Lela Rose Goertz, 84, of St. James, MO died at 5:45 Sunday, December 14, 2014 at her home. She was born August 28, 1930 in the Steinbach, KS community to Edmund S. and Agatha (Schmidt) Hiebert. She attended school at Steinbach for eight years, at Goessel High School, Goessel, KS the next four years and attended one year at Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, NE.

She was united in marriage to Richard Raymond Goertz on April 7, 1953 at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. They lived on the farm near Walton, KS until 1979 when they sold the farm and went into training for missionary work with New Tribes Mission. They served as support missionaries in the Philippines for a total of 13 years after which they retired to Council Bluffs, IA. Then, in 2007, they moved with a daughter and family to St. James, MO.

Lela loved her Savior, Jesus Christ and shared the good news of salvatiion with many. She spent many summers teaching young children in Daily Vacation Bible School. She also loved all kinds of handwork and spent much time making quilts for her granddaughters and afghans for her grandsons.

Lela Goertz is survived by her husband: Richard of the home; daughters: Rose Penner and husband Jay of St. James, MO.; Carol Kane and husband Keith of Big Sandy, TX; Rachel Hansen and husband Peter of Bellevue, NE.; and Linda Johnson and husband Paul of New Hartford, IA.; son: Alan Goertz and wife Jody of Underwood, IA.; twenty-seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; one brother: John and Emmalyn Hiebert of Beatrice, NE.; one sister: Anna Mae and Floyd Janzen of Hesston, KS; sister-in-law: Bettye Hiebert of Halstead, KS.; two half-sisters: Mary Richert and husband Jake of Hillsboro, KS.; and Susan Voth and husband Irvin of Goessel, KS.; one half-brother: Henry Dueck and wife Eileen of Show Low, AZ.

Preceding Lela Goertz in death are her parents: Edumnd S. and Agatha Schmidt Hiebert.

Services
The family will receive friends at the Jones Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Thursday, December 18, 2014.

Funeral services will be held at 10 A.M., Friday, December 19, 2014 at the Jones Funeral Home Chapel in St. James, Mo. with Pastor Alex Busenitz officiating. Pallbearers will be: Nathan Kane, David Hansen, Hans Hansen, Luke Johnson, Layne Goertz, and Mattias Penner; Honorary Pallbearers will be: Samuel Kane, Andrew Kane, Karl Hansen, Daniel Hansen, Steffan Hansen, Caleb Hansen, Seth Johnson and Silas Johnson. Burial will follow at the Morrison Cemetery at Whispering Winds Bible Camp.

Memorials are suggested to New Tribes Mission and Bible Impact Ministries.

All arrangements are under the arrangements of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Mo.