Ben spent his childhood in Russia and Ukraine as his family moved seeking work. After the German occupation of WWII, he was utilized by the Germans as interpreter and farm…
Obituaries
The year before his birth, George’s parents and 3 older siblings had emigrated from Russia; he was the first of 5 born in Canada. In 1935, the family bought land…
Being the eldest of 5 brought early responsibilities – five-year-old Harold gathered kindling, collected eggs, and rounded up calves. Later, he ploughed fields, picked cotton and peanuts, herded cattle, and…
Seeking work, Stella’s family moved often – 13 times in one year – including to Wingard and Carlton, Sask.; Kronsgart, Purvis, and Crystal City, Man. Because churches were far away,…
Edna attended Bible school in Abbotsford and Yarrow, B.C. After she married Henry Thiessen on May 31, 1952, they studied 4 years at Prairie Bible Institute, Three Hills, Alta., and…
Alex lived his faith in Jesus. He accepted Christ as Saviour at 12 and was baptized into Port Rowan (Ont.) MB Church at 16. Alex and Elva married in Winkler,…
Ben helped milk cows on the family dairy, but he especially liked driving the tractor. In 1948, when the farm was flooded, the family found refuge at the Abbotsford Airport…
When Anna was an infant, her family moved from Steinfeld, Russia, first to Germany and then to Brazil, hoping for a better life. In Brazil, she met Heinz and they…
Daisy grew up on a farm in McMahon, Sask., the third of 6 children born to Peter and Helena Martens. She trained as a teacher, acquiring a PhD from Simon…
Jake was born into a Mennonite community that was religious but didn’t know Jesus’ grace. Self-worth was based on how well one did financially. His family did not have amenities…
God’s rescuing undergirded George’s faith. When George was one, his father was captured, taken to Siberia, and never seen again. Young George was sickly; the hospital left him to starve.…
Anni and her four younger siblings grew up under the Communist regime in Ukraine. Owning a Bible and praying were forbidden, but their mother told them many Christian stories. When…
Jacob was born in Rueckenau, Russia, in 1924 and immigrated to Canada with his parents that year. He spent his childhood in Kitchener, Ont., as the eldest of 5 siblings.…
Verna grew up on a dairy farm near Hepburn, Sask. She attended the one-room school at New Home. After high school in Hepburn, she attended Bethany College, where she met…
John was the fifth of seven siblings growing up in a loving Christian home. At 19, he became a Christian through the preaching of missionary Toews. That November, John was…