Dyck, HELENA Penner Klassen

Helena Dyck was born April 22, 1905 in Ignatyevo, Russia to Cornelius and Lena (Pauls) Schellenberg. Upon confessing Jesus Christ as her Saviour, she was baptized May 10, 1922 in Ignatyevo by Rev. H. A. Neufeld.

On September 18, 1922 Helena was married to Peter H. C. Penner. Two-year-old Annie, a child of his first marriage to Anna Neufeld (1918), came with this union. In April 1930 Peter and Helena arrived in Halifax. They lived a time in Saskatchewan, where they took their church membership to the Gnadenau (Flowing Well) Church under the leadership of Rev. H. S. Voth. Then they made their way to Winkler where they spent the rest of their life together. Two sons were added to their family. Peter passed away April 23, 1957.

January 4, 1959 Helena married Herman Klassen. She enjoyed her new life in Yarrow BC where her flowers bloomed earlier than in Manitoba. After a few years they moved to Clearbrook BC and joined the Clearbrook MB Church. Herman passed away August 11, 1962.

February 4, 1963 Helena married Peter Dyck. He passed away June 22, 1976. As with Herman, they took a few trips, back to Manitoba, visiting her relatives along the way.

Helena was a social person, enjoying visits from her nieces and their families who lived nearby. Some Klassen step-children remained part of her life. She never turned down a visit to McDonald’s or a drive in the country. Being at EXPO was a highlight. She took it all in.

She listed the important people with corresponding dates. She finished these notations with these verses:

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad. (Psalm 126:3)
Praise the Lord oh my soul and forget not all His benefits. (Psalm 103:2)
Es ist hier nichts auf dieser Welt was ganz mein sehen stillt
drum siehts mich her wo Jesus ist der jedem Kumer stillt.

(There is nothing in this world that completely satisfies my longing, so I am drawn to where Jesus is, who fulfills every wish.)

Helena passed away January 3, 1994 at Tabor Home, Abbotsford. A funeral service was held January 6, 1994 in the Clearbrook MB Church with Pastors Jacob Pauls, John E. Klassen and George Baier officiating. On January 8, 1994 she was buried in the Winkler Cemetery. She leaves to mourn her children, Annie (Ike Dyck), Peter (Joyce) and Ben (Shirley) and eleven grandchildren. Also remembering her are her step-children and a large extended family.

Herman and Helena Klassen	Helena enjoying EXPO