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A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, October 1, at the Allnutt Macy Chapel, 702 13th Street, Greeley. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 3400 28th St., Greeley, with a reception to follow at St. Johns United Church of Christ, 2815 W. 20th Street, Greeley, Colorado.
She was blessed with 87 years and eight months. Born on January 20, 1930, in Firebaugh, California, to John D. and Helena (Loewen) Regehr, she was the eighth child in a family of nine children. Mom attended schools in Winton and Livingston, California.
At an early age, she accepted Christ as her personal Savior, expressing a strong faith throughout her life.
Cornelia married Gerald Post Mininger in Winton, California, on March 30, 1947. They were given 68 wonderful years together. This union was blessed with four sons and two daughters.
In 1961, God called Dad into the ministry. Mom worked as a supportive and faithful companion, entertaining and cooking countless meals for folks visiting or just "traveling through." Laughter, story-telling and singing gospel hymns filled the home and contributed to many a visitor's memories of Mom and Dad's hospitality.
While in California, and to help with the family income and a preacher husband who "farmed for a living," Mom spent many cold spring days pulling small sweet potato plants from the hot-beds. During the summer months, she worked in open-air sheds under the blazing California sun, cutting peaches that would be dried on wooden trays laid on the ground outside. The autumn months often found her in dark, cool and musty cellars packing sweet potatoes for market.
Mom was a talented homemaker. Her home was always clean and uncluttered.
Her delicious home-cooked meals were enjoyed by many harvest crews and friends, strangers and family. Sewing, crocheting, and quilting were favorite pastimes, for which she seemed to always find time.
Whether making clothes for herself or two daughters, her grandchildren or folks in the community, she did so with admirable expertise. The many beautiful quilts Mom stitched were always quilted by hand.
Mom also loved jigsaw puzzles, playing games and picnics. Her children and grandchildren have many fond memories of those good times.
In 1986, Mom and Dad retired from farming in Weld County, Colorado, and moved to Sarasota, Florida, where Dad became a "winter pastor" serving a large Mennonite congregation.
Mom loved this coastal area and climate and their "snow-bird" lifestyle. Travel was also a beloved pastime for Mom and Dad.
They made and cultivated numerous friendships everywhere they went, many which remain strong to this day. When Dad's eyesight eventually weakened and failed, their traveling adventures sadly came to an end.
Mom is survived by her six children, Wayne (Ardith) Mininger of Greeley, Colorado, Marietta Nightengale of Sublette, Kansas, Galen (Gloria) Mininger of Greeley, Kevin (Eva Rae) Mininger of Collbran, Colorado, Evangelyn (Mike) Nightengale of Copeland, Kansas, and Max (Jean) Mininger of Grand Junction, 16 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, siblings Rachel Unruh, Bonners Ferry, Leonard (Dessie) Regehr of Buhl, Idaho, and Lovina Regehr of Greeley.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, parents John and Helena Regehr, brothers Bernard and John Regehr, sisters Amanda Toews, Marianne Giesbrecht and Susan Koehn and son-in-law Henry Nightengale.
Memorial contributions may be made to HopeWest Hospice, Grand Junction, Colorado, in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th Street, Greeley, CO 80631.
Please visit http://www.allnutt.com to send condolences to the family.