Braun, Valentine L. (Valentine Petra Lange), 1929-2000.

World War II refugee, student, writer/editor; of North Newton, Topeka, Kan.

DETAILS: Valentine Lange was born in Romania in 1929. During World War II she and her parents were forced to flee in 1944 as the Soviet front line pushed into her country and forced the abdication of King Michael. They moved frequently for fear of being overtaken by the Soviets and sent back to Russia. By the end of the war she was living in a Displaced Persons camp in Bavaria as her family awaited permission to emigrate to the United States. They moved to North Newton, Kans., in 1949, with support from the Mennonite Central Committee. In 1951 she married Alexander Braun, another Displaced Person she met in camp but who had been relocated to Canada on a work visa. Val and her parents moved to Topeka, Kan., in 1952, and Al received his U.S. citizenship & was allowed to join them in 1953. The Brauns remained in Topeka from that time. Val earned a bachelor's degree in education, history, & foreign languages and a master's degree in political science. She worked as an accountant and editor for the Kansas Medical Society for 35 years. She died in 2000 in Topeka.