Rosella M. Toevs
Obituary
NORTH NEWTON — Rosella M. Toevs, 90, of North Newton died on
Thursday (March 15, 2012) at Newton Medical Center.
She was born on Nov. 13, 1921, in her family home of rural
Inman to the Rev. Abraham J. and Margaret (Schmidt) Dyck. She married Kenneth
L. Toevs on April 11, 1945, at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church. He preceded her in
death on April 17, 1991.
Rosella grew up on a farm and attended schools in Inman
County. She received her elementary grade-school teaching degree at Bethel
College and taught for three years in a one-room school at Lake Valley of rural
Inman.
After marriage, she and her husband farmed together in the
Whitewater community for more than 44 years from 1947 to 1990. She enjoyed a
large vegetable, flower and fruit garden. She was very active in the Emmaus
Mennonite Church, directing children and adult choirs, organizing and serving
in the women’s mission society and teaching adult Sunday school classes. She
served as a leader in the local 4-H club teaching knitting and cooking classes.
Her commitment to worldwide relief was evident by her volunteer work at the
local Et Cetera Shop and various Mennonite Central Committee relief projects.
In 1990, she and her husband moved to North Newton where she
remained active in church and community for many years. She is survived by
children, Russ and Gail Toevs, Carol and Larry Entz, and Rich Toevs; six
grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Edie Krehbiel and Arlene Dyck; and
brother-in-law, Herman Toevs.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; sisters,
Hulda Enns (Waldo), Lena Martens (Menno), Bertha Toevs and Alma Dyck; brother,
Abe Dyck; and brother-in-law, Art Toevs.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Emmaus
Mennonite Church cemetery of rural Whitewater. A memorial service at 3 p.m.
Tuesday will be at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton.
Memorial gifts can be made to: Africa Inter Mennonite
Mission (AIMM), in care of Bethel College Mennonite Church, 2600 College
Avenue, North Newton, KS 67117.
