Lorne Allen Toews

Lorne Allen Toews was born to Abram and Priscilla Toews on February 21, 1932, in Moscow Township, Wales, North Dakota.  He departed peacefully from this life on August 23, 2022, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota at the age of ninety years.  His passing was due to complications after a stroke.

Lorne spent his childhood and school years near Wales, North Dakota. Being the oldest of eight children, he helped on the farm and was often called on to care for the younger ones.  He received his education at a one-room schoolhouse in Moscow Township, near Wales, North Dakota.  In the spring of 1946, he accepted God’s call and was baptized on April 22, 1946 by John D. Penner.  He remained faithful to these vows until the end.

Dad met Vada Schmidt while he was in 1-W volunteer service in Kansas City.  They were married on October 20, 1957 in Montezuma, Kansas.  This marriage was blessed with three children.  They shared 58 years together and made their home near Grafton, North Dakota where Dad was a charter member of the Grafton Mennonite Church.

Dad worked willingly to provide for his family with his main occupation being carpentry.  He spent many years working for Adamson’s Construction, and later worked on his own as a carpenter.  He enjoyed reading, especially history, doing crossword puzzles, and stamp collecting.

In 2004, Dad began to retire.  Folks moved off the acreage and purchased a small house in Grafton.  After an accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, they moved into Leisure Estates at Grafton Lutheran Sunset Home.  Here he resided until September, 2021, at which time he moved into full care in Lutheran Sunset Home.  He was always very interested in his grandchildren and what they were doing.  He especially enjoyed holding his great grandchildren.

He is survived by his three children:  Ronald and Paula Toews, Grafton, North Dakota; Diane Toews, Grafton, North Dakota, Steven and Sonya Toews, Ward, South Dakota; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jim and Charis Toews and Larry and Marina Toews; three sisters, Norma Reimer, Linda and Howard Toews and Janet Toews, sisters-in-law: Agnes and Leroy Schmidt and Kathryn Schmidt; brothers-in-law: Delmar and Jolene Schmidt, Glen and Sharon Schmidt and Earl Schmidt.

He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, two brothers, three brothers-in-law and three sisters-in-law.

Funeral Services will be Sunday, August 28, 2022 at 10:30 A.M. at the Church of God in Christ Mennonite, rural Grafton, ND.  Visitation will be Saturday from 6:30-8:00 PM at the church.  Friends may also call at the church on Sunday from 10:00-10:30 AM.  Interment will be at the church cemetery.