Suderman a viable part of Hillsboro community
Staff writer
A native of Hillsboro, Malinda Suderman has worked in and supported the Hillsboro community most if not all of her life.
May is designated as Older Americans Month. Malinda is one of the senior citizens highlighted in our Senior Connections section of this week's issue.
Currently, Malinda works part time at the Hillsboro Senior Center in the office department and volunteers at the Et Cetera Shop. She also is a Sunday School greeter at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.
"So many people my age or younger have infirmities," Malinda said. "I'm so thankful to God that I have my health and strength."
Earlier in her life, she regularly worked at the senior center for 25 years — making schedules for the volunteer workers for the noon lunch and being the receptionist. She also was responsible for organizing workers for the Meals on Wheels program and helping customers in the Sam's Travel Agency when it was located at the center.
"Bob Woelk, when he worked at the Star-Journal, did an article on me," Malinda said. "I had been working at the senior center for about 11 years then."
She was a volunteer at the Et Cetera Shop when Kaethe Warkentin first started the business. Malinda worked at the shop periodically through the years. She currently volunteers one day of the week or when needed.
She also worked at Back to the Bible in Lincoln, Neb., for eight years and at Berean Academy in Elbing for six years.
Malinda still drives and manages to stay busy doing various activities throughout her week.
"I consider myself a people person," she said. "I can't stay home and not see people or talk to them over the phone."
"I have lots of friends, and to me having all these friend is a pleasure and a gift to have all these friends."
Through the years, Malinda also has been involved with MCC and feels it has been something her family has been called to do.
A highlight this year for Malinda at this year's MCC
sale in Hutchinson was meeting three or four friends she had not seen in several years.
"It was amazing to me to see them and to know that MCC is much more than eating and buying, doing projects, and volunteering. It is so much more," she said.
Working as a senior, helping others in her work and volunteering, is what Malinda felt was what she was suppose to do.
She said, "For me it is a ministry — something I think God wanted me to do."
Malinda likes to read a lot and takes the time to write to her cousin in Oregon.
"She is the only close relative I keep in touch with that often. She writes me every other week," she said.
"So I have to get on my haunches and write back," she said smiling.
Malinda's advice to seniors who are able to get around is: "There are many places to volunteer if you are inclined to do that."
Malinda, who is single and had a twin brother who died at age six, has a brother Paul and his wife Elda Suderman who live in rural Hillsboro and a sister Laura and her husband Ken Goertzen of Nebraska.
