Memorial Services for Rena Bernice Karber, 92, will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 2, 2009 at the Fairview Mennonite Brethren Church. The Reverend Leonard Vogt will officiate. A private burial will be held prior to the memorial service. Arrangements are by the Fairview Funeral Home, Inc.

Viewing will be from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Thursday, at the Fairview Funeral Home Inc.

Rena Bernice Karber was born to Henry and Mary (Patzkowsky) Martens in Gray, Oklahoma on December 3, 1916 and died September 27, 2009 at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Enid, Oklahoma.

Rena lived in Gray, Oklahoma until the young age of four when she moved with her parents to a farm near Isabella, Oklahoma. She only spoke German until she started first grade, and then her father taught her English. Rena attended school in Homestead, Oklahoma, graduating in 1935. On April 14, 1935, she married Clarence Karber at the South Mennonite Brethren Church of Fairview. After their marriage, the couple settled south of Fairview and then moved to the Cheyenne Valley area where he farmed for Ed Sutter. The family moved to Beaver in 1942. They lived on and worked at the Beaver Hospital farm. Clarence raised the crops and chickens milked 30 cows and provided all the food for the Hospital. Rena worked as a nurse at the Beaver Hospital for 20 years and then worked at the Beaver Clinic until she retired.

Rena and Clarence were founding members of the Nazarene Church in Beaver and attended there for 50 years. She served in numerous capacities at the church. They moved to Fairview in 1994 and became members of the Fairview Mennonite Brethren Church. Rena was a wonderful cook. All of her family have fond memories of her cooking and the warm and loving times they had together.

Rena is survived by one son, DeLayne Karber and his wife Cheryl of Geneva, Nebraska; one daughter, Mary Hopkins and her husband Mark of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Clarence; two sisters, one brother; one son, Terrel Karber; and one great-grandson, Quinten Karber.

Memorials may be made to the Fairview Mennonite Brethren Church with Fairview Funeral Home, Inc. acting as custodians of the fund.

Condolences may be made online at www.fairviewfuneralhomeinc.com.