Mildred Helena (Johnson) POTTER GANTENBEIN

JOHNSON, POTTER, GANTENBEIN, HUMMEL, GARDNER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/14/2010 at 11:57:36

GROVE, Okla. - Mildred Potter Gantenbein, 98, went home to our Lord April 11, 2002, after a serious illness. Her funeral was held April 15 at Grove Christian Center, Grove, Okla., with Pastor Leon Vernon officiating. Interment followed in Hickory Grove Cemetery.

She was born Mildred Helena Johnson to Joseph and Sophia Johnson on Nov. 13, 1903, one of 10 children. She married Edwin John Gantenbein July 27, 1970. Mildred was a Pentecostal Christian missionary. Her goal in life was to see everyone accept Christ. She and her husband, Ed, built an orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Through the help of church friends, family and their own personal sacrifices, they currently support many Haitian and Jamaican pastors on a monthly basis. For approximately 30 years, they introduced native Haitians and Jamaican pastors to American churches, so churches might help the poorest of people in foreign lands. Mildred had attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., for three years when she returned home to help her ill mother. She became a professional violinist in classical and Christian music as well as a music instructor. She performed live at Aimee Semple McPherson's evangelistic meetings. She also was a pianist and played many other instruments.

Mildred and Oliver Potter (deceased 1968) owned Potter Music Center until 1975. Mildred and Ed then moved to Hot Springs, Ark., until 1980, Hopkinsville, Ky., until 1985, Joplin, Mo., until 1996, Grove, Okla., until the present. Mildred and Ed have been active with A-A-Allen Tent Revivals, Miracle Valley in Arizona (Bible school campus host), underground evangelism, and Full Gospel Christian Businessmen's Association. Ed and Mildred also broadcast a weekly Christian radio Haiti mission programs for years.

She will be greatly missed by her husband, Ed Gantenbein, Grove, Okla.; a sister, Gertrude (Trudy) Hummel, Klemme, Iowa; a son, Robert Joseph Potter and his wife, Nancy, Grove, Okla.; daughter, Betty Lou Gardner, Naples, Fla.; two very special grandsons, Travis Joseph Gardner and Brent Paul Gardner, Naples, Fla.; and many, many other friends and family whose lives she touched in one way or another. Memorials may be sent to Mildred Gantenbein, 26461 South 615 Loop, Grove, OK 74344.

[editor: raised in Klemme, Iowa, graduate of Klemme High School 1921]