Eugene Richard Toews was born on March 27, 1935, in Langdon, North Dakota, to Abram and Priscilla Toews. He passed away peacefully at the Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas, on July 26, 2022, reaching the age of eighty-seven years.
His childhood years were spent on a farm near Wales, North Dakota, where he helped with crops, chores, and milking. He received his education in a one-room school in Moscow Township near Wales, North Dakota. He had two other and five younger siblings. After he was converted, he was baptized at the North Unity Mennonite Church on December 23, 1950, by Minister Joe Isaac. He remained faithful to his vows until the end.
Dad met Mom while he was in 1-W volunteer service in Kansas City. They were married on December 1, 1957, and shared 64 years together.
While living in Central Kansas, Dad worked at various jobs including Big Chief Industries, Hesston Manufacturing and Skyline Mobile Homes. Among some part time jobs, Dad worked for the township, grading roads and spraying roadsides. In the fall of 1972, Dad moved his family to a farm east of Pisek, North Dakota. While there, he worked at Olin Fertilizer Plant in Grafton. He later worked for the Russum Farm south of town, and during this time started his own farming. Raising seed potatoes provided the family with a living, as well as, many good memories during potato harvest. After he quit farming, he worked for the County Highway Department and especially enjoyed running the Road Grader. Dad’s innovative and ambitious approach to life lent many memories to us boys in our growing up years. His do-it-yourself approach was an excellent teaching program for us boys.
After retirement, Dad enjoyed small shop projects, gardening, and even built a clock for each grandchild. Many friends and memories were made serving at the CPS Unit in North Carolina, and as missionaries in Ukraine, Latvia, and Grenada. They lived in Grafton until the fall of 2018 when they moved to Pine Village Apartments in Moundridge, Kansas. Dad and Mom moved into Moundridge Manor shortly before Mom passed away. Dad was very lonely after Mom Left us. Our hearts are grieved at Dad’s passing, but we are happy his suffering is over.
Dad is survived by four sons; Gary and wife Elda Mae, Burns, Kansas; Randy and wife Bonnie, Livingston, California; Bruce and wife Susan, Pisek, North Dakota; Travis and wife Juliann, Grifton, North Carolina; twenty grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; three brothers, Lorne Toews, Jim and Cheris Toews, and Larry and Marina Toews; three sisters, Norma Reimer, Linda and Howard Toews and Janet Toews. He was preceded in death by his wife Joyce, his parents Abram and Priscilla, one younger brother Burton, one brother-in-law, and one sister-in-law.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 31, 2022 at 10:30 A.M. at the Grafton Mennonite Church, Grafton, North Dakota. Visitation will be Saturday from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may also call at the church on Sunday from 10-10:30 A.M. Interment will be at the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Moundridge Manor in care of Moundridge Funeral Home, PO Box 410, Moundridge, KS 67107.
His childhood years were spent on a farm near Wales, North Dakota, where he helped with crops, chores, and milking. He received his education in a one-room school in Moscow Township near Wales, North Dakota. He had two other and five younger siblings. After he was converted, he was baptized at the North Unity Mennonite Church on December 23, 1950, by Minister Joe Isaac. He remained faithful to his vows until the end.
Dad met Mom while he was in 1-W volunteer service in Kansas City. They were married on December 1, 1957, and shared 64 years together.
While living in Central Kansas, Dad worked at various jobs including Big Chief Industries, Hesston Manufacturing and Skyline Mobile Homes. Among some part time jobs, Dad worked for the township, grading roads and spraying roadsides. In the fall of 1972, Dad moved his family to a farm east of Pisek, North Dakota. While there, he worked at Olin Fertilizer Plant in Grafton. He later worked for the Russum Farm south of town, and during this time started his own farming. Raising seed potatoes provided the family with a living, as well as, many good memories during potato harvest. After he quit farming, he worked for the County Highway Department and especially enjoyed running the Road Grader. Dad’s innovative and ambitious approach to life lent many memories to us boys in our growing up years. His do-it-yourself approach was an excellent teaching program for us boys.
After retirement, Dad enjoyed small shop projects, gardening, and even built a clock for each grandchild. Many friends and memories were made serving at the CPS Unit in North Carolina, and as missionaries in Ukraine, Latvia, and Grenada. They lived in Grafton until the fall of 2018 when they moved to Pine Village Apartments in Moundridge, Kansas. Dad and Mom moved into Moundridge Manor shortly before Mom passed away. Dad was very lonely after Mom Left us. Our hearts are grieved at Dad’s passing, but we are happy his suffering is over.
Dad is survived by four sons; Gary and wife Elda Mae, Burns, Kansas; Randy and wife Bonnie, Livingston, California; Bruce and wife Susan, Pisek, North Dakota; Travis and wife Juliann, Grifton, North Carolina; twenty grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; three brothers, Lorne Toews, Jim and Cheris Toews, and Larry and Marina Toews; three sisters, Norma Reimer, Linda and Howard Toews and Janet Toews. He was preceded in death by his wife Joyce, his parents Abram and Priscilla, one younger brother Burton, one brother-in-law, and one sister-in-law.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 31, 2022 at 10:30 A.M. at the Grafton Mennonite Church, Grafton, North Dakota. Visitation will be Saturday from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may also call at the church on Sunday from 10-10:30 A.M. Interment will be at the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Moundridge Manor in care of Moundridge Funeral Home, PO Box 410, Moundridge, KS 67107.
