Toevs, Agatha Suderman (1865-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Apr 2 p. 8

Birth date: 1865 Jan 8

text of obituary:

MRS. AGATHA TOEVS

Agatha, Suderman Toevs, daughter of Herman and Anna Thiessen Suderman, was born Jan. 8, 1865, in South Russia. She departed for her much longed for eternal Home March 18, 1959, reaching the age of 94 years, two months and eight days.

At the age of 11 she came to the United States with her parents. In 1881 she was baptized upon her confession of faith and received into the fellowship of the Mennonite Church. Her church played a very important part in her life. She expressed her faith in a quiet manner and was in continually in prayer for her family and the Lord's work.

In 1888 she was united in marriage with John Toevs, son of Elder Jacob Toevs, pastor of the First Mennonite church of Newton, Kansas. This happy union was blessed with eight children.

In 1907 Mr. and Mrs. Toevs decided to cast their lot with a number of other Mennonite settlers and moved to what is now Aberdeen, Idaho. Mrs. Toevs shared in the adventure and the hardship of the early pioneer days. Again her faith played an important part in her life and when the First Mennonite church was organized, she was one of the charter members.

Mrs. Toevs was blessed with a strong constitution, a vital faith and a wholesome outlook on life. She was blessed also with an unusual capacity for work and it was never drudgery for her.

Mrs. Toevs was preceded in death by her husband Rev. John Toevs, who passed away in 1934, just 25 years ago; two sons, Herman who died in 1924 and Jake in 1958. Two children preceded her in infancy.

She is survived by four children, Anna, Mrs. F. L. Wenger of Aberdeen, Agatha, Mrs. Wm. Piper of Mt. Lake, Minn., John L. of Ephrata, Wash., and Edgar of Moses Lake, Wash.; 22 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren.

After a rich and useful life, her earthly pilgrimage has come to a close. Until shortly before her death, she often repeated words from favorite German hymns. “Her children rise up and call her blessed” (Proverbs 31:28).

Mrs. Toevs died at Mountain Lake, Minn. where she had been staying with her daughter, Mrs. Piper. Services were held at a funeral home there, and the body was then sent to Aberdeen, where services were conducted in the First Mennonite Church on March 20, with Rev. Walter H. Dyck, the pastor, officiating. Burial was made in the Homestead Cemetery west of Aberdeen.