Elsie (Harder) Regier 97, died Thursday, June 16, 2016, at her rural Newton residence.
She was born Sept. 9, 1918, in Whitewater to Gustav and Anna (Wiebe) Harder. On May 17, 1945, she married Herman B. Regier at Emmaus Church in Whitewater, and he preceded her in death on Sept. 27, 1998. Elsie was a longtime member of the First Mennonite Church in Newton. She enjoyed the farm life and did not shy away from work helping her husband farm and raise livestock. She often could be found driving a tractor or working in her garden and tending her flowers. She was a determined lady who continued to hang her laundry on the clothesline well into her late 90s.
Elsie enjoyed her time living at Kidron Bethel Apartments, making friends and connecting with people before moving back to the farm to live with her daughter and her family. She was happy to reconnect with her daughter and family and grow closer to each other during her final years. Elsie was devoted to her Lord and Savior and read her Bible every morning. She enjoyed spending time with her loving family and many friends.
She is survived by her daughter Karen Regier of Newton; son James Regier of Haysville; two brothers Gerhard Harder of Whitewater and Arthur Harder of Olathe; sister Ella Judy Harnly of Lancaster, Pa.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was expecting her fifth great-grandchild soon.
Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four brothers and four sisters.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 22, at First Mennonite Church in Newton with Pastors Anita Kehr and Kay Schroeder presiding. Graveside committal service will precede the memorial at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton. Visitation will be 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton with the family receiving friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association of Wichita or First Mennonite Church caring fund both in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
