Agnes Friesen was born on January 13, 1931 in Grande Prairie, Alberta, to Hermann and Katharina Wall. Mom was the 10th of 12 children and she used to tell us that she was the first one in her family to be born in a hospital! Her dad, Hermann kept adding on to the house as the family got bigger.
Mom grew up on a grain and livestock farm in Wembley, Alberta. She loved the outdoors and would do anything to get out of doing household chores. Mom often told us how she loved riding her horse, Robin to school and through the country side. At the age of 11, mom accepted Christ as her Saviour and Lord at an evangelistic meeting in the Mennonite Church in Wembley.The town of Wembley was dying off so in 1943 Hermann and Katharina packed up Agnes and her younger brother Hank and moved to Tofield, Alberta. There they were able to farm on a larger parcel of land. In 1947, the family went to B.C. to stay with relatives for 3 weeks. They soon realized that they loved B.C… so they went back to Tofield, sold what they could and moved onto a farm near the Vedder Canal. Mom kept busy milking the cows and doing much of the farming as her father was not well. They only stayed on this farm for a few months.
Mom met Nick Friesen at a New Year’s Eve service in this church (Greendale First Mennonite) in 1947. Our dad was trying desperately to get mom’s attention during the church service and by the looks of it, it worked!
Early in 1948, Hermann bought a dairy and chicken farm on Old Provincial Highway in Yarrow. The family started attending Greendale First Mennonite Church. In June of that year, parts of the valley were flooded, so they had to move their belongings, along with the cows and chickens to a friend’s farm in Abbotsford for 4 – 5 weeks. After the flood, Hermann could not farm anymore, so he rented the farm out and they moved to a house down the road. At this time, mom went to work in Chilliwack looking after an elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Butchart for about a year. In 1949, she learned about a job opportunity working as a cashier at the Brite Spot, a café across from the Paramount Theater in Chilliwack. Mom often talked about how much she loved working there.
On September 30, 1950, mom and dad were married at Greendale First Mennonite Church by Gerhard Peters. Mom’s dad, Hermann was very ill and could not attend their wedding. He passed away on January 10, 1951.
Once they were married, they rented a farm together with another young married couple on Sumas Prairie Road. During this time, they were blessed with two daughters, Karen and Linda. Mom and dad decided they wanted to farm on their own, so in 1953 they rented a farm and moved the family to Vye Road in Upper Sumas.In 1955, together with our dad’s parents, Jonathan and Barbara Friesen, they bought their first dairy farm on Nevin Road in Rosedale. This is where Rick and Debbie were born. The family started attending Rosedale United Church where Rick and Debbie were baptized. In June 1958, their daughter Linda passed away at the age of 5. This was a very difficult time for mom and dad. Both of our parents, upon confession of their faith were baptized at the United Church in Rosedale in 1959.
In March of 1961, mom and dad were able to purchase their first farm on their own and moved the family to Stevenson Road in Sardis. At that time they moved their membership to Carmen United Church. Aug 1961, their oldest daughter, Karen passed away at the age of 9. A few years later, mom and dad were blessed with 2 more children, Len and Cindy. Both of them were baptized in Carmen United Church.
In 1970, mom and dad started attending Greendale First Mennonite Church at the invitation of dad’s sister, Linda Epp. Both mom and dad rededicated their lives to Christ in 1972 and joined the church. Mom was very involved in teaching Sunday School, VBS and leading the Sunday School singing which included the Christmas Eve Program. She also was involved with the Mission Helpers Ladies Aid and loved to sing in the choir. Later on, mom was involved with B.C. Women in Mission and at one point was president.
For the next 30 years, mom and dad farmed and worked hard providing for their family. They even managed to get away for a 2 week holiday to Hawaii!
On May 28, 1991, our dad passed away. A year later, the cows and quota were sold but mom continued to live on the farm until July of this year. Mom was only 60 when dad passed away, so at the age of 61, she went back into the work force at a retail store, where she learned computer skills and sales techniques. We were very proud of her!
Mom enjoyed traveling to Alaska and went on a Panama Canal Cruise. She also loved RVing and spent a lot of time in the Okanogan with Len and Kathy and their children. She also enjoyed camping at Camperland with Pat Crosman. Mom spent countless hours babysitting her 12 grand-children, whom she adored!
Over the past years, mom had many health issues. Even with these problems, it was very important to her that she was able to stay in her own farm house. Unfortunately, 3 months ago mom’s health took a turn for the worse and it was necessary for her to go to Chilliwack Hospital and eventually to Christine Morrison Hospice in Mission. Even though her health was failing, her will and determination to carry on was very strong.
Mom passed away early in the morning on October 12, 2016 to be with her Lord and Saviour. She is now reunited with her husband, Nick and their daughters, Karen and Linda.
Agnes Friesen was predeceased by her parents, Hermann and Katharina Wall, her husband Nick and her daughters, Karen and Linda.
She will be greatly missed by her children Rick and Heather Friesen, Debbie and Peter Froese, Len and Kathy Friesen, Cindy and Chris Crosman, her 12 grand-children, her four great grand-children and many other relatives and friends.
We love you mom and we will miss you!
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