Rev Victor Sawatzky

Rev. Victor Sawatzky

Rev. Victor Sawatzky, 85, of North Newton, died Tuesday (May 4, 1999) at Kidron Bethel Health Care in North Newton.

He was born Jan. 20, 1914, in Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Jacob F. and Conelia (Klassen) Sawatzky. His parents preceded him in death. He married Ruth L. Phifer Aug. 11, 1936, in Minneapolis, Minn. She survives of North Newton.

He was a retired pastor, serving for 35 years in Hutchinson, Pawnee Rock, Hillsboro and Newton's Faith Mennonite Church. He was executive secretary of the Mennonite Aid Union of Kansas from 1962 to 1979. He was a member of First Mennonite Church in Newton.

He held a degree from Northwestern Bible and Seminary of Minneapolis, Minn. He was a 1948 graduate of Bethel College.

Other survivors include: two daughters, Pauline Buhr of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, and Phyllis Friesen of Bluffton, Ohio; two sons, Sheldon Sawatzky and Tim Sawatzky, both of North Newton; one daughter, Eleanor Wiebe of Upland, Calif.; three brothers, Ben Sawatzky of North Newton, Gordon Sawatzky of Greeley, Colo., and Reynold Sawatzky of Goshen, Ind.; two sisters, Annie Deckert of North Newton, and Kate Schultz of Glendive, Mont.; 15 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Mennonite Church in Newton with the Revs. Clarence Rempel and Rusty Bonham, both of the church, officiating. Burial will be in Restlawn Gardens of Memory in Newton.

Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Friday with family greeting friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton.

Memorials may be made to The Commission on Oversea's Mission in care of the funeral home.