Obituary

BINGHAM LAKE, Minn. -- Velma Lorraine Fast, 68, of Bingham Lake, Minn., former Whitewater area resident, died Friday (April 7, 2000) at Windom Area Hosptial in Windom, Minn.

She was born Oct. 22, 1931, in Spokane, Wash., to Leonard O. and Martha (Penner) Harms. She married Alvin Jacob "Bud" Fast May 27, 1955, at Grace Hill Mennonite Church near Whitewater. He survives of Bingham Lake.

She and her family moved to the Whitewater area at the age of 3. She received her education at a country school, Newton Junior High School and graduated from Wichita East High School. She attended Bethel College in North Newton and earned her two year teaching certificate.

She and her husband lived on a farm near Delft, Minn. In 1970, she received her bachelor of science degree in elementary education and library science from Mankato State University. She taught primary school in Haviland, Mountain Lake Christian School and was an elementary librarian at Mountain Lake Public School until retirement in 1999. She was active with volunteering and substitute teaching.

She was a member of Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake and was currently attending Alliance Missionary Church. She was active in teaching Sunday school, Vacation Bible School at Bethel Mennonite and Alliance Missionary Churches and also helped with Awana at Mennonite Brethren Church.

She enjoyed collecting antiques and reading children's books and books about the Bible.

Other survivors include: two sons, Jerry Fast of Fairmont, Minn., and Tim Fast of Windom, Minn.; one daughter, Becky Fast of Lawrence; two sisters, Ruth Wiebe of Wichita and Lillian Leppke of Marion; three brothers, Sylvester Harms of Hillsboro, Irvin Harms of Moundridge and Willard Harms of Peabody; and three grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Victor Harms and Elmer Harms.

Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Alliance Missionary Church in Mountain Lake with Pastors Byron Emmert and Dennis Siebert officiating. Burial will be in the Mountain Lake Cemetery.

Visitations will be until 8 p.m. today and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Alliance Missionary Church.

Memorials have been established with Velma Fast Memorial Fund for Scholarships and service missions in care of Bjerum Funeral Home, 318 N. 10th St., Mountain Lake MN 56159.