Martha Ruth Nickel Hiebert
Martha Ruth Nickel Hiebert, 92, died Saturday (Feb. 13,
2010). She was born on Aug. 13, 1917, to Gerhard P. and Elizabeth R. Nickel at
the family home in rural Lehigh. She attended Steinbach Grade School, Lehigh
High School and Tabor Academy. Being the eldest of six children, she remained
on the family farm to help with the farm work and caring for her younger
siblings. She was baptized on May 20, 1934, and became a member of
Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church in Goessel.
On Aug. 30, 1940, she married her neighbor, schoolmate and
longtime friend Otto Hiebert, and they remained together until Otto's passing
in 2005 after 65 years of marriage.
After a short time of working for several different farmers,
Otto and Martha struck out on their own with a small farm southeast of Newton.
In March 1944, a daughter, Dianne, was born but passed away
shortly after birth. As a result of a difficult childbirth, Martha suffered a
cerebral embolism which resulted in a partial paralysis and affected her
ability to walk for the rest of her life.
In December 1952, a son, Ross, was born and her desire for a
family of her own was realized.
In 1957, the small family moved to a new farm on the
southwest edge of Newton, where they experienced many successful years farming
and remained there until their full retirement in 2001. Martha always tended a
very large garden on the farm, and loved gardening, cooking and baking. She and
Otto had become members of First Mennonite Church in Newton, and she served
many years there as a Sunday school teacher of pre-school children. She worked
outside of the home for a short period of time in the school district's lunch
program, helping serve hot lunches to elementary school children.
She also helped to raise her two grandsons, who were blessed
with being able to spend much time on the farm. They learned many life lessons
from her, and were privileged to experience the bounty of her gardening and
culinary talents.
After her husband's passing, her health began to fail and,
after a long, slow decline, she passed peacefully from this world.
She is survived by her brothers, Walter Nickel and Gary
Nickel; her sister, Arlene Ross; her son, Ross Hiebert and wife, Kathryn;
grandsons, Michael and Matthew Hiebert and their spouses; and three
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter,
Dianne; her husband, Otto; and brothers Eddie Nickel and Bernie Nickel.
Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today at Petersen
Funeral Home in Newton with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the
First Mennonite Church in Newton with Pastor Joan Boyer officiating.
Burial will follow at Restlawn Gardens of Memory Cemetery in
Newton.
Memorial donations can be made to the First Mennonite Church
in Newton in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
