Mildred Marie (Mickie) Newquist

Mildred “Mickie” M. Newquist, of Lexington, Nebraska, formerly of Sumner, died Monday, August 13, 2012, at Plum Creek Care Center in Lexington. Mildred “Mickie” M. Newquist was born July 20, 1919 to Arthur and Jennie (Gustafson) Newquist on a farm near Sumner, Nebraska. At age 11, during a children’s meeting, Mildred asked Christ to be her Savior. Two years later, a missionary from China spoke at church and through her, God spoke: “Mildred, I want you in China.” The next eight years she argued with the persistent “small voice.” The more she objected, the clearer the voice became. Mildred became very rebellious on the inside but covered her feelings on the outside. She had no goals and worked on the farm with her dad. Mildred attended Sumner High school, graduating in 1937. In August of 1939, while attending Polk Bible Camp, Mildred became so convicted of sin and submitted her will to the Lord. As a result, in 1940, she moved to Chicago and attended the Free Church school, now known as Trinity. After graduation in 1942, Mildred worked at Montgomery Ward in Chicago and attended night school at Moody Bible Institute. She applied to the Free Church Board of Missions and waited 18 months for a decision on her application, as the door to China was closed at the time. In 1944 Mildred worked in the Denver Evangelical Free Church. She was later asked to work in the Kentucky field office. Over the next two years, she received a lot of experience in many areas. Mildred received her acceptance to go to China in 1946, along with her full support pledged from the Free Church in Albert City, Iowa. In the fall of 1947, Mildred sailed with Millicent Johnson, Opal Anderson, and Ruth Sundquist on a Norwegian freighter for Canton, China. A year and a half later, they were evacuated to Hong Kong as the Communists took over Canton. For the next 34 years, she worked in the children’s ministry and literature distribution, and managed the Evangel Bookstore and Press. After faithfully serving the Lord for 37 years in the Orient, she retired in 1983. Mildred moved back to the States, and for the next 15 years she lived in Rockford, IL, working in the Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center and caring for Millicent Johnson, a co-laborer in Hong Kong. In 1999 Mildred returned to Lexington, NE to care for her brother, Clifford, until his death in 2003. She continued to live at Shackley Retirement Village, investing her time in a Bible study with other women in the building. Mildred was a member of the United Church of Sumner. Although Mildred remained single throughout her life, she had great concern for her nieces’ and nephews’ spiritual welfare. She continued to pray daily for each of them. Mickie was quick-witted and shared wonderful stories of her travels. Time spent together often resulted in the Newquist sisters laughing until they cried. She will be remembered for her selfless, generous spirit and love for the Chinese people. Survivors include sister, Dorothy Burckart of Watertown, WI, brother-in-law Robert Pierce of Sumner, faithful and caring friend, Linda Blackman, and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Clarence and Clifford, a sister, Marjorie Pierce, a sister-in-law, Helen Newquist, and a brother-in-law, Ed Burckart ,a nephew, a great nephew, and a great niece. Funeral Services will be Saturday, August 18, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Church Of Sumner – East Campus with Pastors Ken Hutson and Duane Russell officiating. Burial will be in the Sumner Cemetery in Sumner. Visitation will be held Friday, August 17, 2012, from 5-7 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Memorials are suggested to the EFCA Hong Kong mission work. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements. Please forward online condolences to the family through: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com