Helen (Lena) M. Friesen age 94 years, 6 months and 3 days, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, April 11, 2014, at 12:30 AM, at the Swift Current Care Centre. Helen was born on October 8, 1919, at Dunelm, SK to Jacob & Tina Friesen. In 1923, her parents moved to Schoenfeld, SK where she resided until her passing. Helen attended Grade one in Wymark and completed her education in Schoenfeld. At the young age of 14, her father asked her to take a wagon load of wheat, with a team of horses, to the Wymark Elevators. Her little brother, Jimmy who was 7 at the time, was sent along for company. In her younger years, she worked in Swift Current at the 4x Bakery and at the Swift Current Union Hospital kitchen. She moved home to help her aging parents, and also help with the farm work. During harvest she would drive the 44 Massey, pulling the combine. Going down a steep hill she neglected to use the brake, giving Jim quite a scare. Children’s ministry was very important to her. She taught Vacation Bible School in various places in Saskatchewan. For many years, she also cooked for the Cypress Bible Camp. Church was a very important part of her life. She was involved with Awana Clubs as a teacher, and also taught a Ladies Sunday School Class into her eighties. Her church people were very special to her as she remembered every one by name. Helen was an avid reader. She had a small library of her own, where family and friends would come to borrow her latest novel. She still purchased a book the week before she entered the hospital. Helen shared one of her stories in church two weeks before her health failed and she was admitted to the hospital. There she was diagnosed with cancer of the liver, kidney and lung…passing away six weeks later. Helen was able to live on her own all these years due to family, good friends and neighbours, who were there for her when she needed help. Helen was deeply loved by her family and all her many nieces and nephews. Helen is survived by her sister, Elma; her two brothers, Jim, John (Helen); a sister-in-law, Katie Friesen; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Jacob; her mother, Tina; a sister, Marie; three brothers, Wilfred, Henry, George; a newborn nephew; a niece, Virginia; sisters-in-law, Sarah Friesen, Mary Friesen; and by a brother-in-law, Isaac Fehr.
The Funeral Service was held on Saturday, April 15, 2014, at 11:00 AM from the Christian Fellowship Church, Rhineland, SK with Pastor Dwayne Easton officiating. The pianist for the service was Beatrice Peters. Scripture was read from Lamentations 3:22-26 by Tim Knelsen. “The Old Rugged Cross”, “Jesus Paid It All”, “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling” and “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” were sung by the congregation under the direction of Phil Olney. The obituary was read by Luona Penner with tributes brought by Shirley Friesen and by the Nieces & Nephews. The ushers in the church were Gordon Peters and Harry Friesen. The Interment Service was held at the Rhineland Christian Fellowship Church Cemetery with the following serving as pallbearers, Kevin Friesen, Seth Dueck, Brandon Wall, Leslie Parker, Lyndon Johnson and Gordon Schimmel. In memory of Helen Friesen, donations made to the Cypress Bible Camp would be appreciated by the family. Funeral arrangements were in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK. For further information or to leave a personal message of condolence on the family‘s obituary page, please go to swiftcurrentfuneralhome.com