Heinrich Fast, a Mennonite (Evangelical Mennonite Brethren) minister, was born 23 August 1849 in Gertuamalee, South Russia, the oldest of the five children of Johann and Sara Peters Fast. In July 1875 the family (with the exception of one sister) immigrated to Minnesota, settling on a farm six miles northwest of Mountain Lake. In 1876 Heinrich Fast married Maria Hamm (also from South Russia). They were the parents of ten children, six of whom lived to become adults, two of the sons, John and George, becoming deacons in the church. In 1910 he retired from farming.

Fast was also a minister for about 25 years in the Brudertaler Mennonite Church north of Mountain Lake, and also served as traveling evangelist (Reiseprediger) for about five years. He died on 27 February 1930 having passed the age of 80 years, and was buried in the cemetery near the Brudertaler church.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 315. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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