Montezuma - Elsie Ilene Toews was born to David and Stella Hiebert on August 16, 1931 at Langdon, North Dakota. She passed away peacefully, with loving family and friends surrounding her at Bethel Home in Montezuma, Kansas on September 12, 2013 after suffering a major stroke that morning, at the age of eighty-two years.

When Mother was only two, she lost her mother in a tragic accident, and from that time until her father passed away when she was thirteen, her young life was overshadowed with many disappointments. And yet, she talked of happy memories with her father and brothers making music as a family.

Shortly after her father's death, she was adopted by Henry and Ida Amoth, along with sisters Eva and Nettie; they later moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho. When she was 15 she gave her heart to JESUS and was baptized. On October 9, 1949, Mother was joined in marriage to Norm Toews in Bonners Ferry. During their nearly 64 years of marriage they were blessed with 5 children, 17 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren. Through the years they lived in Linden, Alberta; Bonners Ferry, Idaho; Greeley, Colorado, and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, until the last few months in Montezuma, Kansas.

Mother found joy and fulfillment in giving to others through reflexology healing, school bus driving handicapped children and working as a CNA at hospital and care facilities. Her love of sewing and helping people made her management position at Cloth World very rewarding. Mother loved working with her hands, whether sewing, crocheting, gardening, canning, cooking, baking, or creating anything, always with others in mind … a homemaker extraordinaire! Together Dad and Mother shared their hearts and their home as they extended themselves generously to anyone who came to their door needing help.

Mother had an inquiring and creative mind, loving poetry, writing, singing, and playing music over the years. Dad & Mother singing together or with the whole family, and listening to Mother read to us are some of our most treasured memories. Even though she only went through the 8th grade, she never stopped learning; when she was fifty-five, she took her GED and passed with high scores, even surpassing Norm's -- a boost to her self-confidence. She loved mental exercise, doing jigsaw puzzles or playing Sudoku or Rummikub, which could keep her happy for hours.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband Norm, their children Berton (Carolyn), Cheryl (Ron Unruh), Rosalee (Ron Toews), Russell (Cyndi) and Darcy; and their grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and many friends. She was preceded in death by both sets of parents, all thirteen of her siblings, and a grandson, Jesse Unruh.

Funeral service will be held at Salem Mennonite Church on Monday, September 16, 2013 at 10:30 AM with Ministers Sam Unruh and Kelsey Unruh presiding. Burial will follow at Salem Mennonite Church in Copeland. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel of Montezuma on Sunday, September 15, 2013 from 3:00 PM - 7:00 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.