Mindi Rene Friess, 47, special education teacher, passed away Monday, June 24, 2024 at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, Wichita.

Mindi was born on Jan.

20, 1977, in Wichita and spent her early youth in northwest Wichita. She moved with her family to Douglass at the age of 12 and attended Douglass Middle School. She graduated from Douglass High School in 1995 before receiving her associate’s degree at Butler Community College.

Mindi continued her education at Wichita State University completing her bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in special education.

Mindi was united in marriage to Darin Weidenheimer on Jan. 23, 2010, and to this union one daughter, Mia, was born.

Mindi later married Joseph Marc Friess on June 4, 2021, on his farm near Conway Springs.

She began teaching for USD 259 in Wichita at Jefferson Elementary School. She taught at Lawrence Elementary School, C.M.A. and McCollum Elementary School before joining the faculty at USD 356 in Kyle Trueblood Elementary School in 2021. Mindi taught special education for a total of 26 years.

Mindi is survived by her husband, Joe Friess, and daughter, Mia Weidenheimer; her parents, Dan and Paula Klotz of Douglass; one sister, Darci (Lance) Lechner of Wichita; two half-brothers, Kim Klotz and Brian Klotz (Shannon) of Arkansas City; her nephews, Logan, Kaghe, Kagon, Colby, Joshua and Brandon; and a number of other relatives and many friends.

A memorial service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 8, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Conway Springs. Interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery, Conway Springs.

Arrangements are by Ebersole Mortuary, Conway Springs. On-line condolences and guestbook are available at www.ebersolemortuary.com.

A memorial has been established with USD 356 Conway Springs.