Eldena Friesen

Eldena F. Friesen, 92, entered her heavenly home on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at the Presbyterian Manor in Newton, Kansas.

Eldena was born in Texas County Oklahoma, at home to David and Elizabeth Schroeder.  At the time she had an older brother and sister, eventually there were 8 of them.    Eldena went through high school in Adams, Oklahoma, where she enjoyed playing basketball. 

After high school Eldena attended Tabor College for a couple semesters and then went to Nurses Training at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton, Kansas.  She graduated from the 3-year program in 1951.  She then decided to get some Bible education since she was interested in missions and attended Grace College in Omaha, Nebraska.

It was at Grace that she met Homer. Eldena remembered noticing him in the Prayer Band for Africa that they both attended.  They got married on July 23, 1953 in Adams Oklahoma. 

They attended missionary candidate school in New York and were accepted by the SIM mission for service in Ethiopia.  In 1956 they left for Ethiopia and spent 8 years there—Eldena served as a nurse on whatever station they were living on.

Eventually they moved to Newton and Eldena worked part-time as a nurse at Bethel Deaconess Hospital. They have five children, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

During her years at Newton Bible church Eldena taught 6th grade girls SS class and was part of the Women’s Missionary Circle.  

Eldena was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Homer; her parents and six of her siblings, Ed Schroeder, Dorothy Wiebe. Raymond Schroeder, Wilbur Schroeder, Theresa Franz and Gordon Schroeder.

She is survived by her children:   Douglas of Wichita, Marilyn Greenbush and the late John Greenbush of Spring Valley, CA., Janet Regier and Len of Newton, Donald and Sandy of Wichita, Becky Ringler and Grant of Hutchinson; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, and one sister Liz Sherrill.

The casket will be open at the funeral home on Friday (Dec. 11th) between 1:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M.

Family Graveside service will be held on Saturday (December 12, 2020) at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton. 

The memorial service will be at Newton Bible Church at 11:00 AM on December 12.

It is requested that those attending the service follow proper physical distancing or join the service on-line.  The service will be live-streamed from the Newton Bible Church Facebook page or navigate on the web to videos at https://facebook.com/newtonbiblechurch/ 

A Memorial has been established with Newton Bible Church missions or Samaritans Purse. Memorials may be sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.

Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton, KS.