Milda Ida Friesen, 96, died peacefully at her home in Hutchinson on Aug. 19, 2011. She was born May 30, 1915, on the family farm near White City, Kan. Her parents were Charles and Ida Pfingsten Koepsel.

She graduated from White City High School in 1932. She married her beloved husband John E. Friesen on Aug. 25, 1938, at St. John's Lutheran Church near White City, and they were blessed with a 66-year marriage before his death on March 29, 2005. They had two children: a son, Charles Henry Friesen and a daughter, Carol Friesen Chabin. Moving to Hutchinson in January of 1946, they enjoyed living in the Careyville community and Milda remained in that home for the past 65 years. She had been a school lunch manager for 25 years at Lakeview and Graber elementary schools and retired in 1980. She loved cooking all of her life and was known for baking wonderful pies and cookies. She had faithfully baked cookies every month for the past 20 years for the local soup kitchen. She was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, for 65 years. She was always active in the church, being a member of LWML, Circle 1 and Mission of Love, Keenagers, and the Ladies Breakfast Group. She was an avid basketball fan of K.U. Jayhawks, Hutch Salt Hawks and Hutch Juco Dragons. She attended every Juco tournament since 1946.

She is survived by daughter, Carol Chabin of Hutchinson; daughter-in-law, Lindalou Friesen of Arlington, Va.; grandsons, Harry Steven Chabin of Denver, Colo. and Charles Chabin and wife Amy of New Castle, Colo.; great-grandsons, Harrison Chabin and Ian Chabin; sister-in-law, Evelyn Holzrichter and husband Paul of Buhler; and many loving and caring nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors. She was preceded in death by her son, Charles Henry Friesen, who died in July of 1987; her parents; and her brothers, Eldon Koepsel and LaVerne (Bud) Koepsel, both of Wichita.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 12th and Elm, Hutchinson, with Pastor John Poole officiating. Burial will follow at Fairlawn Burial Park. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Memorials may be made to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church or Hospice Care of Kansas, in care of the mortuary. Please visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a condolence for Milda's family.