Lena Klassen was born in Slavgrad, Russia. The family left Russia on October 18, 1926 for Canada. Her father died in Rega enroute in December, 1926. The family arrived in Rosthern , Saskatchewan on August 27, 1927 and Lena joined the family in Didsbury that November.
Lena was baptized in the Bergthal Mennonite Church on April 13, 1941 where she was very active all her adult life.
During the cold, stormy winter of 1943 she married Dietrich Klassen on January 28. Their home was blessed with four daughters and one son. They farmed together on the Klassen homestead until 1977. Ralph took over the family farm, and Dietrich and Lena semi retired to an acreage they established on the site of the former New Bergthal School. Here they enjoyed gardening a more relaxed lifestyle until Dietrich’s death, October 1990.
Lena enjoyed small town living following a move to a condo in College Green in Didsbury in 1993. Her home there was a frequent coffee gathering place for friends and family. Her small back patio were her pride and enjoyment.
In 2006 due to more limited mobility Lena moved to Aspen Lodge where her last years were enriched by new friends and wonderful caregivers. She died December 15, 2011.
Lena is survived by her immediate family
brother: Jake (Hella) Harder, Sisters-in-law: Mary Harder and Betty Reimer and many nieces and nephews. Lena was predeceased by: her parents David & Helena Harder, her husband Dietrich (1990), her son Ralph (1988), her brothers: Cornie (Mary) Harder, Dave Harder, Diedrich Reimer, Abe Reimer, her sisters: Tina(Henry) Sawatzky, Molly Reimer
A Funeral Service will be held at Bergthal Mennonite Church, 7 kms East on Bergthal Road, Didsbury on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 1:00 pm.