Sally Giesbrecht

My beloved companion, our dear Mom and Grandma, Sally Ann (Smith) Giesbrecht was born at DeRidder, Louisiana to Fred and Myrtle Smith on January 27, 1940. As dawn was breaking, and the rain was gently falling she departed this earthly life for her home in heaven on January 16, 2020, reaching nearly 80 years of age. When she was two years old, she with her family moved to Winton, California. She grew up there together with her two brothers and three sisters. She received her education at Winton Elementary School and Livingston High School. Through faith in the Lord Jesus, Sally gave her heart and life to God at the age of fourteen. She was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite by Min. Claude Unruh, on February 26, 1954, at Winton, California. She was faithful to God and His Church to the end of her life. She treasured God's presence in her heart, and we know that by His grace she has a place in heaven. Mom loved to sing in harmony with her family. During their youth, Richard and Sally were neighbors to each other. Later, they were joined in marriage at Winton, California by Min. John Wiens on October 5, 1958. They were blessed with four children and sixty-one years of life together. As a family we moved to Glenn in 1975 for a financial opportunity, living here until 1981. We then lived in Paris, Texas for six and one-half years, making many life-long friends. Mom was a hard worker, being a caregiver, and waitressing many hours to help make ends meet. It was important to Mom to know her neighbors, reaching out to them with her deeds of kindness. She was hospitable as the Scripture says, "given to hospitality." In 1988, we came back to Glenn, for Dad to lead the building of the Glenn church. Mom had a love for outdoor gardening. She planted many flowers, always concerned for their care. Especially after the family was grown, she spent much time working in her yard. She enjoyed arranging both floral and dry bouquets. Her grandchildren were a bright spot in her life, and she often prayed for each of them. For several years, Mom and Dad provided a home for their granddaughter Heather. As a family, we express our thanks to all those who have cared spiritually and physically for our mother's needs these last weeks of her illness. She is survived by her loving husband, Richard Giesbrecht; children: Jeff Giesbrecht of Artois, California; Karla and Lonnie Koehn of Marienthal, Kansas, Terry and Janet Giesbrecht, and Crystal and Scott Toews all of Artois, California, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Three sisters, Betty and Merle Schmidt, Copeland, Kansas; Claudell and Herb Spence, Livingston, California; Jacqueline Koehn, Livingston, California; Two brothers, Bill and Pauline Smith, Greely, Colorado; and Calvin and Connie Smith, Ballico, California. Two sisters-in-law, Velma Giesbrecht, Atwater, California; Marlene and Rodney Giesbrecht, St. Marys, Ontario; Three brothers-in-law: Leonard Litwiller, Sedalia, Kentucky; Lawrence and Connie Giesbrecht, Muleshoe, Texas; and Lester Giesbrecht, Winton, California. Those who preceded her in death are an infant son, her parents, her parents-in-law, two brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law.