Helen Justina Busenitz
(1941 - 2020)
Obituary
Helen Justina Busenitz's life began on
February 4, 1941, the daughter of William L. and Emma (Wiebe)
Busenitz on the family farm southeast of Whitewater, Kansas. Being
the third-oldest of eleven children and the first daughter, she cared
for her younger siblings. The family faithfully attended Emmaus
Mennonite Church. At the age of eleven Helen trusted in Christ as her
Savior. She attended Claypool Grade School in Butler County and
graduated from Berean High School in 1959.
Helen's desire to be a missionary began
in childhood. During college at Grace Bible in Omaha, Nebraska she
committed to serving in Ecuador with Gospel Missionary Union (now
Avant Ministries). She graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Religious
Education degree and then attended Spanish language school at Rio
Grande Bible Institute in Edinburg, Texas. She arrived in Ecuador,
South America in 1966, and served the people in the coastal city of
Babahoyo in Ecuador for 46 years, retiring in 2012.
After returning to the states to her
new home at Presbyterian Manor in Newton, Kansas she kept in touch
with her friends from Ecuador. After her evening meal she would spend
hours on the computer keeping up with her Ecuadorian friends and
praying for them.
Her loving family includes her
siblings, William Busenitz of Potwin, Kansas, Arnold Busenitz (Velma)
of Newton, Emma Becker (Arlowe) of Plymouth, Minnesota, David
Busenitz (Isabelle) of Topeka, Kansas, Kady Schubert (Jan) of Omaha,
Nebraska and Christina Busenitz of Guinea, West Africa;
brother-in-law, Henry Ortmann of Wolfpoint, Montana; sisters-in-law,
Fran Busenitz of Madison, Georgia, Barbara Busenitz of Benton, Kansas
and Patti Busenitz of Whitewater; many nieces, nephews and their
children; and a host of friends in Ecuador and the United States.
She was preceded in death by her
parents; brothers, Gilbert, Robert and Herbert Busenitz; sister,
Theresa Ortmann, and a sister-in-law, Grace Busenitz. Helen passed
away peacefully on Saturday, April 18, 2020, at the age of 79 years.
You may pay your respects on Wednesday,
April 22, from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Emmaus Mennonite Church,
9070 NW Meadowlark Road, Whitewater, Kansas. A private family service
will be held on Thursday, April 23, at 2:00 p.m. With the current
Covid-19 recommendations, Emmaus Church will be graciously
livestreaming Helen's service at the same time for you to view on
their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/EmmausChurchWhitewater/
. Service will also be available to view later.
Memorial contributions in Helen's name
may be directed to Avant Ministries or Presbyterian Manor of Newton
in care of Lamb Funeral Home, P.O. Box 358, Whitewater, Kansas 67154.
Please sign her online guest book and leave a memory of Helen at
www.ymzfh.com
1941 - 2020 (79 years)