Helen Ann Friesen, age 96, was born on April 26, 1929, to Jacob and Lena (Pauls) Wiens. She was part of a loving family of eight children—four boys and four girls.

Helen attended Sunrise School from first through eighth grade and graduated from Meade High

School in 1948. At the age of nine, she received Christ as her personal Savior. One day, while

she was playing the piano, her father listened quietly and then led her to the Lord. She was

baptized in 1942, beginning a lifelong journey of faith and service.

In 1948, Helen married Clifford Friesen, and together they began their life on the farm. Their first

home, built in the early 1950s, had no running water, and many trips to the outhouse became

part of daily life. While Cliff served two years in the army, Helen faithfully kept the farm running

while also working as a waitress at the well-known Tony's Café in Meade. Her starting wage

was 65 cents an hour, and Sunday dinners cost $1.25. Her very first paycheck was for $21.02—

a detail she fondly remembered.

After Cliff returned from the army, they began their family and were blessed with three children:

Pam, Bradley, and Barry. Family life was full of activity, and Helen took great joy in supporting

her children's sports and later, her grandchildren's events as well.

Over the years, Helen worked at several different jobs, including Moore's Grocery Store, custodial work at the EMB Church, and in the laundry department at Lone Tree Retirement Center. At age 80, she retired and moved to Meade, where she cherished having more time with her grandchildren.

Helen had a true servant's heart. She poured herself into her church and community, serving on various committees, teaching Sunday school, and chairing the Ladies Sewing Circle for many years. She was also an active member of the Live and Learn Extension Club, volunteered at Et Cetera in Liberal, and shared her gift of hospitality by preparing countless delicious meals for family and friends.

Some of Helen's happiest memories came from summers spent at Table Rock Lake with her family. She also enjoyed traveling—visiting Alaska, Hawaii, and California, taking a bus tour to Nova Scotia, and going on two mission trips to Costa Rica.

Helen is survived by her children: Pam of Siloam Springs, Arkansas; Bradley and his wife Esther of Meade; and Barry and his wife Karen of Fowler. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Kristy and Jake Meinzer of Siloam Springs, Arkansas; Kayla Stevenson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Jared and Leakena Friesen of Houston, Texas; Kinzie Friesen of Meade; and Nikki Friesen of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; as well as one great-grandchild, Jakin Friesen.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Lena Wiens, her husband Cliff, her brothers and sisters: Frieda, Esther, Agatha, Elmer, Eldo, Erwin, and Edwin.  Helen Ann entered her eternal home on October 24, 2025, surrounded by the love and legacy she built throughout her long and faithful life.

"Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever."

— Psalm 73:23–26

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Meade.  Interment will be held prior to the service at 10:00 a.m. at the Countryside Bible Church Cemetery, rural Meade.  Friends may call from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with the family present from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade.

The family would welcome memorials to the Lone Tree Retirement Center in care of the funeral home.