Obituary: Rachel Martha Enns
KS_Newton -- On March 8, 2013, Rachel Martha Enns
(formerly of Inman) passed away peacefully at Kidron Bethel Village Health
Care.
Rachel Martha Nickel was born on Feb. 16, 1920, to Willie B.
and Susie (Schmidt) Nickel in rural Goessel. She grew up on a farm just south
of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. She attended Gordon Grade School and two
years at Goessel High School. She accepted Christ as her Savior in her teen
years. She was baptized by the Rev. P.H. Unruh on June 5, 1938. Faith and
church attendance were a very important part of her life.
On Feb. 2, 1941, she was united in marriage to John F. Enns
at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church in Goessel. To this union were born three
children. Together they lived with John's widowed mother for the first five
years of their married life in rural Inman. In 1946, they created a homestead
in the next section to the north by moving in a house and other out buildings.
In 1984, they moved to Inman.
As a farmer's wife, she cooked wonderful meals. Any mix or
prepared food was not allowed in her kitchen. Her chocolate cookies were a real
treat for the grandchildren. Every spring she raised fryers for meat. For many
years she had a door-to-door egg route in Hutchinson. She was a faithful member
of the Bethel Charity Society.
For a number of years she quilted each Thursday. She enjoyed
the fellowship with others. After the children left home, Rachel worked in the
dietary department at Pleasant View Home for 15 years. Rachel is best known for
her industrious spirit. She shared her passion for always being busy by sharing
the fruit of her hands. Some of these included working at the Etc Shop, RSVP,
MCC, making sewing kits, sewing bandage strips and church quilting. She also
did custom quilting. Her children and grandchildren are recipients of many of
these gifted labors of love.
She greatly enjoyed taking trips with Dad to visit their
children and grandchildren who lived at a distance. She and Dad also enjoyed
several bus trips together. They loved to take day trips, exploring new
restaurants and attractions within the area. She enjoyed playing table games
with grandchildren and friends. After Dad passed away in 1997, there were many
lonely days.
Six years later she made
the decision to move to Kidron Bethel in Newton so that she would live nearer
to at least one of her children. She moved into an independent living apartment
in 2004. After a few months a fall precipitated a move to Health Care, where
she was well loved and cared for.
