Leonore Grace (Friesen) Klassen

Leonore Grace Friesen Klassen passed away on Thursday (May 20, 2010) at her home in Newton.

She was born in Oraibi (Keams Canyon), Ariz., in the Hopi Indian Reservation on June 25, 1920, to missionary parents Karl and Frieda (Balzer) Friesen. When her parents moved to Los Angeles because of health problems and for her father’s further training at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Leonore spent happy days in the big city and started her school career. From there, the family moved to Meno, Okla., where her father taught at Meno Bible Academy, then to Beatrice, Neb., where he taught in the Beatrice Bible Academy. These were happy days for Leonore, attending a one-room country school. Her first year of high school studies was at the Bible school where her father taught.

When the family found residence in North Newton, Leonore attended Newton High School for one year. The last two years of high school she attended Hesston Academy.
Her residence in North Newton gave Leonore the opportunity to attend Bethel Academy and College. During this time she did “migrant work” in Michigan, which she enjoyed telling about. She taught high school one year then, to prepare for her teaching at Grace College of the Bible (now Grace University), she attended New York Biblical Seminary and received a master of religious education degree.

After teaching at Grace for four years, she joined the General Conference Missionary Society for missionary work in Japan from 1950 to 1968. In September 1951, she was joined in Kobe by co-worker Esther Patkau. They shared ministry and friendship for the next three terms of service. In September 1952, they left language study in Kobe and moved to Miyazaki City in southern Kyushu for ministry. Working together with the Rev. William C. and Mathilda Voth (former missionaries to China), they began Sunday worship services, taught English conversation and Bible classes with high school and university students, began a Bible class for women, children’s story times, made friends in the community and arranged for an evangelistic tent campaign with a Japanese evangelist. The gospel seeds were sown. Gradually a congregation took form.
Leonore returned home on her first furlough in the fall of 1956. On return to Japan for a second term, Leonore and Esther were stationed in Kobayshi City, to fill in for another missionary on furlough. Again, they arranged for an evangelistic tent campaign, visited in rural villages, opened a kindergarten for 13 youngsters and held other services. On return from a second furlough from 1962 to 1963 they were stationed in Miyazaki City and found many opportunities to sow the seeds of the gospel. There were many highlights.

Because of her mother’s illness, Leonore returned home to Kansas in 1968. Her mother passed away in January 1969. She stayed with her father in the parental home until his passing in June 1973. She taught briefly, and was a librarian at Berean Academy in Elbing from 1969 to 1979. Then she served at First Mennonite Church in Newton as director of nurture and education.

After her retirement, she met her husband, Elmer Klassen, and they were married on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1988.
They began their life together in North Newton and later moved to Presbyterian Manor. They attended Grace Community Church, where they were married and Leonore was one of the founding members. Leonore had a very fulfilling life and enjoyed life in her dedication to God’s work. She was greatly influenced by her father, whose books continued to be a source of good reading next to the Bible for she and her husband.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro, officiated by Jules Glanzer, president of Tabor College. Graveside service will be at 9 a.m. Monday at Springfield Cemetery in rural Hillsboro.
Memorials can be made to Grace University of Omaha, Neb.