Special Note:
Imogene’s Siburt’s son, Charles has been a hero in the faith to our entire family for a number of years. We were so privileged to know his mother during the years that I preached in Muleshoe, Tx. Jan honors her in this wonderful tribute.

Woman on a Mission: A Tribute to Imogene Siburt

I met Imogene at a monthly gathering of ministers and their wives who served congregations in eastern New Mexico and the western edge of the Texas Panhandle. By the time I became acquainted with her, she was at the age that many would consider “past her prime.” She served effectively as a preacher’s wife for many years, dedicated to her husband and his work in the Lord’s kingdom. But he had passed from this life several years before, and she lived as a widow in a small town in the region.

Most in her shoes would have, at that point, closed the “minister’s wife” chapter of life, moving on to the next area of service, whatever that might be. But Imogene had other ideas. She was not yet finished with her God-given role of “preacher’s wife.” Through the years she had come to realize that many ministry families live a lonely and isolated existence. Often they are held to a higher standard, seen as “super Christians” who have somehow transcended the ordinary, every-day concerns, feelings, and needs of the average person. Imogene had developed a passion for encouraging those women who worked in the trenches of ministry with their husbands, consistently organizing luncheons and seminars for the specific purpose of building them up. Even after her husband’s death, she continued to look for ways to support and share her wealth of knowledge and experience with that unique circle of women who might have otherwise had nowhere to turn.

After a few years, our family moved out of the area to serve the Lord in another place. Imogene grew older and eventually went to an assisted living facility in Abilene to be near her son. Upon hearing of her death a few days ago, I thought about all that I had learned from this spunky Christian lady. I am grateful for the legacy she has left, not only to her family – especially her son and two grandsons who serve in ministry today – but also to the countless women like me whose lives she touched in a special way. Thank you, Imogene Siburt, for being a woman on a mission. May we all follow your example of love and service to the end!

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