Edith Elaine Eck

Edith Elaine Eck was born on October 28, 1946, to C. Dick & Alice Loewen in Turlock, California. She passed away in Buhl, Idaho on November 30, 2024, after a short battle with cancer. She was 78 years old.

Grandpa and Grandma started their family with 3 sets of twins. Mom was in the 2nd set. There were another 4 children born into the home in subsequent years and the older children were kept busy helping around the house. This was instrumental in honing mom's early gift and interest in cooking, and she became the main cook at a tender age. Mom had a reputation as a good cook and the kitchen was her “happy place”. She was in her element when preparing a good meal for those she loved. Many people would ask mom, what is the recipe, and she would get a wry look on her face. “Well, I started with this recipe, but then I added a little of this, a little of that, didn't put as much of this in because it didn't need it, etc.”

Yes, we might be prejudiced, but mom had one of the most beautiful alto voices that has graced this earth. She loved to sing and the family did a lot of singing together. Throughout her life and into her later years mom would sit down in a chair, pick up a book and just sing her way through it. She loved to read, and that included reading out loud to her children and even reading chapter books to the family when we were young adults. She was the spontaneous one in the family. Impromptu family day trips, picnics, swimming outings, etc. were mostly her ideas. Taking care of her family was mom's greatest delight. 

She was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite by minister J. H. Loewen at Glenn, California on February 16, 1958. She lived faithful to those vows her entire life. 

She married our dad, Harold Eck, on July 4, 1965, at Glenn, California. They shared 58 wonderful years of marriage. To this union were born 3 sons and 3 daughters. Dad and mom moved to Buhl, Idaho in 1969 along with their 3 young children. They were one of the early families in the Buhl area. When dad was called to the ministry, mom gave of herself to support him in that calling, whether it was taking care of the home while he was gone for meetings or giving him support by telling him that she appreciated his messages. Folks moved to the Bruneau, Idaho congregation in 1981 and spent 9 years there before moving back to Buhl. They also spent 2 mission terms in the Ukraine between 2003-2008. Dad passed away on August 15, 2023, and although it was very hard on mom, she took it bravely and finished the last year with an unfailing smile on her face. 

Left to cherish her memories are her children, Laura and Jerry Unruh of Grafton, North Dakota; Stan and Jolene Eck of Paxton, Nebraska; Rachel and Brent Mastre of Grandview, Idaho: Paula and Brian Giesbrecht of Glenn, California; Vince and Barb Eck of Goshen, Indiana; and Shawn and Marilyn Eck of Wendell, Idaho; 22 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Harold Eck; her parents; her parents in law; 1 brother, Maynard Loewen, and 2 granddaughters, Shana Mastre and Heidi Eck.

A viewing will be held from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at the Buhl Mennonite Church, 4104 North 1100 East, Buhl. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 am, Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the Buhl Mennonite Church. 

Memories and condolences may be shared on Edith's memorial webpage at www.farmerfuneralchapel.com.