David A. Friesen

1913 – 1990

David A. Friesen of Clearbrook B.C. passed away September 3, 1990. He was born December 20, 1913 to Abraham & Sara Friesen in Slavgorod, Siberia. The family immigrated to Canada in 1926, settling in Brotherfield, Sask. Here he received the Lord under the ministry of Jacob Thiessen and was baptized in October 1928.

The family moved to Glenbush, Sask. And broke new land. He attended Winkler Manitoba Bible School and the Rosthern Academy in Saskatchewan. He married Katie Voth on October 10, 1937 in Manitou, Manitoba. They moved to Vancouver B.C. where he became the leader of the M.B. Church. David contracted T.B. but recovered and moved to Yarrow, B.C.

They moved to Chilliwack, B.C. where he was ordained and gained experience in radio work and lumber business. He began a funeral home with William Driediger, then a lumber business at Whalley’s Corners with Jake Martens and Jack Janzen. The family worshipped and served at Strawberry Hill (now Kennedy Heights) M.B. Church and also served at Lake Errock. He sold his share in the business at Whalley’s Corners and started Modern Building Supplies with 2 partners. In the early 1960’s he became administrator of Bethesda Home in Vineland, Ontario.

He returned to Yarrow to pastor the Yarrow M.B. Church and produce and speak on the "Voice of Peace" German radio program. Illness forced him to resign from the pastorate, but he continued the radio ministry for 25 years until his death. They moved to Clearbrook, joining the Bakerview MB Church.

He worked for the East Chilliwack Credit Union for 6 years and at Clearbrook Hardware for 2 years. They then became house parents at the Tabor Home of 3 1/2 years.

After retirement, he helped establish the Good Samaritan Society for Comfort and Cheer (which established the MCC Twin Firs home for the handicapped), Monday morning German Bible studies in the Clearbrook Community Centre and the Maranatha prayer group's English radio program. Katie died in 1985.

He joined the Clearbrook MB Church, becoming involved in the preaching and visitation ministry. He married Susie Funk in 1986.

He is mourned by his wife Susie; sons Walter, Rudy and Art of Abbotsford, Clearbrook; daughters Rose Buschman of Morocco, Irene Neufeld of Chilliwack and Lillian Bookless of Wyoming; and 14 grandchildren. The funeral was September 10th, 1990 in the Clearbrook MB Church with Rev. J.E. Klassen and Peter J. Froese ministering.