Margaret Penner Toews was born to John M. and Helen P. Penner on March 13, 1933 at home in St. Anne, MB.

She spent many happy hours on the family farmstead. She received her eight years of formal education at Greenland, MB and then continued to quench her thirst for learning by reading voraciously. Her love of writing was born early and continued throughout her life.

She felt her need of a Saviour at an early age and gave her heart to the Lord and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on December 1, 1943, by her father. She remained faithful to her vows and joyfully served the Lord until the end. Her personal and family devotions were very meaningful to her.

On August 10, 1952 she was joined in marriage to Milton Toews. They shared life's joys and sorrows for almost 58 years. This union was blessed with three sons and three daughters. She was also a beloved Mom to several foster children and to others who were drawn by her and Dad's love and acceptance.

During their life together they lived in Linden, AB, Yarrow and Abbotsford, BC, and Neilburg, SK. Many people knew her as a writer, a poet, an artist. We knew her as a wife, a mom, a grandma, a friend. She was an example of empathy, ever ready to shed a tear and sigh a prayer with anyone that suffered a misfortune or had a heavy burden.

She peacefully passed away surrounded by her family, in the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, just before midnight on April 9, 2010. Even though we know we will sorely miss her, we rejoice in the mercy of God in taking her to Himself without a prolonged suffering.

Those left to cherish beautiful memories include her loving husband, Milton, threes sons and three daughters, Randy and Darlene, Abbotsford, BC, Donovan and Donna, Center, CO, Geneva and Doug Boehs, Helena, OK, Andre Kuepfer, Lloydminster, SK and Davy Kuepfer, Goltry, OK, Eileen and Wes Schmidt and Bernie and Angela, Neilburg, SK, thirty two grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, and a special foster son, Chuck Lee. She is also survived by one brother Clifford and Anita Penner, Brooksville, MS, two sisters, Mary and Abe Klassen, Abbotsford, BC and Florence and Arvid Ensz, Madrid, NE, one sister-in-law, Marion Bignold, Crooked Creek AB and many special nieces and nephews and a host of relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Alfred, two sisters, Erna and Josephine, one brother-in-law, one sister-in-law, and one foster daughter, Madeline Lalilberti.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, Neilburg, SK with interment in Neilburg Cemetery. Arrangements in care of Sunset Funeral Service Linden, AB