Magda 'Mickie' Friesen

Magda ‘Mickie’ Friesen, age 93, of Columbus, formerly of Aurora, passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2009, at Meridian Gardens in Columbus.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, December 5th at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Kronborg. Rev. Brian Krause will officiate. Interment will be in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church or the donor’s choice. Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: MAGDA ‘MICKIE’ FRIESEN

Magda ‘Mickie’ Karen Friesen, the daughter of Andrew Carl and Maria Sofia (Johanson) Andersen, was born at Oak, Nebraska on July 2, 1916 and died in Columbus, Nebraska on December 1, 2009, at the age of 93.

Her family moved to the Marquette area where she attended grade school and graduated from Marquette High School in 1934. Mickie taught school in the Marquette area.

Mickie was united in marriage to Menno R. Friesen on August 9, 1936 at Henderson. Mickie was a housewife helping her husband on the farm and caring and nurturing her daughters. They often opened their home to many family members when they were in need of support and caring surroundings. Daily morning devotions were an important part of her Christian life. They lived on a farm in the Aurora area and then in the Marquette area. In 1973, they moved into Aurora. Menno passed away on September 5, 1986. Mickie lived not far from the Hamilton Manor, where she frequently went to visit her friends and many acquaintances.

Mickie loved to make quilts for the church missions, her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great, great-grandchild were precious to her. She loved their visits, teaching them to play card games and dominos. All those who knew Mickie, even during the years she lived in assisted living say she was noted for her beautiful & radiant smile. She always extended her hand in thanks for everything anyone did for her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, Donna Larson and son-in-law, Raymond Larson, Jr.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Marlene (Terry) Engel of Columbus; 6 grandchildren, Jeffrey (Rosemary) Engel of San Antonio, Texas, Susan (Lonnie) Asche of Eaton, Colorado, Jay (Amy) Engel of North Platte, Mark (Vicki) Larson of Grand Island, Kelly (Lee) Rader of Kearney and Becky Larson of Grand Island; 13 great-grandchildren; a great great-granddaughter; 4 sisters, Ellen Friesen of Redding, California, Viola Kroeker of Aurora, Agnes Huston of Murdock and Margaret (Bernard) Dubas of Central City and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.