Obituary of Irene Lois Farver

Irene Lois Friesen was born October 20, 1923 to Henry and Marie Friesen in Salina, Kansas. She had two older brothers, Chester and Virgil. She grew up during the dust- bowl years in Southeastern Colorado, 30 miles from the nearest town. Her father, a graduate of Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, was a grade school teacher and then principal of a high school. He lost the job due to conflicts with Sabbath observance. He became a farmer raising wheat and cattle. Her mother was an RN who nursed in the local community, raised the 3 children and worked with her husband, farming. Irene’s family was very poor. She was raised with a strong belief in God, education, and hard work. Irene attended a one room elementary school several miles from home. The closest high school was in Holly, Colorado 30 miles from home. Her father rented a room from a elderly couple in town for her so she could attend high school. After high school Irene studied pre-nursing at Southwestern Jr. College (now Southwestern SDA University) in Keene, TX. After graduating she continued nursing education at the Boulder S.D.A. Sanitarium and Hospital receiving a RN degree. She met PFC William Farver while affiliating at the Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver, Colorado. After a few weeks of dating Bill was shipped overseas to serve in WWII. Bill returned 2 ½ years later in January, 1946. He and Irene became engaged in April and married on June 2 in Boulder, Colorado. They were married 69 years and 5 months. The day after their marriage they traveled to Emmanuel Missionary College (Andrews University) where Irene completed her bachelor’s degree in Nursing Education. Bill and Irene graduated together in 1950. Irene’s 40 year nursing career was spent working in hospitals in Michigan, Georgia, and Florida. She was also the school nurse for Great Lakes Adventist Academy in Michigan and Blue Mountain Academy in Pennsylvania. Besides nursing which Irene greatly enjoyed, she liked entertaining and could prepare delicious meals on a moments notice. She loved people and delighted in helping them: spending many hours doing whatever needed to be done for those in need. During their retirement Irene and Bill traveled extensively to see friends, relatives, and volunteered for Maranatha. She wrote detailed trip diaries which gave them great memories to read when they could no longer travel. Irene was heavily involved in church activities all of her life. She continued in the Cottonwood church by playing the piano for the children’s divisions, and was a member of the church orchestra (saxophone) and sang in the choir. Irene a Deaconess, helped with the Sabbath potlucks, and was the parish nurse. In her declining years, loosing most of her eyesight, hearing, and memory Irene rarely complained, and frequently sent Jan and Lahna into gales of laughter with her sense of humor. She kept her strong faith in God, talking with Him several times a day and praying for many people. Irene couldn’t wait to see Jesus. Childhood stories: Irene’s mother left for several days to nurse patients during a flu epidemic. Irene’s dad took the children to visit their mom. During the night on the way back a huge dust storm swept in. Henry stopped the car because he could not see the road. He and the three children held hands and started walking in 0 visibility. He knew there was a farm house somewhere. Irene remembers that when they started to go into the ditch they would push each other back onto the road. She also remembers looking straight up and seeing the stars even though they could not see anything around them. Eventually, through the howling wind and blowing dust, they heard banging. Aiming themselves towards that sound they ran into a farmhouse. No one was home, so they went inside and spent the night there. There was a pot of soup on the stove, but her dad wouldn’t let the children eat it because that would be stealing. The next morning her father was able to get help to return to the car and get them home safely. On day Irene and her father went to the corral, Irene to milk her cow, Rosie, and her father to water the horses. Irene 9 years old sat down and began milking her cow. Her father opened the gate to let the horses in. He knew that one young horse, Ichabod, loved to chase cows. So he positioned himself between Irene and Ichabod. But when Ichabod saw Rosie, he made a wild dash around Henry and headed straight for that cow. Irene didn’t know this was happening, but Rosie did. She stayed still as long as she dared--- then leaped aside in terror. Irene stood up. Ichabod’s chest slammed into her little body throwing her to the ground, his hoof stepping onto her abdomen and sliding off, tearing Irene’s dress. Her dad ran over, picked up Irene and took her into their house where Irene’s mother cared for her. Irene knew that her guardian angel made Ichabod’s hoof slide off of her abdomen and saved her life. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Irene Lois Farver's memory to the Nursing Scholarship Fund at Andrews University. On line donations can be given at https://vault.andrews.edu/vault/app/pages/advancement/login/development?&desg=nrsc&only=y Gifts by check are to be mailed to Andrews University Office of Development Griggs Hall 8903 US Hwy 31 Berrien Springs, MI 49104-0660 The memo line of the check should state or include a note stating. Memorial gift/Irene Lois Farver/ Nursing Scholarship Fund