Malcolm Wenger
Malcolm Wenger, 83, retired missionary
and church worker, died Sunday (Feb. 23, 2003) at Via Christi Medical
Center in Wichita. He was born July 28, 1919, to Ira J. and Olivia
(Koppes) Wenger in Aberdeen, Idaho. He married Esther Boehr Dec. 23,
1943, in Wisner, Neb. She survives of North Newton. He was a retired
minister who served as a General Conference Mennonite missionary and
church worker for more than 40 years. After graduating from high
school, he attended the Bible Institute of L. A., Bethel College,
Wheaton College and Mennonite Biblical Seminary. He and his wife then
spent 20 years with the northern Cheyenne people in Busby, Lame Deer
and Birney, Mont., where he pastored small churches and worked to
develop Cheyenne leaders who could take his place. He was one of only
a handful of non-Indians to become conversant in the Cheyenne
language. In 1965, he was asked to serve as secretary for Indian
Ministries with the Mennonite Board of Home Missions in Newton, where
he remained until 1978. He and Esther then moved to Selkirk,
Manitoba, where he served as executive secretary for Mennonite Native
Ministries in Winnipeg, Canada, and pastored a Mennonite church
serving Metis and native Canadian people. After retirement, the
Wenfers served for short periods in Busby, Mont., Buhler, and
Kykotsmovi, Ariz. He was an active member of Shalom Mennonite Church
in Newton. He was an avid reader, not only of theology and
philosophy, but also astronomy, geology and archaeology. He enjoyed
hiking, collecting rocks and fossils, and fashioning wooden lamps,
mirrors and frames as gifts for family. He was a fixer of things too
broken for most people to save. He enjoyed making things work again.
Other survivors include; five daughters
and spouses, Betsy (Wenger) and Randall Kaufman of Windom, Ann Wenger
of Goshen, Ind., Martha Wenger and Konrad Ege of Mt. Rainer, Md.,
Becky (Wenger) and Ken Voth, and Grace Wenger of Newton; three
grandchildren, Christina Woodall, David Kaufman and Hans Ege Wenger;
and a nephew, John Schmidt.
He was preceded in death by; a sister;
Mrs. Orlando (Ruth) Schmidt; and a nephew, Ted Schmidt.
Visitation will be from 9 a. m. To 9 p.
m. Thursday and from 9 a. m. to 2 p. m. Friday with family greeting
friends from 9 a. m. to 9 p. m. Thursday, all at Petersen Funeral
Home.
Graveside service will be 3 p. m.
Friday at Eastlawn Cemetery in Zimmerdale.
Memorial service will be 7 p. m. Friday
at Faith Mennonite Church with Pastor Eric Massanari officiating.
Memorials have been established with
Mennonite Missions Network for Indian Leadership Training in care of
the funeral home.
