Obituaries

Betty (Schwartz) Dick, aged 89 of Newton, Kansas died peacefully on June 12, 2022 at Presbyterian Manor in Newton. Betty was born on Oct. 8, 1932, in Ulysses, Kansas to Milton and Sadie (Wedel) Schwartz. She grew up on the family homestead just outside Pretty Prairie. She graduated from Pretty Prairie High School, then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organ from Bethel College in 1954. As she was the only trained organist in the church, Betty was instrumental together with her Uncle “Pete Shorty” Schwartz in acquiring and installing the first pipe organ in the First Mennonite Church in Pretty Prairie. She was the first church organist and served in that role for many years. Family lore says that once the organ was installed and Betty played at its dedication, Uncle Pete Shorty said, “Now I can die happy since we have the organ.” The church is located on land the Schwartz family homesteaded in 1884. While at Bethel, Betty met and married her husband, Arthur Dick, M.D., in 1954 and was active in theater at Bethel and performed Handel’s Messiah on Organ on more than one occasion.

NEWTON: Evelyn Vivian (Penner) Smith. 92, of Newton, KS died Tuesday, June 14 at Comfort Care Homes in Newton.

Orletta Fern Brandt (Heide) Wiebe went to be with Jesus on June 8, 2022, at the age of 91. Orletta enjoyed music (never missing a chance to sing 4-part harmony with friends and family), sports (attending and streaming countless football, basketball and volleyball games), reading (bringing books to share with her grandchildren and also reading to challenge herself) traveling to see family (navigating many road trips with her sister, Joyce), gathering with friends, and sharing her faith in God.

Wichita, KS-Teri Gayln Harpool (Dixon) passed away May 22, 2022. Teri was born to Gloyd and Lyna Dixon of Kingman, Kansas, on December 1, 1949. She married Greg Harpool on February 18, 1980. She worked as a legal administrator for several years and then returned to her first love; teaching as an elementary music teacher in USD 259 where she retired in 2019.

Wichita, KS- Teri Gayln Harpool (Dixon) passed away May 22, 2022. Teri was born to Gloyd and Lyna Dixon of Kingman, Kansas, on December 1, 1949. She married Greg Harpool on February 18, 1980. She worked as a legal administrator for several years and then returned to her first love; teaching as an elementary music teacher in USD 259 where she retired in 2019.

Paul Arthur Friesen, age 98, died May 30, 2022 at the Schowalter Villa in Hesston, KS. He was born September 10, 1923 at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton, KS; the 9th child and 5th son of Peter Abram Friesen and the first child of the union of Peter Abram Friesen and Florence Cooprider Friesen. He was preceded in death by his wife Wilma Wenger Friesen and by 4 half sisters, 4 half brothers, one sister, a son in law Stanley Roth, and daughters in law Jane Friesen and Kathleen Friesen. Survivors include his children; Kelvin Friesen (Karen) of Archbold, OH, Janice Roth West (Tom) of Wichita, KS, Eric (Wanda) of Cimarron, KS, Gregg (Joanna) of Newton, KS, Jon (Kristeen) of North Newton, KS, Jennifer LeFevre (Dennis) of Woodland Park, CO along with 12 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.