Evelyn F Fricke

Evelyn Penner Fricke was born on December 27, 1924 to Aron M. and Maria Goossen Penner in the St. Anne, Manitoba area. She peacefully passed away on Nov 28, 2018 at the Maplewood Manor, Steinbach, Manitoba, reaching the age of 93 years.

Mom answered God’s call when she was 15. She was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on May 2, 1940. She was faithful to these vows until death.

On June 1, 1947 Mom married Marvin Fricke. Their union was blessed with four daughters and two sons. Mom wholeheartedly gave herself for the good of her husband and family. Mom and Dad lived in Michigan for the first 5 years of their marriage. They moved to Georgia in 1952. In 1966 North Dakota became their home. Mom loved the outdoors, and it showed in her well-kept lawns and gardens. She loved her children, and her grandchildren were a special joy to her. She would offer to help us with our work, even when she was hardly able to do so. She kept track of who was doing what, and how their work was progressing. The years they were house parents in Volunteer Service Units were the high point of their retirement years. Mom made these unit boys her own.

Our dad died in 1999, and Mom was left lonely, but so brave. When Mom could no longer care for herself, she moved to Maplewood Manor, Steinbach, Manitoba. She felt secure in her new home. We are very grateful to the staff who cared for her when we no longer could.

Two nights before Mom died, she heard beautiful singing. We believe it was the angels. This experience was a special comfort to us as a family and gave her a quietness as she came to the crossing of the Jordan River.

Those left to cherish fond memories are: Shirley and Daniel Cressman, Stapleton GA; Kenneth and Marilyn Fricke, Grafton, ND; Marianne and Michael Litwiller, Ithaca, MI; Ruth and Craig Unruh, Donald and Becky Fricke, Gayla Fricke, and Lydia Maendel, a part of our family since she was 19, all of Grafton, ND; 20 grandchildren and 62 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Mildred Penner, Carrie Penner, and Rosalie Barkman, all of Maplewood Manor, Steinbach, Manitoba; Vera and Mazel Salsbury of Montezuma,KS; Gladene and Bill Ryan of Athens, OH; and a host of relatives and friends.

She was preceded by her husband, one great-grandson, her parents and all her siblings.

Funeral services will be Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 10:30 AM at the Church of God in Christ Mennonite, Grafton, ND. Visitation will be Friday from 6:30-8:00 PM at the church. Interment will be at the church cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton, ND.