October 31, 1924 - May 28, 2019
Helen (Harder) Wiebe was born October 31, 1924 and passed away very peacefully in her home with her daughters by her side on May 28, 2019. Born in Alexandrodar, a Mennonite village in Russia, she was the second of five children: Nick, Helen, Henry, Elvira, and Johnny born to Heinrich and Erna (Berg) Harder.
When Helen was one-and-a-half, the family emigrated to Canada in hopes of greater religious freedom.
Growing up in Yarrow, B.C., Helen had always considered herself a Christian, but at evangelistic meetings when she was 11 or 12, she came under strong conviction of her sin. She asked Jesus to forgive her sins, and when she prayed, it felt like a load had been lifted off her back.
Helen married George Wiebe on April 3, 1949, and they moved to La Riviere, Manitoba on their honeymoon where they farmed for seven years and had Ron and Caroline. After moving to Yarrow, Dad bought a ten-acre plot, planted two acres of raspberries and worked various jobs. Mom kept busy with her flowers, gardening, raspberries, and children. They had two more girls - Irene and Marita.
In 1962 they moved to La Glace, Alberta, where Helen loved farming and garden work, helping George with whatever needed to be done. At church, she sang in a ladies trio and a mixed quartet, taught Sunday school, junior high Pioneer Girls in the winter, and DVBS in the summer. After sixteen years they moved to acreages near Grande Prairie for a few years before purchasing a lovely retirement acreage just outside Salmon Arm, where they could garden together, and enjoy family and friends. Helen soon had the acreage looking like a beautiful park with flower gardens all around the house. Her gift of hospitality, along with her kind, loving, and encouraging personality, endeared her to everyone.
In 2010 Helen moved into Salmon Arm with her daughter Caroline where they enjoyed a backyard full of flowers and many great times with family and friends. Helen spent many hours reading her Bible in her later years, and enjoyed researching end times and listening to videos on Israel and prophecy.
Helen is survived by her children: Ron (Adyne) Wiebe, Caroline Wiebe, Irene (Keith) Boody, and Marita (Daryl) Arychuk, ten grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
Helen's memorial service will be at the Shuswap Community Church on Friday, June 7, 2019 at 2 pm.