Helga Regier

Life Sketch by Helga Schaefer Regier

            I was born in Hagen (now Lueneburg), Germany on November 4, 1939 to Gustav Ernst Schaefer and Paula Marie Busch. My twin and I were born in a two-story house that was rented by my parents. My twin brother’s name was Horst Gustav Schaefer. The house we lived in was not very practical with two babies to care for. The stroller was stored on the second floor. I am sure my mother was a very busy mom. No car or other transportation was available for her. Everywhere she went, she had to walk with us. She could not leave us home alone and the closest relatives lived several miles from us. My dad had a degree in auto mechanics and also worked on an ambulance as an EMT. My mom had a degree in textile art and crafts.

            However, when we were young, my dad had to enlist into the German Army during World War 2. He was taken captive by the Russian Army for six years. Dad missed the first few years of our upbringing. The time during the war was not pleasant. We were still very young but it left an impact on me. To this day, I do not like to hear airplanes flying over my house. During the war, we went to live with my grandparents. We did this to get away from the railroad tracks that were located close to my house. The houses across the street from my home place were all destroyed by bombs.

            In spite of all these memories, we had a great and fun time together as a family. We usually walked everywhere but sometimes rode our bikes. We loved to take hikes together especially on Sunday afternoons. We would visit family and friends or just go sight seeing. At home, we played a lot of board games. It was a lot of fun. Holidays were always special. I remember one Christmas when money was very short, my mom took my brothers truck and painted it real pretty and she took my doll and made a new outfit for it. She presented them to use for Christmas and that was our best Christmas ever. We were a members of a Lutheran Church, a state church in Germany and always would attend church on Christmas Eve.

            I went to school in Germany for my first eight years. At that time, boys and girls had separate schools. It was ok except our school hours were different and I couldn’t walk together with my brother. We had to walk about two miles to school every day.

            In 1954, we as a family moved to the United Stated of America. We crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a boat named the “Italia”. It was fun to cross the ocean in a huge ship. Out first home was out in the country by a grove with tall cottonwood trees with their branches hovering over our house. In Germany, we had indoor plumbing and running water. Here, we had to pump and carry every drop of water into the house. We also had to heat the water on a gas stove to use it for bathes. We also had to use outhouses in our new home. One night, I remember it was raining really hard outside. We all piled into our Oldsmobile and drove to the outhouse. After taking our turns we drove back home. Thankfully, this only happened once. It was definitely a step backwards in the way we used to live but we adjusted to it. After living in the country for one year, we moved to town and had the comfortable conveniences in the house again. It was a really nice house.

            I attended Berean Academy in Elbing, Kansas for one year and in 1958 graduated from Newton High School. On December 2, 1960 I married by best friend, Maurice Lee Regier at First Mennonite Church. In 1973, I was baptized at Newton Bible Church. We raised four children on a farm southwest of Newton, Kansas: Myron Ray Regier, Warren Timothy Regier, Eileen Ruth (Regier) Sutherland, and Lisa Joy (Regier) Hultberg. We moved back into Newton, Kansas and celebrated fifty-two years of marriage.

            Working was always a pride for me. My first job in the USA was planting grass for $.25 per hour. I also worked at Montgomery Ward then transitioned to Axtell Clinic as a record librarian for two in a half years. I obtained my nurse assistant and later my medication aide certifications. I worked at Friendly Acres (now Paramount) for two years and then spent twenty-eight years at Kidron Bethel Home. I enjoyed taking care of the elderly. They always enjoyed when I brought pretty flowers from my garden to decorate the tables in the dining room. I also enjoyed decorating the nurses station during holidays. In 1995, I was awarded the “KASHA” outstanding caregiver of the year award of Kansas. On April 30, 2010 I retired from Kidron. This was also the same day that Maurices’ step-mom passed away at the Presbyterian Manor.

            My hobbies included gardening, crafts, sewing, crocheting, knitting, and reading. I have entered numerous projects at the county fair over the years. I received numerous ribbons and Grand Champion and Reserve rosettes. Most of all, I enjoyed my family. Those were the good years. I was blessed with ten grand children: Devin Sutherland and Dawn (Sutherland) Nguyen, Amber Regier, Olivia (Regier) Robinson and Matthew Regier, Blake and Brett (stillborn) Slife, Taylor, Jaycob, and Ali Hultberg. I also enjoyed 10 great-grandchildren: Skylar and Brennan Sutherland, Lily and Levi Nguyen, Noah Regier, Timmy Briscoe, Mackenzie Regier, Scottie Younger II, Haley and Rosie Slife. Each one has a special place in my heart. We also took several foster children into our home and enjoyed caring for each one.

            My health has been poor since 2011. That year, I had open heart surgery for a valve repair and had a new pacemaker placed. The Lord raised me up from this difficult surgery. I guess the Lord was not ready to take me Home yet. Soon after my surgery, I was taken to the ER where a cat scan revealed I had several blood clots in my lungs. My health seemed to continue to spiral downward ever since then. Later, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoarthritis, atrial fib, and another leaky valve. You name it, I had it.

            Along with my declining health, I have experienced several losses in the family over the the last few years. In 1993, my grandson Brett Slife was stillborn. My parents Gustav and Paula Schaefer in 1995.  Maurice passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2013. My son Warren passed in 2014 from septic shock due to pneumonia. Warren’s wife Doris (Hoelscher) Regier passed in 2017 due to breast cancer. Most recently my twin brother passed away in 2021. These were the darkest hours of my life and I miss them so much. God wanted to relieve them from their pain and suffering. I will someday see them again.

            God has always been good for me. My needs were always met. Now, I have to take so many breaks after I work a little bit. In the mornings, I will sit in my chair looking out my big patio door window. I watch the birds with their beautiful colors, squirrels, rabbits, and many other creatures. I especially enjoy watching the cardinals. They are so pretty and they always make my day better. It is amazing how God created all these pretty animals for us to enjoy. Thank you God, for always being there for me, in good and not so good times. I am thankful for everything. I have the assurance of everlasting life and will see Jesus someday. Oh, what a glorious day that will be.

            Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God

            Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through                                                         Jesus Christ the Lord

            John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that

                                    whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life

                                    God has been good!

Helga passed away peacefully on May 25, 2022 at Kidron Bethel in North Newton, Kansas at the age of 82.

            The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, May 27th between 6:00 and 8:00 P.M.

            Funeral services will be held at 9:30 A.M., Saturday, May 28th at the Newton Bible Church in Newton, Ks. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.

            A memorial has been established with Kidron Bethel Village and Good Shepherd Hospice, contributions may be sent to the funeral home.

            Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton, Ks.