Toevs, Helen Reynate Dyck Entz (1893-1947)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Jan 9 p. 5

Birth date: 1893 Jul 8

text of obituary:

. . .

— Funeral services for Mrs. Henry H. Toevs, 53, who died on Thursday, Jan. 2, at Bethel Deaconess hospital after being accidentally burned at her home on Tuesday, Dec. 24, took place at the First Mennonite church on Monday. Rev. D. J. Unruh, the pastor, officiated. Mrs. Toevs suffered severe burns to her legs and back when her dress caught fire as she was ironing by an open flame heater. Her condition was further complicated by a stroke which she suffered on Christmas day. She is survived by her husband and several children.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Feb 13 p. 3

text of obituary:

MRS. H. H. TOEVS

Helen Reynate Dyck Toevs, wife of H. H. Toevs, oldest daughter of Herman and Marie (nee Wedel) Dyck was born on the home farm near Whitewater, Kans., July 8, 1893. She died on January 2, 1947, at the Bethel Deaconess hospital, Newton.

She received here education in both the English and the German language in local schools. Her Bible and catechism instruction was given by the late Elder Gustav Harder. On May 16, 1910, she was baptized on her confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior from sin and received as a member of the Emmaus Mennonite church, Whitewater. In 1937 she transferred she transferred her membership to the First Mennonite church of Newton, where she remained a member until the time of her death.

On March 20, 1921, she was united in marriage to John A. Entz of Newton and since that time she has lived in Newton. In the summer of 1931, she and her husband made a trip to the West Coast in the hope that he might regain his health. They visited in the state of Washington and went by steamship from Washington to California, returning to Kansas in September of that year. This was one of the high lights in her life. This marriage was dissolved in December 27, 1934, by the death of Mr. Entz.

On June 27, 1937, she was married to Henry H. Toevs of Newton. She was a devoted wife and loyal to the duties of her home. She maintained a cheerful disposition and was hospitable and generous to others. She was a faithful member of the church and gave frequent expression of her faith in Christ.

On the morning of December 24, 1946, her clothes caught fire from a gas heater and she was severely burned. After the doctor administered first aid, she was rushed to the Bethel Deaconess hospital. Due to the shock and pains of her burns, she suffered a stroke the following night which paralyzed her right side and she was unable to speak. While her speech did not return, she remained clear in mind until she neared the end of her life.

On Thursday afternoon at 1:00 o’clock she fell asleep in Jesus, at the age of 53 years, five months and 25 days. She now is permitted to see and experience what she believed. Here she . shall hear from her Lord, “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

Her first husband, her father and one brother preceded her in death. She leaves to mourn her sudden departure, her husband, Henry H. Toevs, her 84 year old mother, Mrs. W. Dyck, three sisters, Frieda J. Dyck, Marie M. Dyck, Lisbeth E. Dyck, and one brother, Herman J. Dyck, all of Whitewater. She also leaves the children of John Entz and the children of h. h. Toevs, for whom she took a mother’s place, besides many relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held January 6 from the First Mennonite church with Rev. D. J. Unruh and Rev. J. E. Entz officiating. Mrs. D. J. Unruh, Mr. and Mrs. B. E. Regier, and P. C. Andres sang “Abide With Me” and “Harre Meine Seele,” accompanied at the piano by Miss Louise Entz.

Pallbearers were John Ensz, Irvin Toevs, Gus Ensz, Walter J. Ensz, Ed Ensz, and G. D. Claassen. Burial was in the Greenwood cemetery.