Obituary of Erna Newton

Erna Newton, 82, wife of Kirk Dennis Newton for 56 years, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 2, 2023.

Mrs. Newton’s Mennonite parents, the late John Spenst and Katharina Klassen, fled from persecution in Ukraine to Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada where Erna was born, the 7^th of 9 children. Erna graduated as a registered nurse from Vancouver General, was married to Dennis in 1966, and followed him to Germany as a military wife. After discharge, they moved to Bolivia, South America in 1970 as Wycliffe Bible Translators for the Guarayu people, where their daughter Charlene and son Steve grew up. 15 years later, following the publication of the Guarayu New Testament, Erna continued working as a nurse in Dallas, TX and Waxhaw, NC.  She then learned French and impacted other lives in France from 1998 to 2003 as Dennis consulted with translators in the Mediterranean area. Subsequently, they relocated back to Dallas. Because of her years of continuing mental and physical decline, Erna and Dennis were graciously invited to move into their son Steve’s home in Roebuck, SC in 2020. In addition to her love for the Lord, her greatest joy was serving others, including cooking for and hosting friends and events. Erna also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, taking pictures, birdwatching, and writing.

Surviving, in addition to her husband, are a son, Steve Newton with wife Libby; a daughter, Charlene Daniels with husband Ken; three brothers, Henry Spenst with wife Ila, Hans Spenst with wife Anne, and Vic Spenst with wife Laverna; two sisters, Martha Friesen and Esther Peters with husband Arlyss; and nine grandchildren, David Daniels, Philip Daniels, Daniel Newton, Caleb Newton, Corinne Daniels, Cobey Newton, Silas Newton, Adrienne Newton, and Ian Newton. She was predeceased by two brothers, Rudy Spenst and Abe Spenst; and a sister, Hilda Thiessen.

A celebration of Erna’s life will be at 2 pm on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Grace Bible Church, 107 West Road, Moore SC 29369 officiated by Pastor Eric Vander Ploeg. Burial will be 10 am on Monday, December 18th in Dolly Cooper Veterans Cemetery. Livestream or recording can be viewed at gracebible.com by clicking the orange Livestream button.

Memorials may be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators, P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, FL 32862.