Montezuma - Effie (Loucks) Koehn was born at Hesston on October 7, 1911 to Jesse and Carrie (Becker) Loucks. She passed away at Bethel Home on November 20, 2014 in Montezuma reaching the age of 103.

In 1915, her parents and family moved to Copeland. She attended Sunny Side Country School. Mom remembers western Kansas as an untamed prairie. She told of rattlesnakes and prairie fires. Despite the hardships of the Depression, she still had happy memories of the family while growing up together. She remembered going to the Montezuma Church in horse and buggy. In the winter of 1937, Effie was converted at age 16 and baptized by Minister Hiram Mininger on May 9, 1927.

On March 12, 1933, she married Vivan Koehn at Copeland. They shared joys and sorrows for almost 68 years. He preceded her in death on February 16, 2001. They moved to Lonetree in 1935. When Gene developed diabetes at the age of 6, Mom and Dad adjusted to a different lifestyle and she and dad found peace caring for Gene. They moved to Ingalls in August of 1951.

Effie worked for at time for the Ingalls School District in the cafeteria. She was very hospitable, enjoying company and visiting with family and friends. She enjoyed cooking for the family and friends, reading, and gardening. Effie's children and grandchildren brought great joy to her.

She and Vivan also served in the Dodge City Mission Church for six years. They made their last move to Montezuma in 1986. She spent her last years on the Cottonwood wing of Bethel Home.

She was a member of the Homeland Mennonite Church of Montezuma.

Effie is survived by six children, Leroy Koehn and wife Neva of El Campo, Texas; Elva Koehn and husband Bob of Pearce Sunsites, Arizona; Weldon Koehn and wife Katie of Greeley, Colorado; Alton Koehn and wife Judy of Detroit, Texas; Margaret Regehr of Post Falls, Idaho; and Willard Koehn and wife Diane of Flagstaff, Arizona; three siblings, David C. Loucks of Satanta; Walter Loucks of Mesa, Arizona; and Martha Garetson of Montezuma; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. In addition to her husband, Vivan, Effie is preceded in death by her parents, one son, Eugene Koehn; 10 siblings, Frances Peterson, Mary Jo Parker, Charlotte Sawyer, Ora Loucks, Mildred Brown, Myrtle Dunham, Samantha Loucks, Alva Loucks, John Loucks, and Harvey Loucks.

Funeral service will be held at Salem Mennonite Church, Copeland on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 10:30 AM with Ministers Steve Unruh, Charles Schmidt, and Luther Smith presiding. Burial will follow at Salem Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Monday, November 24, 2014 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.