The Buller Family moved to Kremlin, Oklahoma in 1938 where Hanna grew up in a Christian environment.
During her growing up years, the church the Buller Family attended held evangelistic meetings. At one of the meetings, Hanna went forward to ask Jesus to come into her heart. Mrs. Matilda Grunau came to pray with Hanna. Hanna prayed the prayer for Jesus to forgive her sins and to come into her heart. Hanna was 11 years old. She was baptized in a pond on April 28, 1946. At the age of 12, she became a member of the North Enid Mennonite Brethren Church. Two Scripture verses that Hanna claimed were: John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life;" and, 1John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Hanna attended school in a one-room schoolhouse, Pleasant Plain School, for grades one through eight. After completing the seventh grade, the school closed, so Hanna attended Hillsdale High School beginning in the eighth grade and finishing her high school years. After graduating high school, she attended Corn Bible Academy for one year, in Corn, OK. where she took a one-year Bible course. She then transferred to Pacific Bible Institute in Fresno, CA where she studied from 1953 to 1955.
Alvin Thiesen met Hanna Buller and married her on February 4, 1958 at the North Enid Mennonite Brethren Church back in Oklahoma. The couple then made their home in Dinuba, CA where Hanna joined the Dinuba Mennonite Brethren Church.
Alvin and Hanna's first son, Kerwin, was born on September 2, 1959. Their second son, Curtis, was born on December 30, 1960. Third son, Kenton, was born July 14, 1962; his Maker took him home on July 15, 1962. The Lord then blessed the couple with a daughter by adoption, Delinda, who was born on October 24, 1963.
After moving to Fresno, CA in 1964, Hanna joined the Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church for a number of years, 1964 to 1999. In 1999 she joined the North Fresno Mennonite Brethren Church. Hanna enjoyed singing in the choir in both of these churches. At the Butler Avenue Church, Hanna taught the Wednesday evening Primary Bible Class and she later helped with the Pioneer Girls program. Hanna was involved with the Bible Study Fellowship Evening Program for eight years, from 1982 to 1990.
Hanna leaves her husband, Alvin; her two sons, Kerwin Thiesen and his wife, Cindy and Curtis Thiesen and his wife, Clara; her daughter, Delinda Abbot and her husband, Ken; four grandchildren: Ryan Thiesen, Kathy Thiesen, Karina Thiesen and Michael Abbott; two great-grandchildren: Logan Thiesen and Alexia Thiesen; three brothers: John R. Buller and his wife, Dorothy, Harold R. Buller and his wife, Leona and Alfred R. Buller and his wife, Malvina; three sisters: Rosella Funk and her husband, Paul, Sara R. Kroeker and her husband, Gerald, and Elfrieda Buller; additionally, a host of nieces and nephews to cherish her memory.
Hanna was preceded in death by her parents, John P. and Katherina Buller, her infant son, Kenton Lynn Thiesen; her sister, Marie Roseanna Buller and an infant niece, Elizabeth Ann Funk.
