Orletta Fern Brandt (Heide) Wiebe went to be with Jesus on
June 8, 2022, at the age of 91. Orletta enjoyed music (never missing a chance
to sing 4-part harmony with friends and family), sports (attending and
streaming countless football, basketball and volleyball games), reading
(bringing books to share with her grandchildren and also reading to challenge
herself) traveling to see family (navigating many road trips with her sister,
Joyce), gathering with friends, and sharing her faith in God.
Orletta?s life began on March 25, 1931, at Hillsboro,
Kansas, born to William P. and Lillian (Bartel) Brandt. After 7 days her mother
died, leaving her father with 2 sons, Raymond age 2, Eldon age 1, and a newborn
(Orletta). She was received and nurtured in the home of Henry H. and Linda
(Penner) Bartel until her father married Anna Ewert. Soon another son,
Franklin, joined the family, but lived only 6 months. Later 3 sisters, Pearl,
Darlene, and Joyce and a brother John joined the family.
Orletta?s education began at Lehigh, Kansas. She also
attended 3 different rural schools. At 13 she was baptized and joined the
Johannestal Mennonite Church. After graduating from Hillsboro High School she
attended Tabor College for one year. It was there that Orletta was challenged
to serve as a volunteer under MCC. Her 2 years of service included one year at
the office of the National Service Board for Religious Objectors in Washington,
D.C. After her 2nd year at MCC in Akron, PA, she entered nurses training at
Bethel College and Bethel Deaconess Hospital, graduating in 1957.
Her first work experience as a nurse was at Beatrice
Mennonite Hospital, Beatrice, NE. Several years later she returned to Newton,
KS, to work at Prairie View Mental Health Center. It was there she met and
married Marvin Heide, a Mt. Lake, MN native, on September 4, 1960. After living
in Mt. Lake for a year, where she worked in the Mennonite Hospital, they moved
to Hillsboro, KS, and were blessed with 4 children: Jerold, Carolyn, Dennis and
Kendall. During the next 10 years Orletta worked at a clinic and at Salem
Hospital in Hillsboro.
They lived in Beatrice, NE, from 1972-1974, where Orletta
worked in a Mental Health Clinic. In 1974, they moved back to Hillsboro where
Marvin became owner and operator of Hillsboro Equipment, Inc. They were active
members of Trinity Mennonite Church, serving as deacons and youth leaders.
Orletta was chosen as the first woman deacon in their church, and with God?s
grace was able to minister along with others. She returned to Prairie View,
working in the children?s program.
In 1979 Orletta?s husband, Marvin, passed away from cancer.
She became a single mother of an 11, 14, 16 and 17 year-old. A year or so later
she began working for the Marion County Health Dept., later becoming the
director.
On March 19, 1988 Orletta married John Wiebe and they lived
together in Winnipeg, Manitoba for the next 22 years. Her family now included 3
stepchildren, Gerald, Barry and Cindy, and one grandchild, Alex. There Orletta
chose to join the Bethel Mennonite Church, serving in a variety of ways.
Orletta was encouraged to enter the Pastoral Care Ministry
under the umbrella of the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba. Following a
year of training and classes Orletta served for 10 years as a volunteer
chaplain at St. Boniface Hospital. In 2009, John passed away and Orletta moved
back to Kansas, to live at Kidron Bethel Village.
Orletta is survived by her children: Jerold & Donna
(Funk) Heide, Wichita, KS, Carolyn & Ray (Henderson), Charlotte, NC, Dennis
& Lorna (Innes) Heide, Orlando, FL, and Kendall & Carrie (Dalke) Heide,
Wichita, KS, 9 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Also step-sons, Gerald
Wiebe and Barry Wiebe, 4 step-grandsons, and 3 stepgranddaughters, brothers
Raymond & Rosie (Goering), N. Newton, KS, & John & Donita
(Chastain) Brandt, Yankton, SD, and sisters Pearl McConnel, Sandpoint, ID and
Joyce Barkman, Hillsboro, KS. A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m. on
June 24, Bethel College Mennonite Church, N. Newton. Memorials to Live Forward
Capital Campaign at Kidron Bethel Village or Bethel College Mennonite Church in
lieu of flowers in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, KS 67063.
Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com
