Nettie Wiebe (nee Toews)

Nettie Wiebe passed away peacefully on December 5, 2023.  She was born on October 4, 1930 to David and Helena Toews in the Altona area.  She was baptized upon the confession of her faith in May, 1950 into the Sommerfeld  Church in Rudnerweide, where she attended until her passing.  She spent her formative years in Altbergthal and then moved to New Hope where she lived and helped raise her younger siblings.  She married Henry F. Wiebe in 1953.  They farmed in the New Hope area until they moved to Altona in 1995.  She is survived by:

Leona (Mervin) Fehr

Merrill  Fehr (Stacy); Trent, Hunter, Kylie, Brady

Duane Fehr (Chrissy); Silas, Caleb, Gemma

Jim (Norma) Wiebe

Melissa (Andrew) Kunzelman; Jackson

Michael (Callie) Wiebe; Stella, Rhett

Brent (Amy) Wiebe; Noah, Leah

Karen (Richard) Harms

Wendy (Michael) Kathler; Aaron, Madelyn

Michelle Harms

Grant (Jocelyn) Wiebe

Hannah Wiebe

Seth Wiebe

One brother, Elmer; sisters-in-law, Ruth, Agnes, Kay, and Dianne; and two brothers-in-law, Bill and Abe.

My mom had a great sense of humor.  She would play along with jokes that involved the grandkids, even if she didn’t know what they were about.  It was always interesting when I’d get a call from her and she was laughing.  I learned to ask, “Mom, what did you do?”  We have had to send out several family search parties to look for my mom and her friends when her car has broken down and the battery on her cell phone had died.  One time we found my mom and her friends walking down a dirt road that was clearly marked with a “bridge out” sign.  If they had been teenagers, we would have been suspicious of their activities.  Since they were clearly of adult age, we just shook our heads.

She was involved with her community.  She took part in the local Low German performances.  She was part of the Sommerfeld Mass Choir which she really enjoyed.  Our dad went along with her, but it wasn’t necessarily his choice to be there.   She always said that she wasn’t the best singer, but she enjoyed the social aspect.

I recently discovered, that as a young adult, our mom played in a band with her long time friend, Marge Friesen and some others.  We believe that she played the guitar.  We also heard that they had entered a talent show in Plum Coulee and entertained in the Weidenfeld and New Hope area.  Unfortunately, they never cracked the Top 20 on the Billboards.

You just never what my mom and her friends were going to do.  A number of years ago I went to play mini golf at Meadows Golf Course.  The manager was talking about a group 70 + year old people who had come to play Human Foosball.   As he talked, I realized that this group was my mom and her friends.  Apparently, they had a hoot – as did the manager!

Her and her friends were not be deterred by -35 degree weather.  I once reprimanded her for going out on a crazy cold night.  I had called and there was no answer.  Later, she said she had been playing cards, but never went outside.  I asked how this was possible?  She explained.  All of her friends were widows with double car garages.  The driver would pick up the first lady by driving into her garage, then exit, and repeat until the car was full.  At the final house they played cards.  When the evening was over, the process was reversed.  No one ever had to go out in the cold to start a car or walk on ice!

Our mom farmed together with our dad.  She didn’t drive a tractor, but she brought meals to the field,  milked cows, gathered eggs, and even hauled anhydrous ammonia tanks.  The farm yard was always covered in flowers, thanks to her green thumb.  She would sometimes pick a bouquet of flowers for me to bring to my wife, Jocelyn.  She was active in the New Hope Sewing Circle, MCC, the Altona Hospital Auxiliary, and the Sommerfeld Church Mass Choir.  For many years she also taught Sunday School.  

My mom and dad loved to travel.  This started with some family vacations.  Sometimes these trips came up spur of the moment.  They would get a phone call and take off within a day or two. She travelled to the southern US, the west coast, across Canada, and even Alaska. Her and dad often travelled to visit relatives.  The Friesen’s from California were special to our parents.  Our parents took a few bus tours together before dad passed away.  She continued on her own until she felt that her lack of mobility was a hinderance to the rest of the tour.

Our mom was excited as her family grew to include many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She enjoyed hearing about their activities and achievements.  She looked forward to their visits!  When the grandchildren were in school, she would invite them all for lunch.  When the youngest ones were in high school, she tried to have them over for lunch once a week.  She usually offered to pick them up, but they tried to find another way to get there.  Her driving was, well you know….  not quite like a fine wine – improving with age.   She would have her house available for the grandkids to stop by at any time.  All the grandkids knew where to find the key.  The only request was that they leave the empty soup jars on the counter so she wouldn’t be surprised by an empty fridge.

Her faith was a vital part of her life.  Sunday mornings we knew we were going to church, even if Jim was dragging his feet.  The Rudnerweide Bible study group was special in the hearts of our parents.  She was concerned that her salvation would be assured.  We know that it was.  We found some notes in her handwriting with the words “I am sealed”.

Our mom was a very social person.  Taking her to a restaurant was an adventure.  Having a meal with her always took longer than you thought it would.  You never knew who she would run in to.  She loved connecting with friends and acquaintances.  In fact, Leona would sometimes strategize to have her sit with her back to the room so that we could visit with her ourselves.

The day my mom passed away she was supposed to pick up her new hearing aids.  Everyone was looking forward to her being able to hear what was being said.  The last while had been frustrating with having to repeat everything.  She did not want hearing aids.  She gets the last laugh, she never had to use them.

Mom, you will be dearly missed!

Thank you to:

Pastor Terry Toews

Rudenerweide church, including the Bible Study and serving group

All mom’s friends for the support they have given her, especially through the last 20 years

The funeral service will be held on Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. at the Rudnerweide Sommerfeld Mennonite Church with interment at the Rudnerweide Cemetery prior to the service at 1 p.m. Viewing will be at Wiebe Funeral Home Altona on Saturday, December 9 from 1:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Donations in memory of Nettie may be made to Altona Health Care Auxiliary.