Malita Wanda (Ratzlaff) Friesen, 85, died March 12, 2002, in Phoenix, Arizona.
She was born on the farm of her paternal grandparents, Johann R. and Maria (Dueck) Ratzlaff, just northeast of Henderson, Nebraska, on June 7, 1916, the oldest of nine children of Henry J. and Anna (Janzen) Ratzlaff. She grew up on the Ratzlaff family farm south of Henderson, attended school through the eighth grade at rural District #11, where she learned to speak English, and graduated from Henderson High School in 1934.
She was a member of the Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. She enjoyed singing and was a member of the choir at church and at high school.
On Jan.uary 1, 1939, she married Harry H. Friesen. They farmed near York, where her first two sons, Oris and Homer Joe, were born. In 1945, they moved to a farm near McCool Junction, and in 1948 they purchased the Ratzlaff family farm near Henderson, where her daughter Carol Ann was born. They later purchased and moved to another farm north of Henderson near Beaver Creek. They sold the farm and moved to York in 1955, where her youngest son, Roy, was born. In 1959, she moved with her family to Phoenix, Arizona. She has lived in the Phoenix area since then and has been an active member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Phoenix during that time.
Her husband Harry died on Jan. 20, 1989.
Surviving relatives include her four children, Oris (and Carey) Friesen of Scottsdale, Arizona, Joe Friesen of Glendale, Arizona, Carol Ann (and Kevin Prahar) Friesen of Tucson, Arizona, and Roy (and Sara) Friesen of Phoenix, Arizona. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She was born on the farm of her paternal grandparents, Johann R. and Maria (Dueck) Ratzlaff, just northeast of Henderson, Nebraska, on June 7, 1916, the oldest of nine children of Henry J. and Anna (Janzen) Ratzlaff. She grew up on the Ratzlaff family farm south of Henderson, attended school through the eighth grade at rural District #11, where she learned to speak English, and graduated from Henderson High School in 1934.
She was a member of the Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. She enjoyed singing and was a member of the choir at church and at high school.
On Jan.uary 1, 1939, she married Harry H. Friesen. They farmed near York, where her first two sons, Oris and Homer Joe, were born. In 1945, they moved to a farm near McCool Junction, and in 1948 they purchased the Ratzlaff family farm near Henderson, where her daughter Carol Ann was born. They later purchased and moved to another farm north of Henderson near Beaver Creek. They sold the farm and moved to York in 1955, where her youngest son, Roy, was born. In 1959, she moved with her family to Phoenix, Arizona. She has lived in the Phoenix area since then and has been an active member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Phoenix during that time.
Her husband Harry died on Jan. 20, 1989.
Surviving relatives include her four children, Oris (and Carey) Friesen of Scottsdale, Arizona, Joe Friesen of Glendale, Arizona, Carol Ann (and Kevin Prahar) Friesen of Tucson, Arizona, and Roy (and Sara) Friesen of Phoenix, Arizona. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Malita Wanda (Ratzlaff) Friesen, 85, died March 12, 2002, in Phoenix, Arizona.
She was born on the farm of her paternal grandparents, Johann R. and Maria (Dueck) Ratzlaff, just northeast of Henderson, Nebraska, on June 7, 1916, the oldest of nine children of Henry J. and Anna (Janzen) Ratzlaff. She grew up on the Ratzlaff family farm south of Henderson, attended school through the eighth grade at rural District #11, where she learned to speak English, and graduated from Henderson High School in 1934.
She was a member of the Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. She enjoyed singing and was a member of the choir at church and at high school.
On Jan.uary 1, 1939, she married Harry H. Friesen. They farmed near York, where her first two sons, Oris and Homer Joe, were born. In 1945, they moved to a farm near McCool Junction, and in 1948 they purchased the Ratzlaff family farm near Henderson, where her daughter Carol Ann was born. They later purchased and moved to another farm north of Henderson near Beaver Creek. They sold the farm and moved to York in 1955, where her youngest son, Roy, was born. In 1959, she moved with her family to Phoenix, Arizona. She has lived in the Phoenix area since then and has been an active member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Phoenix during that time.
Her husband Harry died on Jan. 20, 1989.
Surviving relatives include her four children, Oris (and Carey) Friesen of Scottsdale, Arizona, Joe Friesen of Glendale, Arizona, Carol Ann (and Kevin Prahar) Friesen of Tucson, Arizona, and Roy (and Sara) Friesen of Phoenix, Arizona. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She was born on the farm of her paternal grandparents, Johann R. and Maria (Dueck) Ratzlaff, just northeast of Henderson, Nebraska, on June 7, 1916, the oldest of nine children of Henry J. and Anna (Janzen) Ratzlaff. She grew up on the Ratzlaff family farm south of Henderson, attended school through the eighth grade at rural District #11, where she learned to speak English, and graduated from Henderson High School in 1934.
She was a member of the Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. She enjoyed singing and was a member of the choir at church and at high school.
On Jan.uary 1, 1939, she married Harry H. Friesen. They farmed near York, where her first two sons, Oris and Homer Joe, were born. In 1945, they moved to a farm near McCool Junction, and in 1948 they purchased the Ratzlaff family farm near Henderson, where her daughter Carol Ann was born. They later purchased and moved to another farm north of Henderson near Beaver Creek. They sold the farm and moved to York in 1955, where her youngest son, Roy, was born. In 1959, she moved with her family to Phoenix, Arizona. She has lived in the Phoenix area since then and has been an active member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Phoenix during that time.
Her husband Harry died on Jan. 20, 1989.
Surviving relatives include her four children, Oris (and Carey) Friesen of Scottsdale, Arizona, Joe Friesen of Glendale, Arizona, Carol Ann (and Kevin Prahar) Friesen of Tucson, Arizona, and Roy (and Sara) Friesen of Phoenix, Arizona. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
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