Anabaptist World
April - June 2023
Mennonite World Review & The Mennonite merged September 2020
Anabaptist World, April 14, 2023, page 42-43, Vol. 4, No. 5.
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Harder, Gladys Ella Harder
May 30, 1928 - December 23, 2022
Harder-. Gladys Ella, 94, died Dec. 23, 2022, at Northwoods Village in Mishawaka, Ind. She was born May 30, 1928, to Henry G. and Helen (Falk) Harder in Mountain Lake, Minn. She married Leo J. Harder on Sept. 26, 1959, at First Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake. Two daughters, Kathleen and Mary, were born to this marriage. They joined Gordon, Charles and Lois, Leo's three children from his first marriage. She graduated from Mountain Lake High School in 1946 and subsequently attended Mountain Lake Bible School and Grace Bible Institute. She was baptized by Pastor I.J. Dyck in 1945 at First Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake, where she remained an active, lifelong member. She was a committed Christian, living her faith and interacting with others with kindness, understanding and grace. For many years she worked in the administrative offices of the Basinger Clinic and then the Glick and Wiens Clinic. She then worked for a few years at the Christian Day School. She loved books and purchased the BookNook in Mountain Lake. After fire destroyed the building and snuffed out her years of work in the store, she retired and entered Mennonite Voluntary Service. She and Leo served with MVS for several years in Fort Collins, Colo., and at the International Guest House in Washington, D.C. Returning to Mountain Lake, she volunteered at the Ten Thousand Villages store (Care and Share Shop) in Mountain Lake. She is survived by her children, Gordon (Eva), Charles, Lois (Steve), Kathleen (Merin) and Mary (Wes); six grandchildren; 10 great- grandchildren; and a brother, Leslie (Gladys Ann) She was preceded in death by Leo, her husband of 58 years, on Dec. 9, 2017; a sister, Frances (Erwin); and her in-laws on Leo's side: Theresa, Harry (Anna), Jacob (Estella), Anna (Marvin), Lawrence (Kathy), Albert (Bessie) and Walter (Joyce). A memorial service is planned for April 22 in Mountain Lake.
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Schroeder, Mary R. Rosenfeld
1923 - December 17, 2022
Schroeder-. Mary R., 89, died Dec. 17, 2022, at Landis Homes in Lititz, Pa. She lived most of her life in Akron. Born in Manheim Township, she was the daughter of immigrants from Crimea (1923), Henry H. and Anna (Neustadter) Rosenfeld. She was the wife of Vernon E. Schroeder, with whom she shared over 71 years of marriage. She was a member of Forest Hills Mennonite Church and formerly Bethel Mennonite Church, where she enjoyed singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school. A dedicated wife, mother and homemaker, she enjoyed quilting and playing organ and loved furry pets. She excelled in the gifts of hospitality and service as a foster parent, adopting a son, volunteering at Landis Homes, the local hospital and Akron Elementary School playground, as well as opening her home to board five international trainees for Mennonite Central Committee. ln addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Rick D. (Connie) Schroeder and Robert E. (Maryjane) Schroeder; a daughter-in-law, Dena Schroeder; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a sister, Agnes Hacker. She was preceded in death by a son, Ronald L. Schroeder; two infant sons, John V. and Timothy R.; and seven siblings, Henry Rosenfeld, John Rosenfeld, Helen Rosenfeld, Agnes Rosenfeld, Elizabeth Dillard, Tina Brink and Anna Fizkee. Memorial contributions may be made to the Landis Homes Caring Fund.
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Breneman, Jerry Shenk
January 18, 1945 - March 2, 2023
Breneman-. Jerry Shenk, 78, died March 2, 2023. He was born Jan. 18, 1945, to Martin and Naomi Breneman on their Manor Township farm in Lancaster County, Pa. Growing up, he enjoyed helping around the farm and working with animals. He was involved in FFA at Penn Manor High School, where he excelled in steer judging. He was a follower of Jesus, committed to living out his faith from an Anabaptist perspective. An active member of Manheim Mennonite Church and, later on, Millersville Mennonite Church, he enjoyed teaching Sunday school and leading singing. He had a deep love of music and was a strong tenor. During the Vietnam War, his nonresistant convictions led him to alternative service with Mennonite Central Committee's mobile meat canner. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite College with a degree in Bible and wore several different hats after college, including part-time pastoring at Mountville Mennonite Church, teaching at New Danville Mennonite School and farming part-time up to the early 1980s. For more than 45 years, he served coal and fertilizer customers as a local truck driver for F.H. Kreider until retiring in 2020. He always had a ready smile and a wave and showed that he cared about others by sending greeting cards and offering gifts of food. He married Miriam Metzler on June 9, 1979, and they shared more than 43 years together. Surviving, in addition to his wife, are two sons, Kyle (Danielle) Breneman and Duane (Stephanie) Breneman; four grandchildren; and siblings David (Yen) Breneman, Rhoda Breneman, Rachel Breneman and Roseanne (Kevin) Stewart. A funeral service was held at Millersville Mennonite Church. Burial was at Habecker Mennonite Cemetery. Contributions may be sent to Eastern Mennonite Missions or MCC.
Transcribed by: John Ingold
Anabaptist World May 5, 2023, pages 46-47, Vol. 4, No. 6.
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Bechler, LeRoy
December 4, 1925 - April 1, 2023
Bechler-. LeRoy, 97, died April 1, 2023, at Cottage Garden in Goshen, Ind. He was born Dec. 4, 1925, in Pigeon, Mich., to Edward and Ada (Roth)Bechler. On Aug. 24, 1950, he married Irene M. (Springer) Bechler at East Bend Mennonite Church, Fisher, Ill. They were married 71 years.
He loved God with all his heart, and this deep love and commitment to follow Jesus led him to become a pastor and church planter in the African-American community in Saginaw, Mich., and Los Angeles and Inglewood, Calif. Under his leadership and with the support of the congregation, a K-6 school was opened in Inglewood. He further answered the call by taking an executive leadership position responsible for home missions and church growth in Southeast Mennonite Conference. He authored two books: The Black Mennonite Church in North America 1886-1986 and Answering the Call: Telling the Story. He was a member of College Mennonite Church, Goshen.
He graduated from Hesston College with associate of arts and bachelor of religious education degrees and from Fuller Theological Seminary with a master of arts degree. He loved to learn, enjoyed woodworking and traveling and was an avid Dodgers fan. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family.
Surviving are his children, Kathleen (Michael) Lechlitner of Greenville, S.C., Kent (Karen) Bechler of Glendora, Calif., and Curt (Shari) Bechler of Hudsonville, Mich.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his wife, Irene; and a brother, Harold Bechler. A memorial service was scheduled April 30 at College Mennonite Church, with burial at Violett Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be sent to Goshen Home Health and Hospice.
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Yoder, Neta Faye Sweigart
December 27, 1932 - April 22, 2023
Yoder-. Neta Faye, 90, died April 22, 2023. She lived in Wellman, Iowa, for 24 years and in Japan for 35 years. She was a member of West Union Mennonite Church, Parnell, Iowa. She was born Dec. 27, 1932, in rural Perryton, Texas, to Milton and Effie (Kauffman) Sweigart and remained proud of her Texas heritage. She attended Hesston Academy and College and worked as a teacher at a country school in Yoder, Kan. Later she attended Goshen College.
On Aug. 2, 1953, she married Marvin K. Yoder of Wellman. In 1961, they moved to Japan with their children, as missionaries for Mennonite Board of Missions. They lived in Tokyo, Nakashibetsu, Sapporo and Ashoro. They retired from the mission field in 1996 and moved to Wellman. Neta Faye gained a remarkable command of the Japanese language and used it to spread her warmth, compassion and humor. She immersed herself in Japanese culture, collecting ceramics as an art form, learning skills of Japanese cooking and taking lessons in flower arrangement. She taught English and cooking classes to women's groups and taught English at Hokusei University, Sapporo. She served on the Executive Committee and Peace Committee for Japan Mennonite Christian Church Conference and on the board for Hokkaido International School.
She also devoted her life to raising her four children, imparting an identity as Mennonites through storytelling, parental guidance and cooking from back home. She entertained them with poems recited from memory and sang songs and read stories to them every night. After the children were grown, she and Marvin pastored a congregation in Ashoro, Japan, enveloping children there with her love. After retiring to Wellman, she served as an elder at West Union and assisted with Sunday school and vacation Bible school. She served in the Iowa-Nebraska Mennonite Conference on its Executive Committee of Mennonite Women Program Committee as its spiritual life and wellness secretary. She shared her hospitality as a docent at Kalona Historical Village and cashier and greeter at Crowded Closet in Iowa City.
She is survived by her husband, Marvin, of Kalona; daughter Deborah (Robert) Kartheiser of Rockford, Ill.; sons Stephen (Karen) Kreider Yoder of San Francisco and Jay (Diane) Yoder of Chicago; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Donna Moreland of Arthur, Ill. She was predeceased by daughter Rebecca Mae Yoder and brothers Marvin Sweigart and Earl Sweigart.
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Herr, Mary E. Yutzy
July 22, 1928 - April 19, 2023
Herr-. Mary E., 94, died April 19, 2023, in Hesston, Kan. She was born July 22, 1928, in Plain City, Ohio, to Eli and Ida Kaufman Yutzy. She married H. Eugene (Gene) Herr on May 21, 1955, in Kingview, Pa. She attended primary and high school in Plain City and graduated from Goshen College in 1949 with an associate degree and 1953 with a bachelor's degree. She had a wonderfully diverse life and career that touched many people. From 1949 to 1951 she taught at a one-room school in Plain City. In 1953 she moved to Chicago, meeting Gene while serving in Mennonite Voluntary Service. After raising three children, she returned to teaching in Harper, Kan., and Middlebury, Ind., from the late 1960s to mid-1970s.
From 1978 to 1982 she and Gene developed and co-directed the Phoenix Discipleship and Service program sponsored by Mennonite Board of Missions. From 1982 to 1985 she served as director of service ministries for MBM. On Sept. 10, 1989, she was ordained for spiritual retreat ministry by the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. From 1985 to 2001, she and Gene established The Hermitage Retreat Center in Three Rivers, Mich., where their vision and dreams came together as a place for spiritual retreat. After retiring, they spent five months in Belfast, Northern Ireland, working at the Columbanus Community of Reconciliation.
In many roles and settings, Mary served and mentored others. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, wonderful friend and gracious hostess who opened her home to countless visitors from throughout the world, enriching her family and forming lifelong relationships. She is survived by children Phillip (Magda) Herr of Olney, Md., Karl (Mary Lynne) Herr of Bayfield, Colo., and Ellen (Darryl) Awe of Wichita, Kan.; six granddaughters and five great-grandsons. She was preceded in death by her husband and brothers Earl Yutzy and Vernon Yutzy of Plain City. A memorial service was scheduled April 28 at Hesston Mennonite Church.
Transribed by: John Ingold
Anabaptist World, May 26, 2023, pages 42-43, Vol. 4, No. 7.
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Schrock, Miriam Ellen Hochstetler Graber
March 30, 1929 - April 24, 2023
Graber Schrock-. Miriam Ellen, 94, of Goshen, Ind., died April 24, 2023. She was born March 30, 1929, in Goshen to Elam and Eliza (Bender) Hochstetler. As a teenager, she 5 became involved in the Amish mission movement of the 1950s. She married Harvey Graber, who was also involved in the movement, on Dec. 21, 1952. They spent five years in Red Lake, Ont., working with the Ojibwe tribe, providing day school for Native children who were not allowed at the public school. In Red Lake she met Orie and Ruth Schrock, and the two families became deeply connected.
Miriam became a pastor's wife when Harvey, while studying at Goshen Biblical Seminary, began serving as pastor at Maple Grove Mennonite Church in Topeka, Ind. After five years as a pastor, he came home one day offering the choice to go abroad as missionaries to either Africa or Brazil. With five children, they spent 10 years in Brazil under Mennonite Board of Missions. When Harvey was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, they returned to Goshen, where she cared for him for a year until his death in 1978. A widow at 49, she worked for two years at Wieland Design and then for over 20 years as a certified nursing assistant at Greencroft Health Care.
After Ruth Schrock died, Miriam reconnected with Orie Schrock, and they were married on Oct. 12, 2002. They had 19 happy years together. Miriam traveled to Mexico, Switzerland, the Dominican Republic, Senegal, Zambia and Russia, mainly supporting family or church missions. With compassion and a servant's heart, she was a spiritual mother to many. Her home was open to anyone in need. An avid quilter, she made hundreds of comforters for Mennonite Central Committee.
Surviving are her children, John (Crissie Musselman) of Goshen, Merlin of Goshen, Millard (Sheila Koch) of Goshen, Carol (Bill Frisbie ) of Goshen and Galen (Ruth Brenneman) of Wellman, Iowa; stepchildren Alan (Pat Keener) of Webster, Fla., Anna (Dan Pipek) of Staples, Minn., Susan (Curt Martin) of Pillager, Minn., and Marlin (Cathy Cole) of Waverly, N.Y.; 14 grandchildren, 10 step-grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren; nine step-great- grandchildren; brothers Daniel (Arianne) Hochstetler, Noah (Loretta) Hochstetler and Joseph (Patricia) Hochstetler; and sister Marietta (Jonathon) Stoltzfus. She was preceded in death by her husbands; brothers Laban, Samuel and Walter; sisters Esther and Rhoda; granddaughter Joyce Graber and great-grandson Joshua Angel.
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Shank, Orval M.
August 14, 1929 - March 22, 2023
Shank-. Orval M., 93, of Harrisonburg, Va., died March 22, 2023. He was born Aug. 14, 1929, in Rockingham County, the son of Wade H. Shank and Vada S. Shank. He grew up in the counties of Augusta and Rockingham. On Sept. 30, 1949, he married Dorothy J. Yoder Shank, who survives. They were married 73 years. A follower of Jesus since early in his life, he served others, notably as a leader for several decades at Elkton Mennonite Church, with 14 of those years as pastor. He and Dorothy served in a stewardship teaching ministry to Mennonite Church USA and on two trips to Trinidad.
He was employed at Rockingham Construction Co. for 37 years. He began as an accountant and later was instrumental in the founding and managing of Special Fleet Service until his retirement in 1993. At work and in his daily life, his commitment to honesty and integrity was exemplary. In retirement, he enjoyed woodworking, especially turning bowls on his lathe. Family and friends treasure these gifts.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, David (Cynthia) Shank, Richard (Sharon) Shank and Sheldon (Lois) Shank; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Evonne Shank Showalter. He was preceded in death by two brothers-in-law, Gerald W. Showalter and Lynford D. Miller; and a sister-in-law, Ruth C. Yoder. Memorial services were held at Ridgeway Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg. Memorial contributions may be made to Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions or Habitat for Humanity.
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Thieszen, Esther Mae Klassen
April 1, 1931 - April 28, 2023
Thieszen-. Esther Mae, 92, of North Newton, Kan., died April 28, 2023, at Kidron Bethel Village. She was born April 1, 1931, in Goessel, Kan., the daughter of Jacob G. and Katharina (Woelk) Klassen. She graduated from Goessel High School and later received a degree from the Bethel Deaconess Nursing Program as a registered nurse. She specialized in geriatric nursing and worked as the director of nursing at various facilities throughout Kansas, Minnesota and Indiana.
She married Harold D. Thieszen on Sept. 18, 1953, at Goessel Mennonite Church. They were married almost 70 years. She was a member of the Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton. She is survived by her husband, Harold; son Jon (Maurine) Thieszen of Lake City, Iowa; daughters Kathryn Thieszen of Kansas City, Mo., and Barbara (John) Thiesen of Newton; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by sister Ella Deines; brother Walter Klassen and an infant brother, Roline Klassen. Memorial contributions may be made to Bethel College Mennonite Church or Bethel College.
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Shenk, Charles E.
December 17, 1931 - May 2, 2023
Shenk-. Charles E., 91, of Goshen, Ind., formerly of Scottdale, Pa., died May 2, 2023, at Goshen Hospital. He was born Dec. 17, 1931, to Elam and Rhoda (Charles) Shenk in Lancaster County, Pa. He married Marian H. Martin on Jan. 1, 1952. She preceded him in death on Nov. 22, 2015. They had three children, Sharon (Doug) Risser of Goshen, Jim (Rachel Shank) Shenk of Goshen, and Jerry (Audra Sprunger) Shenk of Scottdale; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He is survived by sisters Alma (E. J.) Albrecht of Forest Grove, Ore., and Dorothy Shenk of Lititz, Pa. An older brother, John (Myrtle) Shenk, died in March 2022.
He was employed at Provident Bookstore in Lancaster before moving his family in 1970 from Lititz to Scottdale to manage all the Provident Bookstores in the United States and Canada. In 1982 he purchased the local hardware store and managed it until 1996. Upon retiring from retail, he was licensed in 1997, and ordained in 2000 by Allegheny Mennonite Conference. He pastored at Kingview and Scottdale Mennonite churches as well as Blough and Crossroads Mennonite churches in the Johnstown area.
They moved to Waterford Crossing, Goshen, in 2015 and made Eighth Street Mennonite Church their home congregation. He enjoyed time with his Goshen family as well as men's Bible studies and activities with the Waterford community. A memorial service is planned for 3 p.m. June 4 at Waterford Crossing Meeting Room, 1212 Waterford Circle, Goshen.
Transcribed by: John Ingold
Anabaptist World, June 16, 2023, pages 46-47, Vol. 4, No. 8.
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Nyce, Faye Marie Hochstetler
February 4, 1934 - April 29, 2023
Nyce-. Faye Marie, 89, of Landis Homes, Lititz, Pa., died April 29, 2023, at Hospice and Community Care in Mount Joy. Born near Goshen, Ind., she was the daughter of Levi G. and Ruth Tyson Hochstetler. She was married to Donald J. Nyce for nearly 62 years. He preceded her in death on Nov. 30, 2021. She was a lifelong member of the Mennonite church, since 1996 at Landisville Mennonite Church.
She attended Goshen College. After high school she was recruited as the first secretary at Mennonite Mutual Aid (now Everence) in 1952. She spent several weeks teaching summer Bible school in North Dakota and Minnesota. in 1956 she entered voluntary service with Mennonite Board of Missions. This took her to Grants, N.M., where she worked in a clinic, serving Navajo people and others. For two years she worked at the Credit Bureau of Grants. Faye and Don were married in Grants in 1960.
Later in life, with her husband, she spent a year in Americus, Ga., volunteering at the headquarters of Habitat for Humanity International. In 1993 they spent three months doing volunteer work in northern Brazil with Faye's brother and sister-in-law, Otis and Betty Hochstetler. Interspersed with these events, she worked at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa., as a secretary and at Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill, Pa., as a licensed practical nurse. In earlier years, Don and Faye were youth advisers as well as Sunday school teachers at the church they then attended. Faye was also the church treasurer. She wrote many worship materials, as well as articles published in magazines. She is survived by sons Edward of Ephrata and Douglas (Dawn) of Harrisonburg, Va., and son-in-law Rodney (Sheri) Yoder of Mountville.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Pam Nyce Yoder. She is also survived by five grandchildren; Sheri's two children; and a brother, Otis Hochstetler of Brasilia, Brazil. She was preceded in death by sisters Gladys Hochstetler, Lois Miller and Fern Begly and brother Ernest Hochstetler. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. June 24 at Landisville Mennonite Church.
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Gingrich, Joan L. Nissley
September 17, 1933 - May 9, 2023
Gingrich-. Joan L. Gingrich, 89, of Lititz, Pa., formerly of Landisville, Pa., died May 9, 2023. Born in Lancaster County, she was the daughter of Clarence R. and Martha Longenecker Nissley. She graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School, Harrisonburg, Va., in 1951 and later attended Eastern Mennonite College. She married James M. Gingrich in 1955.
Two years later, they and their 9-week-old twin daughters began a four-year term of service with Eastern Mennonite Missions in Honduras. Returning to the United States, they settled in Landisville, where she raised her growing family and volunteered with local church organizations.
In later years, she was employed by EMM as a receptionist, where she enjoyed meeting new people every day. An active member of Landisville Mennonite Church, she was a Sunday school teacher, a leader of the women's sewing circle and served in outreach to young families. In retirement, she and Jim spent quite a few winters in Phoenix, volunteering with local service organizations. Joan lived and shared her core values - compassion, generosity and service - with her family and all who knew her. She was caring and patient and had a beautiful, genuine smile for all. Her hands were rarely still. She delighted in hosting guests in her home and was a superb cook and baker. She was an excellent seamstress and outfitted her four young daughters. Later she used her skills to create beautifully knitted shawls and quilts.
Fun-loving and adventurous, she was always curious and interested in the people and places she visited. Classical and a cappella music touched her soul and in recent years became a vehicle of expression when spoken language was no longer possible. Throughout her long journey with Alzheimer's, she maintained a gentle and loving spirit.
She is survived by her husband; four daughters, Trula Gingrich of Lititz, Twila Gingrich of Lititz, Jonelle Shenk (Elvin) of Lancaster and Alicia Gingrich (Kirsten Peachey) of Oak Park, Ill.; a grandson; and three siblings, John Nissley (Faith, deceased) of Lititz, Reba (Mervin Hess) of Lititz, and Nancy (Paul Hess) of Willow Street.
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Carlson, Phyllis Hershey
August 22, 1930 - May 29, 2023
Carlson-. Phyllis Hershey, 92, of Overland Park, Kan., died May 29, 2023. She was born Aug. 22, 1930, in Upland, Calif., to Laona Pearl Book Hershey and Charles Hershey. Shaped by her baptism in the Brethren in Christ church, she enrolled at Messiah College in Pennsylvania, where she met Bob Carlson. In 1953 she married Bob, graduated with a degree in education and started her first teaching job.
She then made the difficult decision to abandon the Brethren head covering and conservative attire. In 1959 the young family, with two children, moved to the District of Columbia, where Bob was chaplain at a youth residential center. Then the family moved to Newton, Kan., where Bob was the associate pastor at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton. After taking early motherhood in stride, her creative and instructive spirit pulled her back to the classroom. She earned a master's degree in educational psychology from Wichita State University in 1969. In the '60s and '70s she was deeply stirred by the women's movement. Her energy for equality drove her to lead her sixth-grade class in a protest against gender discrimination that nearly got her fired, but her petition to allow girls to sign up for shop class and boys for home economics was successful.
In Newton, she created a women's investing club and years later forged a community for women by starting a lunch group at Rainbow Mennonite Church in Kansas City. A charismatic and inventive teacher, she taught fifth and sixth grades in the Newton public schools for 18 years and was the first Newton teacher to use a computer in the classroom. In 1991 she received the "woman of the year" education award in The Newton Kansan. At Bethel College Mennonite Church she was the first woman chair of the congregation. She also served on the Bethel College Board of Directors for 12 years.
In 1991 Phyllis and Bob moved to Tokyo, Japan, where for four years she taught sixth grade at Nishimachi International School. In 1997 they moved to Overland Park. In retirement, she found a spiritual home at Rainbow, served on church committees, led small groups, taught writing classes at Lansing Correctional Facility and was immersed in her community. Artistically, spiritually and physically active throughout her life, she was a skilled wheat weaver and quilter, won a wind-surfing contest, sailed, biked across Kansas and climbed Mount Fuji. She and Bob traveled to 47 states and over 18 countries. She defined herself as "always a searcher."
She is survived by her husband; children Steve Carlson, Chris Ashby and Beth Carlson; five grandchildren; and son~in-law Shawn Ashby.
Transcribed by: John Ingold