Leamington, Ontario. Their plan was to stay for only six 1864. In the same year he was also months, yet they never found their way back. Leamington was where I grew called to minister. The lease on the up. I have made many visits to Mexico where the majority of my family re- land from the Russian government mains but I now spend most of my time in Winnipeg. Manitoba studying was due to expire in 1879 and the Theology and Counseling. I noticed in my research that my family has had renewal terms did not look promis- quite a few Aeltesters and ministers, but I would be the first female pastor ing. Abraham, his wife Maria from either side of the family.  (Koop) Wiebe, and children immi- grated to Canada on the S.S. Que- bec, landing on June 8, 1876. This 2009 MHSA Annual is only a year after Peter Friesen General Meeting and family landed in Quebec. by Erna Goerzen Abraham settled his family in the The 2009 AGM of the Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta at Ab- West Reserve in the Hochfeld set- beydale Christian Fellowship, on April 10, 2010 was attended by 39 people. tlement. Chairman Colin Neufeldt reported that a survey was done to investigate Abraham’s son Peter was born the volunteer situation in MHSA. Victor Wiebe, a retired senior librarian at in 1858 in Neuhorst, Russia but the University of Saskatchewan, conducted 20-30 interviews in person or by moved with the family to Canada. e-mail and then reported to the MHSA Two years after arrival Peter was Board. His recommendations are being baptized into the Reinlander Men- considered and implemented by the noniten Gemeinde (Old Colony Board. Church) and married Sara In the financial report, we learned Redekop. The two moved from that the MHSA had $17,134 in reve- Hochfeld to Blumenhof and then nue, expenses were $14,265 and there Reinfeld in 1881. Peter died in was a bank balance of $7,836 at year- 1897 of tuberculosis, which is trag- end on December 31, 2009. The budg- ic because two years earlier his son 10 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010

and Representative for the Coaldale area  Mary Burkholder, Duchess, Board member at large and Representative for the Eastern Irrigation District. Elected for the Nominating Committee were: Dave Wiebe-Neufeldt for Southern Alberta, Irene Klassen for Calgary, Vince Friesen and Colin Neufeldt for Edmonton. Scrolls in appreciation for their work in MHSA were presented by Hen- ry Goerzen to Irene Klassen, the friendly greeter and multi-tasker at the MHSA; and to Dave Pankratz who strives to keep MHSA user-friendly and has done such careful and thorough work in it. A Mennonite Heritage Picnic was et for 2010 is set at $20,200. Treas- held July 31, 2010 urer Dave Pankratz explained that at the Ernie Wiens the budget is based on the premise acreage just outside that at year-end there should be of Sherwood Park. enough money in the bank to cov- While not an er the projected core costs for the MHSA event, coming year, which are foreseen to MHSA members be about $7,700. were heartily invit- MCC has raised the rent for ed to attend. MHSA space in the MCC building The morning from $300 to $450 a month. The session was ad- MHSA Board is negotiating its journed at this agreement with MCC. point and the afternoon promised three very interesting presentations by The MHSA is now open to the Eleanore (Rempel) Woollard, Ted Regehr and Dave Pankratz. public on Thursday of each week instead of Saturday. Forty-three Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta – Report on accessions were added to the ar- Presentations made at the April 10, 2010 Calgary Meeting chives this year. There are 2,500 by Henry Janzen catalogued books in the library and 1,300 photos have been described The presentations at the April 10, 2010 meeting of the MHSA in Calga- in a database. Visitors to the ry provided the most interesting of reflections by three different authors: MHSA are encouraged to help Eleanore Woollard, who regards herself as “The Reluctant Author;” Dr. identify people in the photos. The Ted Regehr, well-known historican and website has 830 pages and was vis- author; and Dave Pankratz, who is ited 4,400 times in 2009. About working on a book on his parents’ dia- five volunteers work with Judith ries. The authors launched their re- Rempel, Coordinator of the spective books with MHSA and in MHSA. Dave’s case shared his work to date. Elections brought in five peo- “The Reluctant Author” ple to various positions: Eleanore Woollard  Bill Janzen, Calgary, Chairman Eleanore presented her experiences of MHSA related to co-authoring the book enti-  Anna Marie Boyes, Calgary, tled, Consider the Threshing Stone, a col- Board member at large laborative effort with her brother-in-  Ellie Janz, Calgary, Treasurer. law David Smucker. She referred to a  David Wiebe-Neufeldt, Leth- photograph in the book of five people bridge, Board member at large in their caskets whose identity had re- 11 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010 mained a mystery – this prompted cation. However, he was called home at the age of 16 to work the farm. her interest in their story which led After his marriage he relocated to his wife’s village, Blumenthal, to farm. to research into the experiences of During World War I he was assigned by the state to the medical corps. The her grandfather in particular. The medical ship to which he was deployed was painted in a military grey and book’s cover has a photograph of a served as a medical facility. He received training in medicines and treatment broken threshing stone, a photo- of wounds while on the Black Sea, training which would serve his family graph she took in 2003 while on well for what was to happen in the future. her trip to Russia to visit the region In late 1917 Jacob Rempel returned home and found their community of her grandparents. in turmoil due to roving bandits. In January 1918 the murder of the Thies- This threshing stone became sens took place and others fled. Her grandfather went back to Tiegenhof symbolic of her people and their where peasants from the nearby village came to request that a cooperative village. The threshing stone was a be formed. Jacob became one of three managers. The cooperative was farm implement pulled by a horse successful for a short time. Her grandfather operated the mill as he had op- and used for the threshing of grain erated a similar mill in Tiegenhof. As a refugee he later operated a mill in at the time. It has become an icon- Landskrone and subsequently, undertook operations of a farm in Peter- ic symbol connecting her family’s shagen where they lived until their emigration. While at Petershagen he was present generation to its forebears invited to a conference in Tiege in 1923, where he met with B.B. Janz to who lived in the Russia. discuss possibilities for emigration. He became part of a three person com- The photograph of the five mittee to work at developing a plan for group emigration from Molotschna, people in their caskets is a photo- work which eventually also took him to Kharkov. graph of some 90 years ago, in Returning from Kharkov, Rempel was again asked to work in medical which the deceased had not been services during the typhoid epidemic in 1922. He immigrated to Canada in identified to her—five murder vic- 1924 with his second wife and two surviving children, his first wife and two tims of Russian revolutionary times daughters having died in 1921. He continued his paramedical work in On- all known by her grandparents who tario for a brief time and then moved to Grunthal, Manitoba where he had been at the funeral. Her father farmed and worked with the National Trust Company which he was quali- had the names of the individuals fied to do with his facility in the English language. He later took on respon- who were members of her father’s sibilities as a municipal councilor. He moved to Niagara Township to farm, extended Thiessen family. where he also was involved on the board of the Credit Union. Eleanore Prior to her trip Eleanore had knew her grandfather as a person keenly aware of what his grandchildren collaborated with David Smucker, were doing, an able and quick learner up to his death in 1980. who had located copies of her As to the process and work of preparing the book, Eleanore was mod- grandfather’s writings in Winnipeg. est as to her own contributions giving most of the credit to the others who Included was a picture of her were involved in one way or another in producing the book. She provided grandfather, Jacob J. Rempel, who a good sense of her experience searching for leads and connections and was attired in a medical corps uni- found some of her grandfather’s writings in German Mennonite periodicals. form. The preparatory work gave A Generation of Vigilance her the impetus for on-site fact Dr. Ted Regehr finding on her trip to the family’s former Tiegenhof estate, situated Dr. Ted Regehr, presented his ex- some 38 kilometers northeast of perience with his most recent book the Zaporozhe in today’s Ukraine. Generation of Vigilance a story of two Her grandfather together with Rus- church communities in the 1950s and sian children had attended school 1960s, Coaldale and Yarrow. on the estate. She searched for His interpretation of the story, historical markers on her trip and principally covering a 20 year period of the threshing stone turned out to the life of Johannes and Tina Harder, a be the most significant. Mennonite minister and his wife at Her grandfather Jacob needed Yarrow from 1930 to 1950. The story to leave the estate for higher edu- is one of confronting the issue of what 12 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010 is sinful and how to address it. His presentation enabled listeners to place forth the rules all variances were to themselves into the situation. It was also refreshing because it brought to be treated with harshness. light in a balanced way the kinds of things that had profound consequences Tina Harder took it upon her- in the life of a congregation. This generated an appreciation for the greater self to ensure that women were openness which we experience today. Writing the book would have been a appropriately attired in the Yarrow challenging task both in capturing the interest of readers while correctly church. Bridal gowns needed to be finding balance among the many sensitivities of the time. In researching the inspected prior to the wedding. book he appreciated his contact with Peter Penner who had grown up with- On one occasion Johannes refused in the community and who facilitated access to the materials of Johannes to marry a couple until appropriate and Tina Harder, minister and spouse at the Yarrow Mennonite Church in clothing was worn to meet Tina’s the 1930s and 1940s, and with Jacob A. Loewen, who grew up in the Hard- standards. er home. The author indicated that the The author showed how the church’s focus of the time was to identify Yarrow church during this time what was sinful, a practice not re- was not without its success stricted to the Yarrow church but a ...the church’s focus of the time was to as many parishioners had rather broadly based approach of the recently emigrated from time. He cited the example of Go- [precisely] identify what was sinful, a prac- Russia where they had expe- shen College which needed to shut tice not restricted to the Yarrow church but a rienced destruction and loss, down for a year because the profes- rather broadly based approach of the time. had difficulty with the Eng- sors had become much too liberal in Later, there was a … movement away from lish language and were now their theology. The efforts of church rules toward principles... struggling for survival. leaders to ensure clarity on questions They too saw the outside of what is sinful resulted in much world as hostile and evil discussion and debate. Drawing from the Amish where electricity was not where the general Canadian society allowed, the question had come up about whether it was wrong to use elec- and urbanization were threats to tricity to run a printing press to produce religious materials. After careful their security. In time the English- consideration an exception needed to be made. Similarly, the Old Order German dichotomy became an is- Mennonites in Ontario had struggled with the question of use of the tele- sue within the church. Among the phone an instrument of gossip and therefore sinful. It was concluded that successes were that the church since the telephone was important for agricultural business, it was accepta- grew in numbers from 200 to 2,000 ble if located in the barn. Thus, examples were drawn for theological con- people during the Harders’ minis- sideration. Mutual concern, admonition and censure became the options try. Despite this the Harders’ vigi- for disciplinary actions. Censure took different forms with different groups lance began to collapse. and included not allowing the parishioner to attend communion until mat- The Harders’ eldest son joined ters were straightened out, not being able to shake hands, and prohibiting the military and the church needed marital relations. to make adjustments. Another son The Harder diaries indicated their focus upon strict enforcement at one brought home his girlfriend who stage prompting a debate among churches as to which church the Lord had had a different background and entrusted to be the custodian of the greatest number of rules. To be ad- dressed in this context were acts such as reading novels, using playing cards, attending public amusements, mem- bership in secret societies, roller skat- ing, women wearing slacks or any arti- ficial adornments, owning a television set, going to court and attending Youth for Christ meetings which were altogether too worldly. As use of per- fume was forbidden but deodorant was not, what decision would be made on perfumed deodorant? After setting 13 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010 whom Tina refused to let in the example with the Ottawa Mennonite Church. One issue for the churches house. Their daughter married an was the question of which projects should receive the support of the outsider. The Harders’ rule against church. The Ottawa church placed a container at the door for anyone wish- having radios no longer carried rel- ing to contribute toward a particular project. There was no emphasis on the evance when Harder himself began collection of donations during the service. The Yarrow and Coaldale to be part of religious radio broad- churches had regarded higher education with a great deal of suspicion while casts. There was a growing recog- in contrast at the Ottawa church most adults had university degrees. nition within the church of the In Their Own Words: The Di- ways in which parishioners had aries of My Parents David and been treated. Jacob A. Loewen whom the Harders had taken in, Martha Pankratz became a missionary and subse- Dave Pankratz quently earned a PhD. He modi- Dave Pankratz presented his writing fied his own views previously de- project respecting the diaries of his veloped through Harder’s mentor- parents by sharing his experience in ing and delivered a paper which three dimensions – what the diaries are challenged the view previously held about, the challenges he has experi- by the Mission Board which Hard- enced thus far, and what he himself er chaired that the concept of mis- has learned in the process, as well as a sions meant “overseas” mission. It few surprises for him. now included not only overseas Dave’s father had spent his formative mission but also local mission years in the Russian region of Omsk work according to Loewen’s view. from where he immigrated to Canada Harder declared that this view with his remaining parental family would render in vain the mission members. In 1992 and at age 92, Dave’s father, while in a nursing home work he had been involved with and legally blind, determined that Dave was to have their diaries ensuring for 20 years. Harder died of a that they would not be lost or destroyed. Dave’s mother had passed away heart attack in 1964 having been a some three years earlier. His father who was a religious man had lived by church leader from 1931 to 1949. faith but was still haunted in the latter years of his life by the experiences in Regrettably, Loewen felt that he Russia as a youth. had contributed to his adopted fa- ther’s death. Dave received the suitcases containing the diaries in 1992, together with photographs and a 13 page memoir his father had written of his recollec- The author observed that there tions of life in Russia. Initially Dave translated the memoir and distributed are pendulum movements when it to his family. He concluded that as his children did not understand the churches change their views on German language in which the diaries were written, he would try to place what is sinful and their vigilance of the content of the diaries into English to make the story of his parents their parishioners. Sometimes these known to his children and grandchildren. are influenced by changes in their social and economic environments The diaries cover three periods totaling more than 25 years of his par- resulting from urbanization and ents’ 54 year marriage with one period from 1936 to 1940 at Fannystelle, industrialization, as well as the per- Manitoba; 1948 to 1952 at Greendale in the Fraser Valley; and from 1963 to sonalities of their leaders. He 1983 in Vancouver. One discovery was that the Great Depression of the questioned whether the movement 1930s had little impact upon his father. Poverty and work were there be- away from rules toward principles fore, during and after the Depression.. During the first period of time they isn’t more sustainable in the long had lived on a rented farm together with his father’s parents and siblings. term, much as Jesus’ example of The diaries refer not only to weather conditions day to day, but im- tearing down walls whilst the portantly to the “distant drum beats of war” – German rearmament and Scribes and Pharisees were building Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia. While the execution of Dave’s grandfa- up walls. The earlier experiences ther in 1921 continued to haunt his father, finding expression in his diaries, of the Yarrow and Coaldale the diaries made reference to a daily faith component by way of a scripture churches could be contrasted for passage. Later the diaries were written by his mother. For the period from 14 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010

1949 to 1951, her entries were made on particular squares of boxboard An interesting anecdote from which indicated the level of frugality of his parents. A hole had been made 1938 was that his father had at- at the top so that they could be tied together with string. For the latest peri- tended a party in Winnipeg on the od exercise books were used. birthday of Hitler. He reported During the second period his family had lived north of Yarrow at that Hitler’s stand against com- Greendale, a predominantly Mennonite community where Dave grew up, munism appealed to him, perhaps and tended dairy, mushroom, and chicken farms. His parents did not own not surprisingly, as he had come the land and made a living working for others. Raspberries and strawberries through the Russian revolution. It were an important part of their livelihood, which became also the preoccu- was evident that his parents fa- pation. Produce grown on the land was marketed including the sale of bun- voured the monarchy rather than dles of raspberry canes at $10 per thousand. During the summer beans, “rule by the masses”—an influence gladiolas, and cucumbers were also grown. Odd jobs were taken on to sup- from the Russian experience. plement family income odd jobs, such as picking fruit and hops. His work to date on the diaries Dave grew up in a Mennonite has been done mostly on his church in Greendale which others father’s diaries and he is in- called the “cowboy” church due to ... diaries … in the moment give an un- terested now in working on differences of vigilance. He attended derstanding of life as it unfolded and the his mother’s diaries. He the church-supported Mennonite “here and now” experiences… . However, believes that diaries while school. He recalled that apart from a they are about the preoccupations of the day. “in the moment” give an roller skating rink of interest only to understanding of life as it the young people, the social life of his home consisted of his parents and unfolded and the “here and three or four other couples coming together to visit with the men in the liv- now” experiences of the people ing room and the women in the kitchen until there was a call for Faspa, the concerned. However, they are afternoon lunch prepared by his mother. She had been active as a Sunday about the preoccupations of the school teacher and in the ladies’ mission group. Dave observed that his par- day. He felt fortunate in having ents maintained a high interest in relatives, family trees, and relationships to been given the diaries for the which he attributes their keeping of diaries. unique insight they brought him into his parents’ world. He found The last set of the diaries for 1963 and 1970 to 1983 cover the time his that reading the diaries over time parents lived in Vancouver where his parents worked as caretakers of apart- allowed him to savour the experi- ment buildings and where they took up residency in the Menno Court retire- ence and to enjoy the memories. ment home. He notes that his mother’s family was regarded as liberal by “It is like having a visit or conver- Mennonite standards but he remembered his Mom as pragmatic. sation with my parents,” becoming Dave indicated that challenges in the work with the diaries were that more meaningful as the time be- they are written in German and used words and sayings of the time making comes more distant. Two im- it necessary for one to think in German. In addition, the brevity of entries portant things are reinforced: faith presented a challenge. He found no clear English equivalents for some of and life. He believes that his par- the German expressions. ents wrote the diaries for them- He researched much Mennonite history to provide context. His biggest selves. He hopes for the courage challenge, however, was finding time to work on the project. His solution to leave them to the archivists after was to spend a bit of time every day on one more of the diaries. the work is done. The diaries are repetitious. For example, in the 1936 to 1940 diaries his In conclusion, my personal re- father was continually dismayed both with the inability to acquire their own action is one of gratitude and sur- place and not living in a Mennonite community. However, some entries prise; gratitude for the authors began with “A new year, new hope…” No crops had been lost. His par- bringing to life their stories. These ents did not own the land and they walked to church, they had friends and authors have done a great deal of were occupied with labour, always asking God for his blessing. Dave con- work to find, discover and relate in cluded that it was evident from the diaries that the years 1948 to 1952 were a balanced way someone else’s sto- the happiest years of his parents’ lives. The diaries written at Greendale held ry for our benefit.  a different tone; the war was over and the Canadian economy was improved. The author came across some surprises in the diaries. 15 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010

Salem Mennonite Church of the Salem Mennonite 100th Anniversary Church, had the children’s fea- ture entitled “Remember What by Mary Burkholder God Has Done, 1910-2010.” A celebration was held at the Ray Landis, who was a former Salem Mennonite Church, Tofield, Northwest Mennonite Confer- on July 24th & 25th, 2010 with ap- ence Pastor, was “looking proximately 600 guests in attend- back” on the last 100 years, ance. All activities were held at the and Mal Braun, the current church grounds, including the reg- NWMC Pastor, was “looking istration, which was held in the ahead” to the next 100 years. huge tent beside the church on Sat- Jim Boettger, an early choir urday. This was also a place for leader in the 1970s, led the mass choir singing “Come, Come Ye Saints” renewing acquaintances and visit- and “Praise the Lord, Sing Hallelujah.” Other congregational songs that ing. Each registered guest had a were sung during the morning service were “Oh For a Heart to Praise My preprinted name tag that served as God,” and “Christ Returneth.” a head count and an identification Carl Hansen, a former pastor of the Salem Church, had prayer for for those that needed a reminder of the noon meal followed by singing “Praise God From Whom All Blessings names. Flow.” A wonderful noon meal was catered by by A-1 Catering from the A wonderful supper, which was Camrose area. catered by the local congregation, The afternoon celebration began at 2 pm with the welcome and prayer was enjoyed by all the registered by Merlin Stauffer, the MC for the afternoon. Presentations and congratula- guests. After supper, there was a 65 tions were received by Lonnie Lauber, Salem Elder Board Chairman. Don voice choir practice held in the Kauffman, historian and grandson of Deacon J.E. Kauffman, gave a histori- main sanctuary in preparation for cal view of the Salem church which is a part of the Northwest Mennonite the Sunday morning service and Conference once known as the Alberta-Saskatchewan Conference. He was the afternoon Celebration. limited by time constraints but had so much more to tell us. An offering The auction for the first print- was taken to cover the weekend expenses, which thankfully were met. Fa- ed copy of the 2010 Salem Men- vourite congregational songs that were sung for the afternoon were “He nonite Church history book was Hideth My Soul,” “Faith of Our Fathers,” and “Great is Thy faithfulness” held after the supper meal with The mass choir sang “Lift Your Glad Voices” and “Go In Love,” again led Graham Wideman of Cam- by Jim Boettger. Closing prayer and grace was followed by the singing of rose making the highest bid of “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.” A light refreshment was served $1,500. During the evening youth before the guests departed. activities for ages 14 and over were The planning committee consisting of Joe and Elaine Kauffman, Roger organized by Milo Stauffer. Porta- and Margaret Stutzman and Marvin and Margaret Weber made a short ble playground equipment was set weekend a very memorable time. Every detail was planned and executed: up in the front of the church for RV parking, Car parking, bathroom facilities, playground equipment, dis- the children of many ages to enjoy plays of clubs, archival material, family heirlooms, and Snack Shop provided on Saturday. by the Salem MYF. The weekend was a great experience for me even Sunday morning service began though I did not grow up in the church but have relatives in the area. with congregational singing a capella Orders for the history book can be placed with Diane Martin by phone of “Come We That Love the Lord” (her phone number is 780-662-2946) or by email to the church office. See in honour of Paul Voegtlin fol- lowed by “Therefore the Re- deemed.” Pastor Mark Loe- wen of the Salem Mennonite Church had the call to wor- ship and was Master of Cere- monies for the morning. Le- vi Smoker, a former pastor 16 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010 review below. voted to Family Histories which “the top twenty people during the “Now unto him that is able to have been written by those that 20th century who had significantly keep you from falling, and to pre- attended the Salem Mennonite influenced the faith and life of the sent you faultless before the pres- Church and have supplied family Mennonite people....” Based in ence of his glory with exceeding pictures. Hillsboro and Wichita since 1962 joy, to the only wise God our Sav- This book has an ISBN of 978- she has topped everyone in sheer iour, be all glory and majesty, do- 0-9809439-2-4 with 288 pages in- volume, having published more minion, and power, both now and cluding a detailed index. Orders for books, columns, articles, reviews ever. Amen.” Jude v. 24 & 25.  the Salem Mennonite history book and made more presentations that can be placed with Diane Martin - anyone else in MB, perhaps in Mennonite, history. [2] A Mennonite History: A her phone number is 780-662- 2946; or, by email to the church All of this she produced after Century of God's Faithful- office at [email protected] The she was widowed in 1962 and left ness at Salem Mennonite cost is $35 for the book, plus an with the responsibility of four Church Tofield, Alberta, additional $10 for shipping and young children. She did what she 1910 - 2010, Written by the handling.  had to do to care for her family, People, Edited by Joseph J. but her typewriter had a place in Voegtlin Review of The Voice of a the kitchen. The untimely death of her husband, Walter Wiebe opened This book is a historical review Writer: Honoring the Life of how the Sa- the journalistic door for her. She of Katie Funk Wiebe credited her zeal and direction to lem Mennonite by Peter Penner Church began the inspiration she received from and about the Published in Oswald Chamber’s devotional early settlers Goessel, Kansas readings in My Utmost for His High- from the neigh- and Winnipeg by est. This is brought out most fully bouring towns Kindred Produc- by Valerie Rempel and Lorraine that formed tions, 2010, edit- Dyck in the final chapter entitled the congrega- ed by Doug “Yielding and Reaching” (237). tion. The intro- Heidebrecht and Several years ago Doug Heide- duction was written by Joseph Valerie G. brecht and Valerie Rempel com- Voegtlin and the foreword by Don Rempel, fully doc- bined with Susan Huebert and Kauffman. A chronological report umented, including Dave Giesbrecht to honour KFW lists many births, marriages, deaths a comprehensive bibliography of 93 pages; for her achievements as a Christian and other events from the time of 354 pages in all. Mennonite writer. Heidebrecht and the church formation until 1924. Katie Funk Wiebe, the writer Rempel as editors invited ten oth- The book gives a biographical from Canada who wondered ers writers to join them in an ap- review of all the ministers, bishops whether she would ever be heard praisal of the Voice of KFW as and deacons who have served to in her church, has now been cho- writer as it came to be heard and the present. “More than 165 writ- sen as among the most influential listened to in the various stages of ers contributed to this work.” leaders in the Mennonite Brethren her 50 years of ceaseless produc- Church, both in MB Canada and tion on so many themes of signifi- The book includes many pic- MB USA. [1] Harold Jantz particu- cance to her church, the Mennon- tures of the different faces of the larly brought this out in his many ite church at large, and the wider church building. The church clubs “voices of affirmation” from with- world. She was especially heard, and their contributions are de- in her denomination. She was final- sometimes bringing irritation, on scribed. In addition, the major ly recognized as a “woman among the question of women, beginning contributions to the church made the brethren” (133). Not only with some forcefulness in the late by Sunday School, Prison Ministry, there, the editors of The Mennonite, 1960s. Teachers, Farming, Business, etc. the paper of Mennonite Church are identified. Here is a brief excerpt from USA, have named Katie among Wally Kroeker who was Katie’s A large part of the book is de- 17 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010 editor at the Christian Leader, Hills- Untypical Large Mennonite Family boro, for 10 years: From the collections of Peter Goertzen, submitted by Jim Driedger For three decades hers was the most consistent pastoral voice heard by US After several years of genealogical research among my Mennonite an- Mennonite Brethren. Regular readers cestors I have become quite accustomed to large families, very early remar- would, over time, receive a robust mini- riages of widows and widowers and the repetition of given names. Howev- course in spiritual formation, servant- er when a friend recently asked me to check on a family for him I came hood, church polity, modern media, pas- across a most exceptional example of these characteristics. toral theology, Mennonite literature, and more. It started with a Gerhard Niebuhr (born 1818), who married Mar- She did so on a blizzard of topics: garetha Braun in 1838. The couple had eight children after which Jacob racism, healing of memories, the new passed away and his widow married one Daniel Teichroeb. Four children morality, artists in society, failure, par- later Margaretha died and her widower married a younger woman, Elisa- enting styles, the good life (crimped in beth Nickel, who bore him an additional ten children. Shortly after, Daniel those days by a fuel shortage), and the military draft (including women), which passed away and Elisabeth decided to marry a widower, Jacob Fehr. the US government was considering re- In order to completely understand Jacob Fehr's marital status I had to suming. She tackled evangelism, Bible go back to Anna Thiessen (born 1831), who married a Peter Peters. This study, sexist language, individualism, couple had nine children when Peter passed on and Anna married Jacob missions, “churchspeak,” and all the latest bromides that flowed from those Fehr. Jacob brought along nine children from his first marriage. Now An- keen to shed their Anabaptist identity in na and Jacob had two children and when Anna died, Jacob married an effort to seem more inviting to the Aganetha Giesbrecht who bore him four children. It was after Aganetha unchurched. died that Jacob married the widow Elisabeth, mentioned above, in 1895. To illustrate, following each of This last union made the couple parents, in a sense, to all of the fol- the 13 chapters are appropriate se- lowing: eight NIEBUHR-BRAUN children; four TEICHROEB-BRAUN lections, a total of 21, from Katie’s children; ten TEICHROEB-NICKEL children; nine PETERS-THIESSEN columns, most of them from her children; nine FEHR-(??) children; two FEHR-THIESSEN children and 30 years of writing for the Christian four FEHR-GIESBRECHT children. A grand total of 46 offspring! Leader (the US equivalent to the Mennonite Brethren Herald) twice a I also noted that the oldest “parent” was born in 1817 while the young- month. These alone total half a est didn't arrive until 1851. Of the eight marriages that took place among million words, and many were the various fathers and mothers, the first occurred in 1838 and the last in picked up by other church periodi- 1895—almost 60 years later. The difference in age between the oldest and cals, also by those outside of Men- the youngest child was 55 years. (Peter Niebuhr b 1839—Maria Teichroeb nonite circles. For example, “A b 1894). Three “sisters and brothers” were born in 1859 and there was on- Problem Without a Name,” Katie’s ly one set of twins born in 1863. response in 1965 to Betty Friedan’s The names of the children proved no less interesting. There was one The Feminine Mystique; “Why Men- Gerhard, David, Julius, Cornelius, Herman, and Daniel. There were two nonites Can’t Laugh at Them- each of; Katharina, Agatha, Elisabeth, Sara, Helena, Isaak, and Aron. The selves,” 1974; and having done her family had three Johanns, Marias, and Aganethas as well as four Peters, Ja- own Bible study she asked: “Who cobs, and Annas. The most popular name, however, was Margaretha, of Should be Ordained [anyway]?” which there were five! 1990. As I filed the last of the information for my friend I found myself As editors, Heidebrecht began wondering how this family would have reacted to such modern terms as with a welcome biographical over- “planned parenthood,” “birth control,” “generation gap,” or “single parent view of Katie’s life, while Rempel family.” followed with a chapter on “Katie in Context” as a Mennonite, as a Gerhard Niebuhr m Margaretha Braun Anna Thiessen m Peter Peters 8 children 9 children woman “coming of age,” and then Daniel Teichroeb m Margaretha Braun Jacob Fehr (w 9 children) m Anna Thiessen beginning to, and succeeding, in 4 children 2 children writing her life’s story. Potential Daniel Teichroeb m Elisabeth Nickel Jacob Fehr m Aganetha Giesbrecht readers will not regret being intro- 10 children 4 children (Continued on page 18) Elizabeth Nickel m Jacob Fehr 18 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010

(Continued from page 17) until it was moved from Calgary. She received the “Proficiency in duced to Katie by her daughter Joanne, and not least by Wally Kroeker. In Service Playing” from the National Hillsboro Don Isaac wrote of Katie’s ultimately successful career as Profes- Council of the Royal Canadian sor of English at Tabor College, and Peggy Goertzen, Director of the Cen- College of Organists in July 2004. ter for MB Studies, Hillsboro, about how Katie translated her story into Among her other passions was ge- many books such as The Storekeeper’s Daughter (1997). nealogy, scrap-booking and collect- Though her questions went far beyond her concern for recognition of ing the writings of her father. She women’s gifts and the right to their place in the church, Marlene Epp in her had the Mennonite Historical Soci- chapter “Lifting the Fog” could show that Katie Funk Wiebe brought them ety of Alberta scan and store her into daylight alongside men as no one else could. This will always be collection of her father’s letters and brought forward as Katie’s hallmark, as is evidenced by the repetition of some of his school books. this and other themes in nearly every chapter. As much as she was a Herta struggled with bouts of “blessed” and necessary irritant on that question, she will be remembered cancer for several years and passed for much more beyond her home church. away on June 20, 2010. Her grit and determination to fulfill her MHSA Members Pass Away life’s service was strong to the end, Three long time members of MHSA died during the summer of 2010. We honour their and she will be remembered for memory by publishing their obituaries. her love for her Lord.  Born September 24, 1944 Arabella and one great Grand- Cornelius Friesen  daughter Caelen. Married (1) Alfred Dilk 1964 (1914-2010)  Children: Renate Angelika (Dilk) Cornelius  Born October 19, 1914 Pilon, Marlies Ingrid Dilk, Monika Friesen was  Married Helen Pauls August 12 Aneliese (Dilk) Fourlas. born in Russia, 1951  Grandchildren: Jacob, Olivier, to Kornelius  Died July 19 2010 Yohann, Katerina, Athena, Ana- and Katherine stasia, Nicholas Friesen. The Herta Evangeline  Married (2) Orlin Anderson, 1990 family immi- Anderson (nee Braun)  Died June 20, 2010 grated to Cana- da in 1925, set- (1944-2010) tling in eastern Alberta. He had Born in Louise Emma (nee Toews) fond memories of growing up in Winnipeg on Friesen (1912-2010) the short-lived Mennonite commu- September 24, Louise was nity in the Provost/ Macklin area, 1944, to Jacob born on a and loved to tell stories of those and Sarah snowy winter days. The family later farmed in the Braun, the day in Ros- Lacombe area. However he spent youngest of thern, Saskatch- most of his adult years in Calgary eleven children. ewan on De- working as a finishing carpenter. She was educated in Winnipeg and cember 19, There he met and married Helen at the Mennonite Collegiate Insti- 1912 to David Pauls, who had immigrated after tute. Later was employed in a Royal and Margaret WW2. Both of them were interest- Bank in Winnipeg, but was trans- Toews, the ed in the Mennonite people and ferred to Calgary in 1979, where sixth of nine their history, and saved and record- she then worked until 1991. Her children. She had a happy child- ed much of what they remem- passion for music, especially organ, hood and did well in school. In bered. Even after he was hampered led her to study under renowned 1930 Louise graduated from the by his loss of hearing, Cornie loved organists. For many years she German English Academy, now to tell the stories of his childhood. played in the churches, and for Rosthern Junior College. After re- weddings and funerals. She served They have one daughter, Laura ceiving a degree in Piano and The- as organist for the military base Hawthorne, one granddaughter, ory Teaching from the Royal Con- 19 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010 servatory of Music in Toronto, she Namaka started a small music class in Ros- is Important To Us thern, while also playing for the Namaka School District No. Rosthern Mennonite Church and 1919 was officially established on accompanying two choirs and nu- January 8, 1909 by the Alberta De- merous singers. partment of Education. The On October 9, 1944 she mar- school was built on two acres of ried Blake Friesen and they moved land on 1st Avenue in Namaka, to Regina Saskatchewan, where which had been purchased from J. Blake became assessor and auditor Shouldice. At first one teacher was for the Government of Canada. hired and a second by the mid Their three sons, Gary, Alan and 1920s. The school was demolished Howard were born here. Louise and reopened as a two-room build- continued playing for church and ing in 1928 – only to be destroyed teaching piano and theory, having by fire in 1935. That was in March up to 75 students per week. and by September the school was After about 32 years they rebuilt. moved to St Albert, Alberta, where It became known as the they became active members in Namaka Farm School and an addi- from school work such as Easter! First Mennonite Church tional Namaka School District (no. The books also may include the (Edmonton), while she continued 4249) was formed with junior and names of parent (father), commu- teaching music. When Blake retired senior grades. nity of residence, and the birthdate they moved first to Clearbrook, Namaka has been the site of of the students. Thus, they repre- British Columbia, then to Calgary, historic attention by the MHSA sent a capture of school participa- where Blake took up another ca- through a reunion in 2000. As tion at the time as well as infor- reer with Mennonite Foundation. part of that Reunion, Henry mation useful to genealogical re- Louise and Blake enjoyed trav- Goerzen prepared a small summary searchers. eling, making many friends, and of the “goings on” of the commu- On the same occasion, Abe spending time in Phoenix, Arizona. nity, identifying plots of land, their donated two Burial Registers from They had a love for Mennonite owners, etc. culminating in a small the Namaka Mennonite Cemetery heritage. Their last move was to the history. The original manuscript operated by the Mennonite Breth- Harbours of Newport Seniors Re- was donated to the MHSA by Hen- ren at the time. When completed, tirement Residence in Calgary. ry and resides in our archival vault. such registers are to be returned to Louise passed away on July 28, Recently, the collection of the Province. As a result, we have 2010 at the age of 97, after a long Namaka items grew, with the addi- made copies of the information in life of commitment and service to tion of record books donated by the Registers and are in the process her church and her family. former resident Abe Quiring. The of shipping them to Service Alber-  Born December 19, 1912 items are School Attendance Registers ta, which in turn will determine if  Married Blake Friesen October 9, for the Namaka Farm school as they are to be deposited in the Pro- 1944 well as the advanced grades school vincial Archives of Alberta. As in  Children: Gary (Anne), Alan and cover the years 1927-1937 and the case of the school registers, (Sharon), Howard (Julie) 1941-1953. For the Namaka Junior these offer an insight as to who  Grandchildren: Kristina (Josh School District (No. 1919), the lived in the area of Namaka at the Thiessen), Scott, Shaun, Erin Registers cover the years 1944- time. They cover the periods from (Garver Wong), Kim and Mark 1953; and for the Namaka Senior 1929-1947.  Died July 28, 2010 School, they cover the years 1941- Note: The Namaka history 1953. The registers include month prepared by Henry Goerzen is out by month accounts of attendance, of print but a slightly revised ver- the grades pursued, and any official sion will be available very soon in or so-called “Mennonite” holidays print and in e-book form for those 20 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Newsletter September 2010 with Sony E-Readers. Contact us those working in professions…” Centennial Library Archives with your order: (403) 250-1121 or A couple will be of special in-  Saskatchewan Archives Board [email protected]  terest—look for one “Old Dobbin  Saskatoon Public Library Local delivers milk and other dairy prod- History Room Archival Images ucts produced by the Mennonite  University of Regina Archives & It doesn’t seem right to refer Youth Farm at Rosthern.” Special Collections you to two impressive virtual ex- The images come from:  University of Saskatchewan Ar- hibits (meaning exhibits that are chives & Library Special Collec-  Saskatchewan Archives Board online rather than requiring a visit tions  to a physical archives, museum, or City of Saskatoon Archives Please see the exhibit at: library) at once, but, that’s how I  University of Saskatchewan Li- http://scaa.sk.ca/gallery/ heard about them and I definitely brary special Collections postcards/ want to share these with all of you.  Saskatoon Public Library Local History Room MHSA’s Photograph Note that in both virtual exhib- Please see the exhibit at: Collection its you can click on the image and http://scaa.sk.ca/gallery/labour/ We have a very modest set of get detailed information about it. photographs (focused on posed Wish You Were Here Working in Saskatchewan shots of Mennonites gathered to These 4,500 postcard images University of Saskatchewan’s participate in a meeting, be bap- were collected from the archival archives has done a great job of tized, attend Daily Vacation Bible centres across Saskatchewan and assembling a beautiful set of imag- School, or celebrate with food. cover a large scope of subjects. es and developing them into a vir- Irene Klassen is developing a tual exhibit. Use the search tool and your descriptive database so that we can imagination. Note that the search The exhibit was developed to find a photos when it’s needed. So tool is particularly good. You can counter the stereotype of Saskatch- far there are about 1,200 photo- search on one term .... and then do ewan, which “conjures up waving graphs described. a subordinate search within the wheatfields, not smokestacks; grain first. If you change your mind We can use more help if any- elevators, not factories....as with about the first – you can simply one is interested in identifying the many aspects of the political, eco- click on the “x” and the search is content (persons or places in the nomic, and social history of the altered to only focus on the sub- photos for instance), enter the in- province, this history has features search term. This is the new wave formation into the database, or that mark it as distinctive and of search approaches being intro- help us think about how our own unique in Canada.....” duced – so watch for it elsewhere virtual exhibit could be crafted To develop a manageable ex- as well. (e.g. LDS genealogy web- from what we have. hibit they confined the images to site, National Archives of Canada, MHSA’s Postcard Exhibit labour as depicted by “the social Ancestry.com, etc.) We also have a modest exhibit. class who does manual or physical  Archives of the Humboldt & Dis- Please see: www.mennonitehistory. work for wages” and “productive, trict Museum & Gallery org/projects/postcards/  especially physical, work done for  City of Saskatoon Archives wages.” they acknowledge that there is “the very considerable  City of Yorkton Archives From our Bibliophile work of farm owners... [or] the un-  Diefenbaker Canada Centre Ar- A new history of Ukraine was paid work, usually done by women, chives published in June 2010. Professor in their homes.... [or] the work of  Prince Albert Historical Society – Paul Robert Magocsi brought out Bill an updated and revised edition of Smiley his History of Ukraine; the Land and Ar- its Peoples, 896 pages. Magocsi is the chives chair of Ukrainian Studies at the  Ro- University of Toronto. UT Press is setown & Dis- the publisher of his book. trict