Viola Engstrom Friesen

November 23, 2021

Viola Engstrom Friesen, 89, of Edinburg, TX was called home to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Tuesday, November 23, 2021. Viola died peacefully at Amara Hospice, Edinburg, after a nine-year journey with Alzheimer’s. A celebration service of her life will be held in the Friesen Building on the Rio Grande Bible Ministries campus at 2 p.m. on January 9, 2021. Viola was born in Alberta Canada and served as a missionary nurse with the Baptist General Conference Missions in Michoacan, Mexico for 17 years. After leaving Mexico in 1975, Viola worked for 21 years as a nurse in Canada and cared for her mother. In 2005 she married Ike Friesen, who was a long-time friend and staff member of the Rio Grande Bible Ministries. Viola joined Ike in ministry and worked in the school Daycare for a number of years. She is survived by her husband (Ike) and step-daughter (Pam); siblings, Esther, Irene, and Carl (Ruth); three nieces and two nephews and a host of family and friends in the US, Canada, and Mexico. The family wishes to thank the staff of Caring Seniors Service of McAllen and Amara Hospice of Edinburg for their capable, faithful, and patient care of Viola. Memorials may be directed to the Rio Grande Bible Ministries.