(1927-2023)
Velma Audrey Teichroew, born in Mountain Lake, Minnesota on November 29, 1927. A daughter of Abram and Susie Voshage Teichroew, she grew up with two younger sisters, Vernette (Robert Regier) and Elaine (Le Roy Unruh) on a farm two miles north of Mountain Lake public schools and graduated in 1945. She was also a member of First Mennonite Church where she was baptized as a young adult.
After high school Vel entered a business college in Mankato, Minnesota. This entry into business education was followed by employment in the farmers State Bank back in her hometown. After several years she chose to further her education by entering Mankato State University. There she earned a B.S. degree. This was followed by completing a master’s degree in physical education at the University of Minnesota. As a teacher Vel ultimately became a trailblazer for advocacy for high school girls’ sports.
She served on the Minnesota State High School League’s Women’s Advisory Committee and contributed countless hours of time to ensure athletic opportunities for girls. Vel was the girls’ sports coordinator at Richfield Senior High School where she coached gymnastics, tennis, cross-country, skiing, volleyball, and track and field.
In 1993, eight years after her retirement, Vel was inducted into Minnesota’s State High School League’s Hall of Fame.
Throughout her adult life Vel has been a conservation-minded, avid outdoor person. The Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota was “heaven” to her. During her teaching years she would periodically pack up her canoe and camping gear, and find like-minded friends to head for wilderness adventure. Her records document twenty-seven of these trips, resulting in 178 days in her favorite wilderness environment.
Later, in her retirement Vel chose to leave her home state of Minnesota and move to North Newton, Kansas. Here she became a member of the Bethel College Mennonite Church and an active participant in the Newton North Newton community. Her voluntarism, which she demonstrated so well in her advocacy for women’s sports, blossomed in our community, particularly at the Kauffman Museum and the Etcetera Shop, where hundreds of hours wee contributed virtually to the end of her rich life.
Vel passed away peacefully at Kidron-Bethel Village on Sunday morning, January 22, 2023.
Survivors include her two sisters, Vernette (Robert Regier), North Newton, KS and Elaine (Le Roy Unruh), Eagen, MN and six nieces and nephews: Karen Regier Healy, Steven Regier, Timothy Regier, Vicki Unruh Couch, Brian Unruh and Ken Unruh.
A memorial service will be held in the Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton, Kansas at 11:00am, February 10, 2023.
