Elias N. Saig

Elias N. Saig was born on September 5, 1929, in Jerusalem, Palestine and died on March 12, 2019, at Via Christi Village, Manhattan KS. Elias was the eldest of three children. After their mother died, the three young children traveled with their father as he fulfilled work contracts painting interior decoration in Orthodox Christian churches in Egypt and Syria. Elias received his high school diploma from St. George School in Jerusalem. Following graduation, he moved to Bethlehem and worked at a 100-bed tuberculosis hospital, a project of the Baraka Bible Presbyterian Church. The director of the mission, Dr. Thomas Lambie, inspired him to seek further education. Workers at the hospital, volunteering under the Mennonite Central Committee, encouraged him to travel to the United States to attend college. In 1955 Elias enrolled at Eastern Mennonite College (now Eastern Mennonite University) in Harrisonburg VA. A scholarship helped to pay for part of his school expenses, and he worked at various part-time jobs to support himself. After two years at EMC, he transferred to Goshen College in Goshen IN, where he completed a degree in economics in 1959. Elias continued his education in economics at the University of Missouri at Columbia, earning a master’s degree in 1962. He worked in several management positions before continuing his work toward a PhD degree at the University of Oregon and at Colorado State University. His teaching career began on a part-time basis following graduate school. Elias continued as an instructor in economics at several locations, including Colorado State University, Rockhurst University, Kansas Wesleyan University and McPherson College. He completed his teaching career at Kansas State University. Elias also worked at the K-State Union for many years. Additionally, he volunteered at the Senior Center and with Meals on Wheels. Elias is survived by friends, including Rod and Karen Franz and Myrna Bartel. A memorial service for Elias will be held on Saturday, March 16 at Via Christi Village Chapel, 2800 Willow Grove Road, Manhattan. Memorial contributions may be made to Goshen College or Manhattan Mennonite Church building fund. Contributions may be left at the funeral home or directed to Manhattan Mennonite Church, 1000 Fremont St, Manhattan KS 66502