木桂蘭農場宣教士范雷敦安息主懷

范雷敦

范雷敦（ Leighton Wiant 1927-2017），於1927年10月在中國的北京出生，於1958-1972年轉來詩巫木桂蘭農場從事農業教士共14年。他於2017年9月2日美國的安息主懷，享年90歲，追思禮拜則於10月8日11.30am假紐約州的Marion聯合衛理公會舉行。

1960年代，詩巫西岸的鄉區人民對於一個美籍的叫做范雷敦或譯為范禮敦（Bliss Leighton Wiant）的農業教士的名字，是很熟悉的。范氏是出生在北京，因為父親范天祥 牧師（Rev. Dr. Bliss M. and Mildred A. Wiant）是在燕京大學為知名的音樂教授，曾寫過一首“一轮明月，数点寒星……”的圣诞名曲：神子已生伯利恒。其父親把他取名為雷敦（Leighton）是紀念孩子的誼父，也是曾任美國駐中國的大使司徒雷登（ John Leighton Stuart），同時曾出任燕京大學的校長。

范雷敦是四個兄弟排名第二，她的遺孀Dorothy Dean Wiant(61歲) Rebecca McGinnis (nie Wiant), Daniel Wiant, Matthew Wiant，共有8名孫子與一名曾孫。

范雷敦就讀於燕京大學，並在俄亥俄州立大學、俄亥俄衛斯理大學及Cornell大學考獲農業及鄉區社會學等學位。他曾於第二次世界大戰期間，在上海弟兄服務單位參與非軍事的工作。後來，他前往菲律賓任教及高中的校長，同時於1958-1972年在砂拉越的詩巫木桂蘭農場為農業教士約14年。在返回美國後，他也是美國跨州的宣教老師共2年，後來就在Mrion負責Deanvale農場17年，一直到退休。在期間，他活躍於Marion聯合衛理公會參與社區活動，包括分發食物給有需要者。兩年前他夫婦倆遷往

馬利蘭州Gaithersburg的亞斯理衛理村。

2008年4月間，范雷敦夫婦帶著兩個子女從美國來到詩巫，本報總編有機會帶領他們到木桂蘭農場走動，找到早期衛理私立中學的舊址。當年他曾協助尋找2萬5千美元充建築校舍。1972年由於他的反共立場，引進砂共的注意，並表示已被列入黑名單，因此造成他及家人不得不離開返回美國。2008年他們舊地重遊，對於教會把一部份的土地租給人充油棕園坵有意見，稍後還致函給年議會反映說，世界人口愈來愈多，糧食愈來愈少，豈可以拿來種植經濟作物？！何況當年拉者政府給一大片土地給教會除了希望生產糧锒，也是要成為社區的農業中心，引進各地改良品種的家禽，如豬、牛、羊等。

　　范雷登與家人於2008年重返木桂蘭時影.

Bliss “Leighton” Wiant was born in October of 1927 in Beijing (Peking) China, to Methodist missionary parents and professors, Rev. Dr. Bliss M. and Mildred A. Wiant (faculty at Yenching/Beijing University). Leighton was named after his then-Godfather, the U.S. Ambassador to China, John Leighton Stuart. Leighton was the second of four siblings, all of whom survive him: Allen, Cecilia, and Ben. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy Dean Wiant, a native of Marion, NY, now residing at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, MD, where they moved two years ago. Leighton is also survived by three children, Rebecca McGinnis (nie Wiant), Daniel Wiant, Matthew Wiant, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandson. 

Leighton was educated at Yenching University (two undergrad yrs), Ohio State University (two yrs Agriculture), Ohio Wesleyan (BS Agriculture), and Cornell University (MS Rural Sociology). He participated in a non-combat role in WWII with the Brethren Service Unit in Shanghai, China. After completing his academic studies, Leighton served roles in teaching and mission work in the Philippines as a teacher/high school principal; in Sarawak, Malaysia, developing the local economy in a rural village for 14 years; as a lecturer about missions work across the U.S. for two years; and in Marion, NY, operating the Deanvale Farm for 17 years before retirement.  

Leighton was active in community outreach in Wayne County, NY, an active member of the United Church in Marion, and a participant in countless programs to supply food and support to the needy. He is remembered for his love of family, love of music, dynamic Christian faith, and kindness and support for all. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 11:30 AM on October 8 at the United Church in Marion, NY, located at 3848 N. Main St.

(GBGM)

Brief introduction of Leighton Wiant and Dorothy D. Wiant

Leighton Wiant was born in 1927in Beijing, China, of missionary parents. His father Bliss Wiant was a brilliant musician and song writer, in addition to having many other talents. Leighton received a BS degree from Ohio State University, and an MS in Agriculture from Cornell University.

From 1946-9, Leighton served in the United Nations Brethren Service Unit in China helping to reconstruct war-torn agriculture. Then he served a term as an agricultural vocations teacher and Principal in Luzon, the Philippines.

He served in Sarawak, Malaysia, from 1958 to 1972.He was stationed at the Bukit Lan Methodist Agriculture Center, where he taught subjects in agriculture and farm work practices, to students of Chinese descent. The Foochow pioneers had arrived inSibu in 1903, and by the 1950s, two whole generations had been living in the Rajang Valley.

Besides the Chinese, he also taught Iban students from the neighboring longhouses such as Bawang Assan.

However, the Red Communist Insurgency, which occurred just slightly after the formation of Malaysia and the Independence of Sarawak within the Malaysian Federation, forced the Wiant family to return to the United States in 1972, much to the disappointment of his beloved students at Bukit Lan. Leighton was even “blacklisted” by the Communists, and hence his life was in danger.

Bukit Lan is undulated riverine deltaic land which is very suitable for tropical agriculture.Fruits, vegetables, rice and even oil palms had been grown here to great levels of success. Some cattle and other domesticated animals were also reared. The aim had been to become a model farm for the entire Third Division area around Sibu, Sarawak.

The commissioned block of Secondary higher education classrooms in Bukit Lan was sponsored by a German Christian Organization via contributions supporting “The Daily Bread” magazine. They raised US $25,000 to help construct the building.However only US $10,000 was spent, resulting in construction of only 11 classrooms. It was very sad when he left, and disappointing too, forhe had seen, written on one of the classroom blackboards, a huge graffiti slogan reading, “Destroy Malaysia!!”

Mrs. Wiant (the former Dorothy Dean) was born and raised in Marion NY, USA, and has a BA in Education from Cornell University.After graduation, she spent a year in Juneau, Alaska, USA, as a youth director working with Inuit Indian and white teenagers.

Following that assignment, Mrs. Wiant was an International Farm Youth Exchange delegate to Australia for six months, where she lived and worked with farm families, before joining her husband in his work in the mission field, in SE Asia.

The Wiants have three children.

范雷敦手繪的1970年代的木桂蘭農場示意圖

Bukit Lan Farm Sketch 1970's by Leighton Wiant