BENNINGTON, Neb. — Bill Janzen Jr. said his family returned to their burned-out Bennington home on Wednesday to see what was left. Firefighters battled a three-alarm blaze Tuesday night after they had been at the same home earlier in the day. The first time, crews extinguished a fire around the fireplace, then left when they thought it was under control.
Florence Emily Kehler (nee Enns) was born August 12, 1931. She passed away peacefully at Peace Arch Hospital December 10, 2005. Survived by her loving husband Russell, daughter Lynn (Gerry) Stefanson, son Robert (Lynda) Kehler and grandchildren Bree Stefanson, Nikole and Brandon Kehler. Predeceased by her son Douglas Kehler and grandson Kyle Stefanson. Florence was an inspiration and extraordinary example to all who knew her. A celebration of Florence’s life will be held Thursday, December 15, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at Victory Memorial Park Funeral Centre, 14831 – 28th Ave., Surrey, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cancer Society.
Florence Emily Enns Kehler – Victory Memorial Park, Surrey BC
When Del Plett suggested I talk about growing up in Steinbach, I thought it would be an easy and enjoyable talk to prepare. With so many memories and materials to draw on, however, it wasn’t easy to decided what to include and what to leave out. Del had one other suggestion. “We want the Kehler side of your personality”, he said, “not the Reimer side.” I knew what he meant, of course. He wanted me to be lively and funny like my eight Kehler uncles, tell outrageous stories (Schnetteriete) and get you all rolling in the aisles.
Al Reimer
By Al Reimer
When Del Plett suggested I talk about growing up in Steinbach, I thought it would be an easy and enjoyable talk to prepare. With so many memories and materials to draw on, however, it wasn’t easy to decided what to include and what to leave out. Del had one other suggestion. “We want the Kehler side of your personality”, he said, “not the Reimer side.” I knew what he meant, of course. He wanted me to be lively and funny like my eight Kehler uncles, tell outrageous stories (Schnetteriete) and get you all rolling in the aisles.
The trouble is I’m not as funny as my Kehler uncles were (maybe there’s too much sober Reimer in me) and, also, they told their hilarious stories in private and opp Plautdietsch. So far as I know, none of them ever made a public speech, while I’m addressing a large, sophisticated audience and have to do it in English, which for a Mennonite of my generation is not nearly as good a language to be funny in as Low German is.
Suddenly on Saturday, December 14, 2002 at the Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach, George went to be with the Lord at the age of 81 years. He was predeceased by his much-beloved wife of 50 wonderful years Elisabeth (Betty) who passed away in 1997. Continue reading “Gerhard Hiebert Kehler (1921-2002)”
After many months of severe pain and suffering with cancer of the stomach, Norman B. Wiens passed peacefully to be with the Lord in glory at the age of 45 years and just under five months, near midnight of Christmas Eve, 1984. He will be sorely missed by his loving wife Charlotte, his sons David and Paul, and his daughter Judy and her husband Bob Siemens.
Norman was born to his parents Peter T. Wiens and Margaret Wiens as their ninth child at McTavish, near Rosenort on July 28, 1939. He received his early education at Willow Heights, a small one-room school near McTavish. Continue reading “Norman Buster Wiens (1939-1984)”
Clarence Gayhart Olson was born to his parents, Ole L. Olson and Ingeborg Hagen, on May 9, 1907 at Middle River, Minnesota. His parents had emigrated from Norway some years ago, were married and settled down on a farm at Middle River. Clarence grew up as one of eight children, 4 boys and 4 girls. He attended school and graduated from the local high school as a bright student with a great future in this country of freedom and opportunity.
