Elsie Toews, 82
Elsie Toews, 82
Elsie (Hiebert/Amoth) Toews, 82, born Aug. 16, 1931, Langdon, N.D., passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, Bethel Home, Monte-zuma, Kan., on Sept. 12, 2013, after suffering another stroke.
Service and burial were held at Salem Mennonite, Copeland Kan., on Sept. 16.
Mother cherished happy memories of her childhood, including making music with her father and brothers. She lost her mother at age 2, her father at age 13. She surrendered her life to Jesus and was baptized at 15. She and two sisters were adopted, and they moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho. She married Norm Toews at Bonners Ferry on Oct. 9, 1949. They lived in Linden, Alberta; Bonners Ferry; Greeley, Colo.; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and the last few months in Montezuma.
Mother was skilled and talented in reflexology, school bus driving, AARP driver training, working as a certified nursing assistant and seamstress. One of her special skills and love was sewing men’s suits. She also loved crocheting, gardening, canning, cooking, baking … homemaker and mother extraordinaire.
Mother especially loved butterflies, enjoyed poetry, singing, writing and playing music, doing jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku and Rummikub.
She never stopped learning, took her GED at 55. Listening to her read and sing are among our most treasured memories. Now we see her flying with butterflies and singing with angels.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Norm of Coeur d’Alene; five children, Berton (Carolyn) of Wyoming, Cheryl (Ron) Unruh of Kansas, Rosalee (Ron) Toews of Hayden, Idaho; Russell (Cynthia) of Arizona, and son Darcy of Rathdrum, Idaho; 17 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, all 13 siblings, and one grandson.
Memorials payable to Bethel Home c/o Swaim Funeral Chapel Montezuma, visit online at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Faith Presbyterian in Hayden.
“The day is done, and the darkness falls from the wings of Night,
As a feather is wafted downward from an eagle in his flight...
And the night shall be filled with music, and the cares, that infest the day,
Shall spread their wings, like butterflies, and as silently fly away.”
A favorite poem by H. W. Longfellow (revised for the occasion).
Think....
of stepping on shore and finding it HEAVEN, of taking a hand and finding it GOD’s hand,
Of breathing new air and finding it celestial, of feeling invigorated and finding it immortality,
Of passing from storm and tempest to unbroken calm,
Of waking up and finding you’re HOME !!!
By Robert E. Selle