DONALD VERNON FRIEND
1924 - 2017
Obituary
Donald Vernon Friend was born June 26,
1924, in Charles City, Iowa to Bert Elmer Friend and Josephine
Wilhelmina Cook. He was the oldest of three boys. He quit high school
after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and joined the Army Air Corp
at the age of 18. He did not wait to be drafted, but thought it his
duty to serve his country. He served for four years as a propeller
specialist and then returned to Charles City to finish high school.
He married Jean Francis Bunn in 1947 and they relocated to Wichita,
so Don could put his military training to work at Boeing. They had
four children: Katherine Kay, James Edward, Max Allen and Dan Carl.
In 1965, his wife Jean died in childbirth and he was left to raise
their four children. He met and married Bernice Esther Klassen in
September of 1967 and had two more children: Dean Robert and Bernice
Ann.
Don worked as a flight line mechanic.
His love for beekeeping soon developed into a full time job and he
opened a business in Norwich, where the family resided. When most of
his bee hives ended up in the beautiful Gyp Hills of Barber County,
the family moved to Medicine Lodge in 1976. In 1980, heart problems
forced him to sell his bees as it required much heavy lifting and
long hot hours in the sun. Later that year, he and Bernice moved to
Bentley, and then on to Newton, where he resided until Bernice's
health was failing and they returned to Medicine Lodge to be close to
Ann. One of the first things he wanted to do upon his return to
Medicine Lodge was to take a ride down the Gyp Hill Road, fondly
recalling all the places he had bees and enjoying the beauty of the
area he loved so much, always hoping to see deer, antelope, jack
rabbits or any wildlife and making Ann "slow down," so he
could get a good view.
Don loved to fish and did so up until
about a month before his passing. He loved taking his grandchildren,
nieces and nephews fishing. On a nice day, residents of Medicine
Lodge would see him out on his scooter with his tackle box and poles
tied to the front, making a beeline for the lake, binoculars and bird
book in his basket – in case he saw a bird.
Fishing was not Don's only passion. He
also loved the Lord and served him by pastoring several churches in
Kansas and Oklahoma during his lifetime. He always had a Bible study
going wherever they lived. Upon returning to Medicine Lodge, he held
a Bible study after lunch at the Leisure Center and was quick to make
new friends and reconnect with former friends. He was always excited
to tell how many attended the Bible study and prayed he could touch
someone's life by teaching them about the Bible. That is what truly
keep him going. His amazing faith in God brought him through the loss
of his parents; brothers, Bob and Bert; half-brother, Albert; and
half-sister Bess; two wives, Jean and Bernice; five children, James,
Max, Kathy, Danny and Dean; and 1 grandchild, Philip Fagan. He is
survived by his daughter Ann; sister-in-law Gail Friend; 12
grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and many nieces and
nephews.
Funeral service will be at 10 a.m.
Friday (Jan. 27, 2017) in the Fireside Room at Grace Community Church
in Newton, with Pastor David Reimer presiding. Visitation will be
from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 26, 2017) with the family receiving
friends from 6 to 7 p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home. Burial will be in
Springfield Cemetery, north of Goessel, in Rural Marion County.
Memorials are suggested to Salvation
Army, in care of Petersen Funeral Home.