Helen Dorothy Schmidt died Jan. 5, 2012 at 92. She was born Apr. 4, 1919 in Rosthern, Sask. to 
Herman Harry Stobbe and Katharina Wall. The family lived in Montana, North Dakota, Texas, California, Alberta, and B.C. In Wembly, Alta., Helen was baptized. Helen met Willie Schmidt when he and his father drove onto the Stobbe’s yard in Clearbrook, B.C., to find water for their radiator. Helen and Willie married in Sumas, Wash., Aug. 5, 1937. They adopted a motherless girl, but 18 months later, the father took her back. Helen and Willy rededicated their lives to the Lord and attended Millar Memorial Bible School, Pambrun, Sask. SIM (then Sudan Interior Mission) needed builders in Ethiopia. Despite Helen’s frail health, they left in 1951. They moved 16 times during their first 6-year term, with Helen serving as hostess, bookkeeper, bookstore clerk, dorm parent, and evangelist. She’d invite women at the market to bring their produce to her home, where she’d share good news with them using a flannelgraph and the “word book.” During 2 subsequent terms in Ethiopia, Helen did hospital visitation, even leading a witch doctor to Jesus. While under house arrest in Shashamane, Ethiopia, Helen scared off the Communist guards. Upon returning to Canada, Helen and Willy settled in Abbotsford, B.C., where Helen organized donated clothes for Helping Hands. She became legally blind in 2003, and at 92, her hearing declined. In fall 2011, she fractured 5 ribs. She was a member of Central Heights (MB) Church, Abbotsford, B.C. Predeceased by Willy in 2000, Helen is mourned by son Russ.
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