Sammlung 00/MS.493 - Newta Newfield Papers

deaconess

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary:

Newta Newfield was born in Alexanderkrone, Russia on Jan. 19, 1897. At the age of 20, in 1917, together with her parents, the G. G. Newfields her brothers George, Victor and Arthur and one sister, Vera, she came to the United States. The family settled in California.

Soon after coming to California, Newta was baptized and accepted into the Mennonite Brethren Church. Her membership was later transferred to the First Mennonite Church in Newton.

One characteristic through the years was her love of God and of people. She loved to be with people and to serve them whether it was at tables, at the bedside, or in the record room. Her great concern was that she should not fail her Lord as a witness. She experienced great joy when she could give herself to others in service, but was not satisfied unless this was first a giving of herself to the Lord.

She attended Tabor College in Hillsboro in 1926. In 1929 she entered Bethel Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1932. She united with the Bethel Deaconess Sisterhood the same year and remained faithful in this as her calling. Sister Newta was interested in the field of hospital records and served as record librarian for many years.

Last fall her health failed, and it seemed as if she had given all there was of her strength. She accepted her weakness without murmuring and greatly appreciated Sister Zipora's companionship, love, and service during her last months. On July 14 she was admitted as a patient to the Bethel Deaconess Hospital. Her last days were quiet ones. She could not speak, but we know the Lord took care of all her needs. On July 29, 1960, at 8:28 a. m. Sister Newta departed to be with the Lord.

Her immediate relatives are her mother, Mrs. F. F. Wall, and sister, Mrs. Menno Siemens of Shafter, Calif.; brothers Arthur G. Newfield of Bakersfield, Calif. and Victor G. Newfield of Healdsburg, Calif., and her cousin, Mrs. Drexel Blair of Bakersfield. They with their families will miss her annual vacation trips to California which were so enjoyable and so full of activity.

Funeral services were conducted on Aug. 1, 1960, at 8:30 a. m. in the Sisters Home and at 9 a. m. in the First Mennonite Church. Rev. Arnold Epp officiated. Interment was made in the Greenwood Cemetery, Newton.