Malinda Rose (Lingenfelder) Regier Brown

Malinda Rose Lingenfelder Regier Brown
Posted Mar 09, 2010 @ 10:44 AM
Malinda Rose Lingenfelder Regier Brown, 92 died (Sunday, March 7, 2010) at Newton Presbyterain Manor. Malinda, affectionately called Linda or Nana, was born June 15, 1917, in Hanston. She grew up on a farm and drove a horse and buggy to school with her younger sister, Berniece.
Linda loved art even as a young child, and she created and fostered that love in her children and others. She began her art career as a teenager, assisting in her Uncle John Lingenfelder's photography studio, providing the tinted color on portraits. Linda graduated from Bethel College with a teaching certificate and began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in Macksville. She and Max Regier met during college and were married in 1941. In the following years, they lived in Newton, and Linda's time was spent lovingly raising seven children and volunteering in their activities. She was a Brownie, Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader and served two terms as McKinley School PTA president. The Regier home always was decorated with Linda's art and artistic touch, the smell of cookies in the oven, a menagerie of animals and a gang of neighborhood kids. In later years, the family moved to Wichita, and Linda worked during those years in retail clothing and jewelry stores. She volunteered at the Wichita Art Museum and in a program in Wichita teaching art and creating sculpture in the schools. In later years, back in Newton, Linda volunteered with the Newton Art Association and The Carriage Factory Gallery and was a long-standing member of the Junior Themian Club.She served Bethel College Mennonite Church in various capacities, such as co-chairwoman of the Circle One of the Women's Fellowship groups, co-chairwoman of the funeral serving committee and hostess in her home for groups of church members for meals. Linda was chosen as a 2003 Woman of the Year in the church and religion category. Following Max's death, Linda remarried Lelus Brown and welcomed more children and grandchildren into the family. She was preceded in death by her parents Jacob and Susanna; step-mother, Helen; sister, Berniece; husbands, Max Regier and Lelus Brown; and son, Steven Brent Regier. Survivors include her children, Rosalind Scudder (Stan), Newton; Max Stewart Regier (Nellie), Newton; Mary Regier, (Newton); Robert Regier (Anita), Derby; Mark Regier (Penny), (Sedgwick); and Melissa Keenan (Tom), Newton. She also is survived by Bill Brown, Anita Sadowsky, Martin Brown and their families. She is survived by 24 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. The family expresses gratitude to the staff of Presbyterian Manor and Hospice Care of Kansas for their assistance in caring for our lovely Mom and Nana. She will be greatly missed, but we know she is in heaven and probably already offering decorating tips and some of her uniquely special recipes. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton with the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Bethel College Mennonite Church with Pastor Heidi Regier Kreider and Associate Pastor Ruth Harder officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton. Memorial contributions may be made to the Carriage Factory Art Gallery or Newton Presbyterian Manor in care of the funeral home.
Petersen Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.