Eunice Vaughn Toavs Wiens 84, of Lustre, Montana, passed away at her home, on January 3, 2023, from a short battle with lung cancer. Eunice was born on August 20, 1938, in Wolf Point, Montana , to Frank and Selma Toavs. She was the 2nd of 9 children. She attended Victory School through 8th grade, then attended and graduated valedictorian of her class from Lustre Bible Academy. She attended St. Paul Bible College and Montana State College.
On July 10, 1958, she married William Wiens. Eunice and Bill had four children: Kayleen, Charlotte (Charlie), Russ, and Baron. Bill and Eunice were married for 64 years.
While helping Bill farm, Eunice would bring her quilting with her. Many times she could be found cutting out quilts or appliqué pieces while waiting for her next truck trip. For eight years she was the cook for the students and staff at Lustre grade school. After retiring from cooking she pursued her love of quilting.
She was a self taught quilter who became well-known in Eastern Montana because of the many bazaars and local fairs she participated in. Several quilts were featured in quilting magazines. Many women learned quilting through the annual quilting retreats that she organized and classes that she taught throughout the years.
Of the many quilts she finished, the majority went to her family. Her children received quilts when they graduated from high school and college or when they married. Her grandchildren received quilts upon birth, when they turned age ten, upon graduation, and finally when they married or turned thirty years old – which ever came first. Having twice gone through breast cancer, she had a special place in her heart for those suffering from cancer. People she knew who had cancer received a cancer quilt from her. In addition, she donated many charity quilts to the Denver Childrens Hospital, to the Mayo Clinic, to Nicole’s Legacy, to Lustre Christian High School, and to many other organizations. At times she donated as many as 115 quilts in a year.
Eunice was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Selma Toavs; one sister, Pauline Krahn; and one brother, Arlynn Toavs. She is survived by her husband, William Wiens; her children, Kayleen (Neil) Fagerstrom, Charlotte (Charlie) (Jeff) Pflieger, Russell (Deanna) Wiens, and Baron (Jesse Redekopp) Wiens; by her grandchildren, Christopher (Chelsea) Fagerstrom, Shawn Fagerstrom, Michael Pflieger, Angie (Chad) Haidle, Ashley (Colby) Hash, Nikki Filman , Judy Pruitt, Dylan(Julie Hamilton), Wiens, Hailey (Alax) Jones, Shayla (Brandon) Chalmers, Rebecca Redekopp Kuzmall, Daniel Redekopp Kuzmall Jeremiah Johnson (Bear), and her great-grandchildren, Marley, Wyatt, Aijanna, Riley, Brayden, Karroll, Lily, Amara, Emmalee, Verna, Brenna, Brinley, Eli, Eden, Andrue and baby Fagerstrom.
A Celebration of Life, will be held, March 26th at 3:00pm at the EMB Church, Lustre, Montana.