Rachel Siebert Fast, went to be with the Lord at age 87 on January 23, 2021. On January 26, 1933 Rachel Siebert was born to John P. and Elizabeth (Friesen) Siebert at the family farmhouse in Henderson, Nebraska. She was number seven of nine children.
Rachel walked every day to a one room schoolhouse in York County District number 87 in Nebraska. Here she learned the English language, which was the only language spoken at school.
Prior to eighth grade, Rachel took on the responsibility of baking for the family. This is when she developed her love for baking. She and her sister, Elsie would feed the chickens and milk the cows prior to leaving for school.
On May 27th, 1946 she received a Certificate of Promotion from the 8th grade. After 8th grade, Rachel devoted her time to helping on the farm due to her mother’s debilitating arthritis.
Rachel loved music and was incredibly talented! She took piano lessons and could play by ear or by notes. As a teenager she took voice lessons in York Nebraska and later sang solos in church. She played piano for the Jr Girls’ Choir under the directions of Mrs. Susan Janzen and later directed the Choir herself.
In 1951, Rachel attended the Northern District Mennonite Conference in Mt. Lake Minnesota. There she met the love of her life and future husband, Harold Fast. After praying about their relationship, Rachel asked Harold if he wanted to go steady and Harold said Yes! They dated for a year and were engaged in 1952.
On May 14, 1953 they were married at the Bethesda Church in Henderson, Nebraska. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Newton, Kansas for 1W service. Daughter Connie Lynn was born on April 13, 1954. In 1956 they moved to Mt. Lake, Minnesota where Harold worked on the family farm and Rachel was a farm wife. The farm sold and Harold went to work at the Grain Elevator in Butterfield. Kim Alan was born in Mt. Lake in 1958. In 1959 the family moved to Butterfield where Harold could be closer to work and Randall Craig was born in 1961 at the Mt. Lake Hospital.
In 1962 the family moved to Fresno, California to be closer to Harold’s family. Rachel took care of their children and continued her love for baking. They quickly became involved with the Mennonite Community Church on Olive Ave. They worked as custodians, and later Rachel taught Sunday School, Bible School, was the pianist for and later directed the Children’s Choir. They were members of the Adult Choir and she sang duets with Harold. In 1968 Rachel worked packing C Rations for the Vietnam War. In 1969 she worked for Valley Convalescent Hospital as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA). She retired 25 years later in 1994. During her working career she stayed involved with church activities and joined the church Quilter’s Group after retirement. She enjoyed the fellowship and making quilts for the Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale (MCC).
Rachel was known for her generosity and hospitality. She loved to bake Ziebach, Christmas cookies, pies and banana bread. She passed her love for baking all the way down to her great grandchildren using her recipes. At Christmas time, family and friends looked forward to her cookie plates piled with her yumminess!
Rachel leaves behind her mourning husband Harold of 67 years, 3 children, 10 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, her sister Elsie and brother Allen.
Connie and her husband Randy Thiessen of Whitewater Kansas, and their children: Shanna and her husband Trent Giles (Sawyer, Daisy, Rider), Tara and her husband Matt Hoch (Dakota, Cheyenne, Aspen), Trevor and his wife Celeste Thiessen (Ian, Noah), Chelsey and her husband Adam Lair (Nev, Llewyn)
Kim and his wife Connie Ratzlaff of Clovis, CA, and their children: Jared and his wife Nicole Fast (Eliana, Azriel, Gabriel), Jeremy and his wife Charis Fast (Chloe, Carson), and Aubrey and her husband Brian Slover (Bailey, Brooklyn)
Randall and his wife Kathy McKeough of Clovis, CA, and their children: Randi and her husband Russ Moring (Emery, Beau, Ty), Raegan and her husband Taylor (Theodore) and Ryan Madison.
She is proceeded in death by her parents John P. and Elizabeth (Friesen) Siebert, brother Almon and wife Irma, brother Walter, Sister Esther and husband Pete, brother Arnold and wife Marie, Sister Selma and husband Arron, brother Levi, and granddaughter Daphne Thiessen.
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