Victor Lowell Amoth

Victor L. Amoth was born to Albert and Margaret (Toews) Amoth on June 29, 1937, in Wales, North Dakota. He passed away suddenly on November 1, 2025, reaching the age of 88 years. When he was four years old, Victor remembered his father debating whether he should buy a new Fordson tractor or move to Bonners Ferry. Vic wanted the tractor. But the family left North Dakota, traveling west to settle in the Kootenai Valley in Boundary County, Idaho. “Is this the real Bonners Ferry?” Vic asked when they finally arrived.

The family settled in District 9 with the mighty Kootenai River winding past their cabin. They spent many exciting hours on and in the river. The small ferryboat that crossed the river nearby fascinated Vic. At times, a mere twelve-year-old, he would run the ferry by himself while the operator took a break. His skill as a boatman was challenged one day during flood season when he and his sister returned from a grocery run to Bonners Ferry. A wild storm had blown in. Leaving the family car on the south bank, they baled into their waiting skiff with their goods. Vic rowed fiercely against the wild wind and current and rising waters and they safely reached the other side.

Victor met the Lord, was born again, and then baptized into the Church of God, Mennonite on April 18, 1950. He was faithful to this calling all his life. He met the love of his life, Nancy Fern Giesbrecht from California and they were married in Glenn, California, on November 29, 1959. Vic took his bride back with him to his service unit in Roseburg, Oregon. Vic loved his work there and considered staying longer than his two-year term of duty.

Forty years later Dad took us children back to North Dakota in a motor home, his memory from four years of age guiding him straight to the old home place. He remembered all the neighbors’ names and where they had lived.

Victor took up farming, ranching, and trucking with his sons following somewhat in his footsteps. He especially enjoyed trucking grain to Central Ferry and later reminiscing about those days. He cared about the community and served on the Mt. Hall Fire Department for many years. When neighbors or strangers needed help, he dropped what he was doing and went to their aid.

Víctor and Nancy kept three candle lights glowing in their upstairs windows facing the road. Truckers and other frequent passers-by watched for those lights shining in the darkness. To some, it was a warm witness of friendly people inside. Sitting at the kitchen bar, many of them would share a cup of coffee with Vic as he listened to their stories. There was always room at the lunch table for any neighbor that stopped in.

Dad didn’t communicate a lot of instructions on how to live. He taught by example, as we often observed in the respect given to his neighbors and friends. It was important to him to not have more than others, to use duct tape and wire instead of buying new. He had the habit of making things last. Sometimes as children we would fume while he slowly followed a neighbor all the way to town, not appearing disrespectful by passing them. He greeted life and people with laughter and a twinkle in his eye.

Unexpectedly, Victor’s health failed. After multiple strokes he passed away. We thank God for His mercy and answered prayers during that difficult week. The family thanks the caring people who helped and supported them in prayer.

His survivors are his wife, Nancy Fern Amoth, sons Dallas and Tracie, Bruce and Tonya, Chris and Teri, and daughter Carol and Cecil Harms; 18 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren; one sister Betty Hofstetter, two brothers-in-law Jerry and Elaine Giesbrecht and Chester Unruh; sister-in-law Sharon Giesbrecht; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Dad was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, two sisters, one brother, three sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law, one nephew, and two nieces, Teryl and Pam.

Funeral services will be held on November 6, 2025, at Mountain View Mennonite Church, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, Ministers Ben Nystrom, Glenn Ensz, and Shane Ensz officiating. Burial will be in the adjoining church cemetery.