Daniel "Dan" Friesen

FRIESEN, Daniel (Dan) Peter. Born July 9, 1937 – June 2, 2025. Aged 87 years.

Daniel Peter Friesen of Roblin, Manitoba passed away at Bethania Mennonite Personal Care Home in Winnipeg on June 2, 2025. His family was by his side when he went to be with the Lord.

Dan, the second youngest of eight children, was born on the family farm near Osler,

SK to Jacob and Helena Friesen (nee Banman). He attended school in Osler, and spent his senior high school years at Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, SK. Dan left high school – temporarily – at the age of 17 to go home and help with the farm due to his father’s illness. Dan eventually returned to Caronport, graduating from high school and then pursuing Bible school.

After Bible school, Dan went to University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, where he earned a degree in education. It was in Saskatoon where Dan met the love of his life, Ellen Bergstrom, at a church group for young adults. Dan and Ellen started dating, and after pursuing teaching jobs, Dan in Rocky Mountain House, AB and Ellen in La Crete, AB they married on July 26, 1969 and settled together in Rocky where they welcomed their first child, Eric, in 1971.

Dan spent six years in Rocky, and at the end of the 1972 school year Dan, Ellen and Eric moved to Roblin where Dan had secured a job teaching English at Roblin Collegiate Institute (now Goose Lake High School). Second child, Tim, was born in Roblin in 1973, followed by Jana in 1977. In those early years in Roblin, Dan and Ellen found community in the Evangelical Mission Church, creating lasting, meaningful friendships. Dan contributed to the church community as an Elder, and using his gift of music, participated in choirs, quartets, musicals, and played saxophone in the famous EMC brass band. 

As a teacher, Dan shared with his students his love of reading and writing, leading the drama club through many school plays. Dan’s poor vision cut his teaching career short, but with his trademark optimism and good cheer, he found his footing, working at Prairie Gardener Greenhouses, and together with Ellen, teaching GED and English as a Second Language to students in the Parkland region. In 2002 Dan and Ellen each received a Literary Service Award of Merit for the work they did together on adult and family literacy in Manitoba.

As children, we remember fondly our family trips, Dad pulling our old tent trailer to Flin Flon, Waskesiu, Madge Lake, Berachah Valley, and even the Rocky Mountains. Dad was the entertainment on those long car rides, singing songs and telling us made-up stories to keep us happy. We had a good childhood, with freedom to explore, and with plenty of parental encouragement to pursue music, sports and education. Dad enjoyed the simple things in life, like hiking, canoeing, camping, gardening, cross country skiing, playing Scrabble, and sitting by the fire pit in the backyard. He did all of these things with Mom at his side. Their big splurge was a trip to Atlantic Canada in 2006 where they went whale watching, saw the Bluenose, visited Louisburg, and ate lobster for the first time! They would take one last trip together to the East Coast in 2013.  

After Ellen’s passing in 2014, Dan lived on his own in Roblin for a time, then made the move to Concordia Village in Winnipeg in 2018 to be closer to his children and their families. He enjoyed those family visits in Winnipeg, loved spending time with his grandkids, and was proud of his children for the lives they built. Dan’s vision continued to decline, pushing him into long-term care at Bethania in 2022. At Bethania, he enjoyed participating in music programs, exercise programs, and was fortunate until the last number of months to be able to keep in touch with family and friends through phone calls.

Dan was predeceased by his wife Ellen, his mother, Helena, father Jacob, his brother, Julius, his sisters Anne and Helen, and two siblings who died as infants. Dan is survived by his daughter, Jana (Terry) Tiessen and their children Karly, Evan and Matthew, son Eric (Adeliene) Friesen and their children Mia and Sydney, son Tim Friesen (Joanna Ayotte) and their children Sophie, Hazel, Harriet and Ollie, brother Jake (Junko), and sisters Christine, Tena and Nettie. Also surviving Dan are dozens of cherished nieces and nephews, as well as Ellen’s remaining siblings Carol Maczek, Eunice (Bruce) Berglof, and Maren Hantke, who truly took Dan in as one of their own.

Thanks to those who supported Dan during his final years in Roblin, and to those who called, visited and wrote to Dan after his move to Winnipeg. Special thanks to the exceptional staff members at Concordia Village and Bethania for their care and attention.

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