Maylo Smith Toppins, age 97, of Glendive, passed away on Sunday, April 10, 2016 at the Glendive Medical Center in Glendive.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive with Reverend Ruth McKenzie officiating. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Maylo was born on August 15, 1918, in Glendive, to parents, Charles and Carol (Harlock) Smith. Her father was a conductor and a brakeman on the Northern Pacific Railroad. Charles and Carol moved their family to Mandan, N.D. where the three “Smith girls” grew up.
Maylo met the love of her life, the dashing, handsome outdoorsman, Robert Toppins and they were united in marriage on September 4, 1937. Together they moved to Glendive where they raised their family. Bob was eventually promoted to Chief Dispatcher of the Northern Pacific. He was also the Justice of the Peace in Glendive for many years. Maylo was always extremely proud of Bob.
Maylo was a fulltime mother and wife and was extremely active in the community. She was very devoted to St. Matthews Episcopal Church and was very involved in the church guild. Maylo was a member of the Republican Women’s Club, knitting club, the birthday club and she served as the president of the Glendive Garden club. She spent many years and countless hours volunteering at the nursing home and the radiology department at the hospital. Maylo was widely known for her renown baking and cooking skills. She loved working in her garden and knitting. She was famous for the rummage sales which she held and enjoyed attending other’s sales. Maylo enjoyed listening to music; Elvis and the Beatles were a few she really liked.
She and her husband retired to a life of gardening and spent many happy years at Fort Peck, Mont. Bob Toppins passed away in 2002 and Maylo became a resident at the Heritage and eventually the nursing home. She will be missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Carol Smith; sisters, Betty Hoy and JoAnn Bell; husband, Bob Toppins; daughters, Elizabeth and Deborah; and grandchildren, Tracy and Todd Sykes.
Survivors include her daughter, Tenley Toppins of Bozeman, Mont.; son, Terry (Carole) Toppins of Missoula, Mont.; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Memorials are suggested in Maylo’s name to the Glendive Hospital Auxiliary, 202 Prospect Drive Glendive, Mont. 59330.
Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.