Rachel Wiens

Rachel Ruth Wiens was born on January 22, 1922, on the family farm near Freeman, South Dakota to the late Jacob H. and Sarah (Wollman) Mendel. She received her education in Freeman, South Dakota; graduating from Freeman Academy. She then went on to Freeman Junior College for one year earning her Normal Course of Study diploma. Rachel was baptized on July 27, 1941, and became a member of the Salem Krimmer Mennonite Brethren (KMB) Church near Bridgewater, South Dakota. For six years, Rachel taught country school in the Freeman area. She loved teaching grades 1-8 at the Mutschelknaus School, a school she attended as a child. Her students included siblings and cousins. In addition to teaching she was responsible for all custodial duties, play ground supervision, tending sick children, and keeping the pot bellied stove going. She thoroughly enjoyed putting on school holiday programs. Her favorite subject was spelling. Just a few weeks prior to her death she still found great pleasure in spelling 'Mutschelknaus'. Rachel also taught for one year in Delft, Minnesota. On November 2, 1947, Rachel was united in marriage to Waldo Wiens at the Salem KMB Church near Bridgewater, South Dak...[more]

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. This marriage was blessed with three children, Darla, DeVon, and Dawn. After marriage, Rachel and Waldo lived and raised their family in Delft. Rachel was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Through the years she enjoyed gardening, baking, visiting, and talking about her children and grandchildren. She often said her favorite hobby was pulling weeds in her garden, and making sure that she and Waldo wore matching clothes when they went out together in the community. Rachel and Waldo delighted in caring for the pastors of the churches on either side of their home, striving to have a lovely yard with flowers for both congregations to enjoy. After the children were grown, Rachel helped Waldo in assisting customers and cleaning at Windom Millwork. In May of 2006, Rachel and Waldo sold their home in Delft and moved to Remick Ridge Estates in Windom. Shortly after Waldo's death on July 16, 2006, Rachel became a resident of the Good Samaritan Village in Mt. Lake where she lived until passing away on Sunday, November 6, 2011, at the age of 89. Rachel was a longtime member of the Carson Mennonite Brethren Church in Delft. She used her musical talent to serve God and believed He deserved her very best. She spent many hours selecting music and dedicated herself to preparation and practice. She was active in the Children's Sunday School as music director, church choir, the Wiens Mixed Trio, ladies sextet and a member of the Women's Missionary Society. Rachel is survived by her three children, Darla (Wiens) Jackson and her husband, William Michael of Andover; DeVon Wiens and his wife, Lynette (Thone) of Trabuco Canyon, California; Dawn (Wiens) Alfaro of Colorado Springs, CO; eight granddaughters, five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Martha (Mendel) Walter of Freeman, SD; Sarah (Mendel) Hofer and her husband, LeRoy, of Freeman, SD; three sisters-in-law, Louise Mendel of Kansas City, MO; Janice Mendel of Freeman, SD; Selma Wiens of Mt. Lake; and several nieces and nephews. Rachel is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Waldo Peter Wiens; two brothers, Noah and James Mendel; two sisters, Jacobina Mendel and Wanda (Mendel) Hofer.