Bullers in The Mennonite 11

After Bea and Henry completed their European relief work and returned to the States on 18 August 1947 (see here), they did not suddenly disappear from the pages of The Mennonite or drop out of active service. In fact, over the coming months we frequently encounter reports of Henry and Bea’s activities. For example, the 14 October 1947 issue (page 12 here, upper right column) contains a report from Mrs. Ruben Friesen, correspondent, about various activities at the Bethesda Church in Henderson, Nebraska:

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Buller, former relief workers in France, and also Mr. and Mrs. Peter Dyck, refugee workers in Europe were special speakers in our church. It is planned to have the Ministers’ Conference of the Northern District in our church from October 28 to 30. Our special meetings with Rev. Willard K. Claassen of the Salem Church, Freeman, South Dakota, will convene from October 12 to 17. The ordination of Aaron Epp into the full ministry will take place on the evening of October 19. Dr. Henry A. Fast of Bethel College will deliver the ordination sermon. Aaron has accepted the pastorate of the Inman Mennonite Church, Inman, Kansas.

If you recall, Peter P and Margaretha Buller and their unmarried children (including Henry) had moved to California in 1935. Twelve years later, Henry returned to his former home with Bea on his arm and an important story to share.

Bethesda was not, however, the only venue where the couple ministered:

• Bea was a guest speaker at Immanuel Church in Los Angeles (2 December 1947, here);
• Henry and Bea both spoke on 30 November 1947 at the Bergtal Church in Pawnee Rock, Kansas (30 December 1947, here);
• On 17 March 1948 Bea gave a talk titled “Missionary Aspects of Relief Work” at the program for women during the Bethel College Bible Week (24 February 1948, here; 30 March 1948, here);
• Henry spoke at the Young People’s C.E. program in the Alexanderwohl Church in Goessel, Kansas (20 April 1948, here);
• Bea and then Henry and Bea spoke at the Zion Church in Elbing, Kansas (27 April 1948, here);
• Bea and Henry shared their experiences at the First Mennonite Church in McPherson, Kansas (14 September 1948, here);
• Henry and Bea both spoke at the 31 October 1948 Mission Festival at Bethel Church, Inman, Kansas (16 November 1948, here);
• Bea spoke at a Bethel-sponsored peace program at Tabor Mennonite Church in Newton, Kansas, on 23 January 1949 (1 February 1949, here);
• Bea, “a Jewish Christian and German refugee,” spoke at the Mission Society of Emmanuel Church in Moundridge, Kansas, the following year (21 February 1950, here)

It is noteworthy that, apart from one speaking engagement in California, all the others took place either in Nebraska (at Bethesda) or Kansas. The reason for this is evident in yet another report about Bea and Henry. In the 9 December 1947 issue of The Mennonite (page 11 here, middle right column), we read:

The Henry Bullers now live on the Bethel College campus. Mrs. Buller has accepted a position on the faculty as instructor in French, while Mr. Buller has accepted a teaching position in a rural school north of Goessel. Mrs. Buller is also enrolled as a student in the college. Both Mr. and Mrs. Buller have had extensive experience as M.C.C. relief workers in Europe.

 One final report from 1949 sheds light on what appears to have been a growing concern for the couple, or at least for Bea. Above we noted that Bea spoke at a peace program in late January 1949. Several weeks later, she participated in a similar conference on the same topic:

Bethel College

An inter-collegiate peace conference was held at the Friends University church, Wichita, on Saturday and Sunday, February 12 and 13. The program was arranged by a committee of members from Friends University, Wichita; McPherson College, McPherson; and Bethel College. Several of the Bethel faculty and students participated in the conference. Dr. J. Winfield Fretz led the opening session and he and Prof. J. Lloyd Spaulding were used as resource leaders. Students active in the program were Mrs. Henry Buller, Edith Claassen, Bertha Fast, Helen Tieszen, Harris Waltner, Leo Miller and Rev. Floyd Nunley. Over-night lodging and meals were provided by Wichita youth. (15 February 1949, page 11 here, lower right column)

It is not hard to imagine that Bea’s (and Henry’s) experiences during World War II, and particularly her identification with the Mennonite church, led her to advocate for peace in whatever way she could. But this was not Bea’s only concern or cause. We will read of another—in her own words—in the next post in this series.