OLMITZ — Teresa Frieb has played multiple roles in Great Bend Community Theatre productions but the role she most enjoys in real life is being a grandmother.

Teresa and her husband Daniel have a 5-year-old granddaughter named Willow and are expecting their first grandson on July 1.

“Getting to spend time with my granddaughter Willow is the greatest joy for me,” she said. “We will be traveling to Alaska in July to meet a new grandson.”

Born in Hutchinson and raised in Pretty Prairie, Teresa met Daniel at a Catholic retreat and moved here in 1986. He farms in Olmitz and also helped other farmers in his job at NRCS. He recently retired from that job after 40 years.

Teresa earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City. She also took classes at Wichita State University and her first job was as a paraprofessional at Holy Family Center in Wichita.

After moving to Barton County, Frieb taught third grade at Otis-Bison, where she also did work teaching physical education and working with gifted students. She took some time off to raise a family. Her oldest son Jordan, now 37 years old, is married to Julie. He is a political officer for the State Department and will move to Armenia in December. Son Aaron, 35, is married to Jess and their daughter is Willow. He is a foreman with Western Cooperative Electric. Youngest son Tobias, 33, is married to Courtney and they are expecting their first child. He is a kindergarten teacher in Alaska. Frieb also counts as a son Yeong Soo, who lived with the family as a foreign exchange student from Japan.

– Teresa Frieb

She earned her special education teaching credentials and in 1999 she took a position at Great Bend High School, working with students with behavioral disorders.

“I absolutely loved my time at GBHS,” she said, mentioning the lifetime friendships she made with some of the great staff. She took a few years off in 2016 after the sudden death of her father, followed by the loss of her mother 16 months later. She retired from teaching in 2021.

A star is born

Frieb isn’t sure how many GBCT productions she’s starred in, but it started with “Don’t Talk to the Actors” in 2011.

“All of the plays have been such a fun experience,” she said. Her favorite role was either Dolly in “Kitchen Witches” or Mother Superior in “Drinking Habits.” She was also in “Love, Sex and the IRS,” “Neighborhood Crime Watch” and “Deathtrap.” More recently, she’s been in “Four Old Broads” and its sequel, “Four Old Broads on the High Seas.” Next month, she’ll play Mama Doll in “The Red Velvet Cake War,” showing April 25-28 at the Crest Theater.

She is also on the GBCT Board of Directors.

Other community involvement Frieb is also a Master Gardener and she started volunteering at the Central Kansas Dream Center after she retired. She is a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Olmitz, where she has been a lector and eucharistic minister. She is actively involved in the Altar Society.

Stamping and puzzles

Frieb said another hobby she enjoys is making personalized greeting cards for any occasion, using stamping equipment. She has her own “stamping room” and sells the items at the community market events held Saturdays in the summer in Otis.

“I am also a puzzle person,” Frieb said. “My good friend Mandy Charles is my jigsaw puzzle ‘partner in crime.’” About a year ago, Frieb spent three weeks at Clara Barton Hospital after leg surgery. Charles came to the hospital with a card table and a puzzle.

Loving Barton County

Small-town living and being close to family are two of the things Frieb likes most about Barton County.

“Olmitz and Great Bend have been great communities to raise a family and be involved in community activities,” she said. “We enjoy going to the Community Concert series at the (Great Bend) City Auditorium and the various restaurants in Great Bend.”

Community Connections is a regular feature of the Great Bend Tribune, showcasing people who live in the Golden Belt. We welcome readers to submit names of individuals who are active in the community that they would like to see featured in a future story. Send suggestions to news@gbtribune.com and explain their “community connections.”