View source for Bargen, Bernhard "Benny" (1901-1972)

 Bernhard "Benny" Bargen, b. 10 December 1901, d. 14 November 1972, was the son of German Mennonite parents who immigrated to the [[United States of America|United States]] from the Russian [[Ukraine|Ukraine]]. A polio attack at age one left him handicapped for life. Crutches were no hindrance to him. His handicap fueled a brilliant and innovative mind, and a lifelong love for education was the result. He studied at [[Bethel College (North Newton, Kansas, USA)|Bethel College]], Friends University (BA) and the University of Kansas (MA). Bargen married Esther Kliewer on 12 June 1924; their three children are Ralph, Eldon, and Joyce.

He was a teacher throughout his life, beginning as a high school instructor in the [[Kansas (USA)|Kansas]] towns of Oxford and [[Buhler (Kansas, USA)|Buhler]]. He came to Bethel College as an instructor in business courses in 1935. He remained there as a professor until 1965, except for three years which he spent as a visitor and member of the Woodcrest [[Bruderhof|Bruderhof]] community at Rifton, NY (1955-1957). He was alumni secretary at Bethel College from 1965 to 1970 when he retired. A return to the Hutterian [[Society of Brothers|Society of Brothers]] at New Meadow Run Bruderhof, Farmington, PA, in 1972 closed out the last four months of his life.


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