Laura Flaming
Obituary
Laura (Schmidt) Flaming, 84, of North
Newton, died on Monday (Feb. 22, 2016). Laura was born to Ernst and
Ella Schmidt on July 12, 1931, in Goessel. She grew up in rural
Canton and was baptized May 20, 1945, in Alexanderwohl Mennonite
Church where she remained a life-long member. On May 2, 1950, she
married a family friend, Randolf Flaming. Randolf and Laura made
their home on a dairy farm north of Goessel where they raised their
four children. They later moved to Goessel and more recently Laura
moved to Kidron Bethel Retirement Center in North Newton. Randolf
preceded her in death in 2007.
Laura sought to live out her faith in
practical ways. She enjoyed listening to music, singing in choirs,
playing in bell choirs and playing the organ or piano. She had a
life-long interest in service to others and building bridges with
other cultures. There was always room at the family table for others.
These might be Bethel College international students, Vietnamese
refugees, "fresh air" children from Gulfport or Polish MCC
trainees. She was a strong supporter of Mennonite Central Committee
for whom she sewed thousands of school or refugee kit bags for
relief. She also encouraged her children to consider ways to
incorporate service into their lives.
In the early years of her marriage,
Laura was an active partner in the farming operation. Later, as the
nature of farming changed, she took the opportunity to explore other
vocational interests. She was a baker at the "1906" and
Barnstormer Restaurants in Goessel. She operated the "Quilt
Shop" fabric store in North Newton and later was a transport
driver for Bethesda Retirement Home.
Laura also enjoyed travel. As a youth,
she captured the vision of the popular tune calling her to "Faraway
places with strange sounding names." These dreams were lived out
as tour leaders for Prudent Tours, traveling widely in the USA. She
also traveled to Europe several times, Mexico, India, Haiti and
Paraguay.
Laura was preceded in death by her
parents, Ernst and Ella (Klassen) Schmidt, her husband Randolf and
son Warren. She will be missed dearly by her siblings Darlene
Thiessen of McPherson, Melvin (Charlotte) Schmidt of Hyattsville,
Maryland, DeVera Wenger of Beaverton, Oregon, and DuMont (Barbara)
Schmidt of Blue Mound, Wisconsin; her children Ron (Patrice) of North
Newton, daughter-in-law Cheryl Flaming of Hesston, Dwight (Tammy) of
Goessel and Charlotte (Brian) Warkentine of Chandler, Oklahoma. She
will also be missed by her eight grandchildren: Rachael Flaming, Sara
Gout, Jessica Warkentine, Melissa Carter, Ana Schmidt Jeremy
Warkentine, Katie Flaming and Kendra Flaming; and eight
great-grandchildren: Nolan and Evan Grout, Taylor and Riley Schmidt,
Lucas Warkentine, Ella Carter and Kevin and Belle Thorsen. Also
surviving her are loving in-laws, nieces, nephews and a large circle
of friends around the world.
Family visitation is set for Saturday,
March 5, 2016, from 6 to 8 p.m. and the memorial service will be on
Sunday, March 6, 2016, at 4 p.m., both at Alexanderwohl Mennonite
Church, Goessel. The family suggests memorial gifts be given to MCC
or Alexanderwohl Church in lieu of flowers.
