Toews, Elizabeth Friesen (1900-1963)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Sep 26 p. 8

Birth date: 1900 Dec 2

text of obituary:

MRS. HENRY J. TOEWS

Elizabeth Friesen Toews, daughters of John and Anna Willems Friesen, was born on Dec. 2, 1900, in South Russia. At the age of 10 she moved with her parents to Siberia, where she continued her schooling, also helping along in various ways to supply the needs of the family.

At the age of 20 she became aware of her lost condition and after an evening evangelistic service, she accepted Christ as her personal Savior in the quietness of her home.

Fate had so directed that our parents lived in the same community, attended the same school and church, were baptized at the same time and united with the Mennonite Brethren Church. On Jan. 6, 1921, they were united in holy matrimony. This union, which lasted for 42 years and seven months, was blessed with four children. The oldest passed away in infancy.

The Lord blessed this home, and we rejoiced in His goodness. However, the pressure of communism in Russia caused us to seek God's face for a way of escape from the terrors of that life. In 1929 we were privileged to leave Russia with our two children and come to the U.S.A. We settled near Reedley, Calif. Here we united with the Mennonite Brethren Church. A year later we were led to move to Le Grand, Calif. where we have made our home ever since.

Our mother was never very strong physically but we considered her a spiritual giant. She was a praying mother and walked with the Lord. The Lord honored this dedicated life by calling her children into His service, one a missionary, one the wife of a pastor, and the other a devoted layman, working in the church. Our mother's interest was centered in her family and no sacrifice was too great for those she loved.

During the last year she suffered much from a damaged heart. About a week before her death we took her to the Merced Hospital in Merced. She departed this world Friday, August 16, 1963. She reached the age of 62 years, eight months and 14 days.

Those who stand by to mourn the loss are her husband, Henry J. Toews, Le Grand, Calif.; one daughter, Betty, and her husband, Rev. R. C. Bradford, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Santa Barbara, Calif. two sons, John and wife Harriet of Dinuba, Calif., and Ervin and wife Darlene of Dinuba; 12 grandchildren; one brother, Nick Friesen of Reedley; one sister, Anna, Mrs. John Thielman of San Jose, Calif.; her step-mother, Mrs. Margaret Friesen of Turlock, Calif.; two step-sisters, Mrs. Louise Mattson, missionary in Alaska, and Mrs. Nellie Larson of Turlock; one step-brother, George Klassen of Kingsburg, Calif.

The memorial service was held Aug. 20 in the Cairns Chapel at Reedley, with Rev. Dan Friesen and Rev. R. C. Bradford officiating.