Bertha Toews Friesen was born December 6, 1920 to Margaret Wohlgemuth Toews and Henry Penner Toews at home in Ste. Anne Municipality. She longed for heaven this past 96th year, and the children keeping vigil at her bedside sang the last hour, before the angels came, the early morning of Tuesday, August 30, 2016. Mother's childhood years were spent in the Greenland area, working hard on the farm, where the bush met the prairie. Mother grew up in a family of seven. She enjoyed a host of cousins and attended the Blumenof School for 7 1/2 years. One winter she operated the switchboard for the local telephone. She was baptized October 9, 1938 by F.C. Fricke becoming a member of the Greenland Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. Mother embraced the faith to the end. On May 13, 1945, she married Frank Isaac Friesen, and moved to McTavish, Manitoba, across the Red River. In September of 1949, with their little family of four they joined the young congregation at Whitemouth, Manitoba. A number of Mom's siblings lived there. Dad promised Mom they would try it for 10 years, and they stayed for life. It was a pioneer's start – log house, living without power or telephone, water carried by pail, firewood splitting for heating and cooking. Four more boys and a second daughter were born at Whitemouth. A large garden and farm chores gave Mom endless work, canning corn, other veggies and fruit, on the wood stove in the heat of summer. Mother and the children picked a lot of wild fruit to preserve. Our Dad worked away from home, so, much responsibility rested on her. A visit to grandparents in Rosenort or Greenland meant eleven in the car, either in the heat of summer or the cold of winter. One does not even need to say her life was one of toil and challenges, living with almost nothing, and wasting nothing. She was of a quiet disposition, not easily disturbed and her children knew the true mother heart of love. After a farm auction in 1992, they retired to a house in Whitemouth. Mother sat by Dad's bedside every day the months before he passed away in 1994. She bravely soloed on. Her love of flowers blossomed and was always a colourful display, inside the house and out. Many, many the hexagon quilt was stitched with love and the grandchildren each have one. Every new grandchild and great-grandchild received the soft, knitted sweater set. Pot holders in patchwork or crocheted graced all our homes. With only one son remaining at Whitemouth her love was a long distance relationship. She enjoyed travelling and made several trips with some of us. She would fly to visit her daughter on Vancouver Island. Her daughter at Stonewall shared many days of visiting, puzzles, doctors appointments and filling her needs. Those living close enough were on a six week visiting schedule, and she always anticipated the weekend. A weekly Wednesday noon meal with widow friends was a highlight. All phone calls, visits and everyday ordinary events were recorded in her diary. An annual family camp out was held on her yard and she would sit at the campfire with us all. Her grandchildren loved her dearly. If she had difficulty sleeping she would go through the names of her great grands. Or she would say, when she lay down it was her time to talk to God or sing songs. The Church was precious to her and she left us a faithful example, truly a Godly heritage. Mother's health was mostly strong through the years. Mom loved her independence, living alone, and driving her car uptown. The week after her 95th birthday in December she took a fall. She had surgery, then spent three months in the Pinawa Hospital where she was well cared for. In March of 2016, she took residence at the Maplewood Manor in Steinbach. She remained weak, and after a bout with pneumonia and a diagnosis of congestive heart failure she slowly declined. We credit her home care workers for enabling her to stay in her home. Through the years they became daughters to her. The last month the grandchildren kept a running email that we would read to her: expressions of love, prayers and interesting episodes. Also a grateful appreciation to Maplewood Manor staff for the phenomenal care she, and we experienced. Those staying behind: seven sons David (Carol), Dan (Mary), Lewis (Barb), Henry (Lucille), Burt (Irene), Bernie (Mildred), Frank (Estelle); two daughters: Phyllis (Chris) Bennett and Priscilla (Ken) Kolesar; daughter-in-law Marcia; 35 grandchildren; 79 great-grandchildren; one sister Caroline Penner and one sister-in-law LuEtta Toews; as well as many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her husband Frank in 1994; three granddaughters: Melody, Sharilyn, Lisa-Marie, one grandson Anthony. The viewing will take place on Saturday, September 3, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, 162 Hwy 52 W, Steinbach, MB. The funeral service will be held on Sunday, September 4, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of God in Christ Mennonite, Whitemouth, MB. Interment will follow at the church cemetery, Whitemouth, MB.