Obituary for Anne Belton (Klassen)
Anne’s legal name was Anne E. Klassen – neither she nor her five siblings had a middle name, only the initial E which stood for Ens, mother’s single name. The six girls in the family all chose a middle name beginning with E. Anne’s choice was Esther.
Anne was born in Neuanlage, a Mennonite village near Hague, Saskatchewan. Her parents, Susannah Ens and Abram Klassen, were both born and raised in Manitoba. They moved to Saskatchewan in the early 1930’s with their first four children, Mary, Judith, John, and Susan. Kathy was the first child born in Saskatchewan, followed by Anne and Helen.
Growing up on a small market-garden farm, all the children learned about hard work. In season, Anne and the other children were up early in the morning to bring in and sort the vegetables, and tend to the few milk-cattle and other chores that needed to be done before heading off to school. On non-school days, Anne also helped with selling the produce.
While in her teens, Anne understood and accepted the wonderful truth of God’s love in Christ Jesus. She believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and from that time on served her Saviour by sharing the Gospel with others. Although Anne had health struggles which created difficulties for her, Anne’s commitment to serving the Lord remained constant. She used her home to conduct weekly Bible studies and annual Vacation Bible School sessions for neighbourhood children; and she liberally supported Canadian Sunday School Mission and similar ministries.
1954 Anne graduated as a licensed practical nurse and commenced a life-time career of helping others. A conscientious and caring person, she was highly efficient and personally committed to doing her best for every patient with whom she worked. Anne excelled in individual care-giving.
In 1957, Anne graduated from a three-year course of studies at Winnipeg Bible Institute. Later, she added to her academic resume by completing a year of Welfare Worker studies at Brandon Vocational College.
For many years, Anne was an active member of Grant Memorial Baptist Church. In 1971 she met and married Joe Belton and they shared 48 years of marriage. They were hugely blessed by having a son, Andrew, who grew up to be a godly young man and who, sadly, died at age 21 of leukemia. Joe died in 2019. How blessed it is for us to try to imagine the joy of reunion in the presence of Jesus.
Anne was predeceased by her brother John, her parents, sister Judith, sister-in-law Mary, brother-in-law George (Friesen) and sister Mary. She is survived by sisters Susan Schellenberg, Kathy Klassen and Helen Hughes – also a wide circle of nieces and nephews across the country.
To view a recording of the funeral service, please go to the following link....
http://www.livememorialservices.com/Home/ServiceDetail/9289
*There was a technical problem with the video recording. The audio skips ahead unexpectedly part way through the recording. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Anne was born in Neuanlage, a Mennonite village near Hague, Saskatchewan. Her parents, Susannah Ens and Abram Klassen, were both born and raised in Manitoba. They moved to Saskatchewan in the early 1930’s with their first four children, Mary, Judith, John, and Susan. Kathy was the first child born in Saskatchewan, followed by Anne and Helen.
Growing up on a small market-garden farm, all the children learned about hard work. In season, Anne and the other children were up early in the morning to bring in and sort the vegetables, and tend to the few milk-cattle and other chores that needed to be done before heading off to school. On non-school days, Anne also helped with selling the produce.
While in her teens, Anne understood and accepted the wonderful truth of God’s love in Christ Jesus. She believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and from that time on served her Saviour by sharing the Gospel with others. Although Anne had health struggles which created difficulties for her, Anne’s commitment to serving the Lord remained constant. She used her home to conduct weekly Bible studies and annual Vacation Bible School sessions for neighbourhood children; and she liberally supported Canadian Sunday School Mission and similar ministries.
1954 Anne graduated as a licensed practical nurse and commenced a life-time career of helping others. A conscientious and caring person, she was highly efficient and personally committed to doing her best for every patient with whom she worked. Anne excelled in individual care-giving.
In 1957, Anne graduated from a three-year course of studies at Winnipeg Bible Institute. Later, she added to her academic resume by completing a year of Welfare Worker studies at Brandon Vocational College.
For many years, Anne was an active member of Grant Memorial Baptist Church. In 1971 she met and married Joe Belton and they shared 48 years of marriage. They were hugely blessed by having a son, Andrew, who grew up to be a godly young man and who, sadly, died at age 21 of leukemia. Joe died in 2019. How blessed it is for us to try to imagine the joy of reunion in the presence of Jesus.
Anne was predeceased by her brother John, her parents, sister Judith, sister-in-law Mary, brother-in-law George (Friesen) and sister Mary. She is survived by sisters Susan Schellenberg, Kathy Klassen and Helen Hughes – also a wide circle of nieces and nephews across the country.
To view a recording of the funeral service, please go to the following link....
http://www.livememorialservices.com/Home/ServiceDetail/9289
*There was a technical problem with the video recording. The audio skips ahead unexpectedly part way through the recording. We apologize for the inconvenience.