Eddie Mensinger of Grace Brethren International Missions has shared with us the news that Mary Beth (Munn) Yntema, who served with GBIM in Africa from 1949-63 has gone to be with the Lord. Mensinger recalls “she sailed to Africa with Roy and Ruth Snyder and four others. She was dearly loved by all who knew her.”
Obituary
Mary Elizabeth (Munn) Yntema passed into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 27, 2011, at her home in Port Townsend., Washington.
Mary Beth was born on November 3, 1922, in Great Falls, Montana, to Hector John and Pearl Marie (Bond) Munn. Her early childhood was spent in Index, Washington, where her father worked in the Sunset Mine.
The family moved to Lake Leland in Jefferson County, where Mary Beth graduated from the eighth grade at Leland School. She graduated from Quilcene High School in 1940. Mary Beth then graduated from St. Peter School of Nursing in 1944.
After nursing school, Mary Beth received a degree in Christian Education from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana. She then served as Missionary Nurse in the Central African Republic, pioneering leprosy medical work.
After retiring from active mission work, Mary continued nursing in Port Townsend, Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska, and Arlington, Washington, where she loved to hike in the North Cascade Mountains. Mary Beth taught women’s Bible studies and Sunday school classes wherever she lived.
Mary Beth met William Yntema on a trip to Israel in 1979. They were married on August 6, 1979.
The happy couple lived in Davison, Michigan, until Bill retired. They then went on short-term mission trips to Haiti and the Central African Republic.
While Bill would help with building and remodeling projects, Mary Beth would work with the women and teach Bible classes.
They moved to Port Townsend in 1994, where she remained until her death. Mary Beth was a member of San Juan Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, James Hector and Robert Neil; sister, Helen Bury; and her beloved husband, William.
Mary Beth is survived by a brother, Hector John Munn (Verna) of Newberg, Oregon; foster brother, Roderick Dalgardno (Sonja) of Edmonds, Washington; sister-in-law, Dorothy Munn of Quilcene; stepchildren Gary Yntema (Karen) of Floyd, Virginia, Linda Nurmi (Dave) of Harbor Beach, Michigan, and Kay Boshaw of Davison, Michigan; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved as well as many very special and dear friends.
Memorials may be given to Grace Brethren International Missions, P.O. Box 588, Winona Lake, IN 46590; or to a favorite Evangelical Mission agency.
Interment was held earlier at Quilcene Cemetery. A celebration of Mary Beth’s life was held Saturday, April 9, 2011.
Published in The Peninsula Daily News on April 3, 2011