Monthly Archives: August 2014

Obituary

obit-Farrell,-Alice.bw

Farrell
A Tribute to Alice Farrell by Bev Farrell (daughter)
Mom was born June 28, 1937 and passed away peacefully on July 29, 2014 after battling cancer for several years. She was the oldest of four children. On December 28, 1955 she married Richard Walter Farrell. Mom and Dad had 4 children, Brenda (Don Chernick), Diane (John Laidlaw), Beverley and Todd (Rebecca) and six grandchildren, Myles and Michael Farrell, Alexandra Farrell, and Liana, Miranda and Logan Farrell.
Mom had her hands into many, many things. She sold Avon for years then later she sold Tupperware. Selling Tupperware allowed her to go many miles. Her travels led her to places all over Saskatchewan then Toronto and Orlando, Florida. During these Tupperware years, she had time to decorate quite a few wedding cakes as well as tend to her larger-than-life garden. Many days were spent weeding and harvesting that garden.
We all had to take turns getting potatoes for that night’s supper. Mom had asked me to go get potatoes from the garden. For the record I know it was Todd’s turn, however Mom sent me. I heard someone knocking on the window. Thinking it was Todd I turned around and stuck my tongue out. It wasn’t Todd it was Mom…Oops… She opened the side door and called out…”you just wait till you get back in here young lady”. Needless to say that was the day I found a new hiding spot in the garden and stayed there till I thought the coast was clear.
As Brenda and Diane got older they decided to go to town to have a little fun. Curfew was midnight…well they missed that. When they finally made it home Mom met them at the door—Brenda got to go to bed…Diane had to do chores…Diane didn’t exactly think that was fair considering Brenda was the only one with a driver’s licence.
Mom enjoyed numerous different activities. She loved playing Bingo; she crocheted many, many doilies. She belonged to the Nis’Ku Wildlife Federation and remained a wildlife enthusiast. She loved her Blue Jays. When the game was on you had to “shush” as “her boys” were playing. She went to many Roughrider games to cheer the Riders on. In 2009 she attended the Grey Cup in Calgary. Mom was an avid hockey fan…going to many games in Moose Jaw. She loved curling, in earlier years participating…in later years attending the Briar and Scottie Tournament of Hearts with Aunt Dorothy. She took many trips to Moose Jaw and Regina and even south of the border to do little bit of gambling.
But her all-time favourite thing to do was cook or bake for everyone. One of her dreams was to open her own cafe which she was able to realize when she opened Alice’s Kozy Korner in Craik. Mom has baked enough of her special chocolate cake, cinnamon buns and butter tarts to feed an army or two. And let’s not forget those cheese moons. Mom is probably up in heaven right now elbow deep in bread dough.
Mom’s grandchildren were her pride and joy. She spent many hours at rinks, gyms and ball diamonds watching and cheering very proudly.
Well, Mom, it’s time to say goodbye now—it’s your time to fly with the eagles—finally free from pain.
We know you are up in heaven having a waltz with Dad.

Davidson, featured

Forget-me-nots plant memorial for Marjory Crabbe

The memory of Marjory Crabbe will live on thanks to a heartfelt ceremony and dedication at the Coffee Pot planned by the Davidson Forget-me-nots for this September.

“We just wanted to do something, dedicate something, in appreciation for all the work she did,” said Mary Ann Chomyshen, a member of the Forget-me-nots. “We chose the Coffee Pot because it was on the walking trail and she did a lot of walking, Marj, but there was no specific reason. It was just someplace for her.”

The Forget-me-nots, a local group of volunteers dedicated to helping families affected by Alzheimer Disease, have planted a willow tree near the bridge on the walking trail and will unveil a plaque dedicated to the memory of the recently deceased long-time Bladworth resident and Alzheimer help awareness crusader Marj Crabbe at a 1 p.m. ceremony on Sept. 17 before their annual Coffee Break fund-raiser. Crabbe passed away this spring shortly after the sudden death of her beloved husband Jim.

Sandra Zoerb, a fellow member of the Forget-me-nots, said Crabbe was passionate about raising funds for research into helping Alzheimer sufferers due to her own mother’s fight with the disease. She said Crabbe was there at the beginning of the Forget-me-nots, which is an evolution of an earlier Alzheimer counselling group run by Helen Johnson and Phyllis Mason, and her involvement centered mainly on raising money for research into a cure and communicating with affected families about help programs that are in existence.

“She ran with this fund-raiser for the Alzheimer Society through the annual Coffee Break and just made it her own,” said Zoerb. “She took every skill that she had and it just blossomed.”

Zoerb said Crabbe used her computer savvy and friendships to encourage people to support the cause and served as the main contact for business support of the Coffee Break. She was also the one who made sure business staff knew the Forget-me-nots would be at their door on the Coffee Break day with a tray of cookies and a donation container for contributions.

“We tried to make them really good looking trays of cookies and she was a huge part of that,” said Zoerb. “She knew that a good looking tray was important and I don’t know how many dozen sugar cookies with blue icing, that’s the colour for Forget-me-nots, she personally made just so we had a colour splash on each tray that went out to the businesses.”

To read more please see the August 25 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Davidson

Bikers ride for child abuse awareness

A great number of Davidson’s children lined its streets earlier this month to demand a safe environment for abused kids and applaud the work of a prospective motorcycle organization with a goal of ensuring this right as they paraded by.

The kids were cheering on the Child Abuse Motorcycle Awareness Ride that made a stop in Davidson Aug. 16 to travel up and down its roads in a parade led by Mayor Clayton Schneider. The 19 Regina-based bikers who took part in the ride from the Queen City to Saskatoon are striving to become the second Canadian chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) to go along with BACA Saskatoon.

“This is outstanding,” said Ron “Trouble” Frigon, as he surveyed the many children who played together in Arnold Park after the motorcycle parade had ended moments earlier. “This is more than we imagined.”

BACA is a non-profit organization that was formed in 1995 in Utah to rally a community there to support a wounded child. The body of bikers who work in conjunction with authorities to protect children has expanded from this first group to include chapters across the United States as well as in Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands and Canada.

The sight of a strong group of burly leather-clad bikers riding in formation though a small town evokes images of the outlaw bike gangs found in “The Wild One” or “Sons of Anarchy” and the parade down Main Street in Davidson under an overcast sky was no different. The light that dispelled this notion was the young kids lining Washington Avenue waving their arms in support as the throng of bikers roared past.

“This all is just people that are for the cause of child abuse awareness,” said Frigon. “It’s a worthy ride. It’s a worthy cause and you know the ride makes people aware.”

Schneider said the BACA cause of empowering children to not be afraid of the world they live in is one that is very dear to his heart. He said it was thus “an honour” to be able to lead the parade through Davidson.

To read more please see the August 25 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Davidson

RCMP seek help in solving RM of Rudy break-in

A farm shop break-in near Hanley has prompted a constable with the Outlook detachment of the RCMP to remind people to be vigilant when encountering strangers.

During the early morning hours of Aug. 10 a truck entered a farm located in the Rural Municipality of Rudy. Its occupants broke into a shop at the farm where they stole several items including wrenches, bench clamps and an orbital sander before getting away.

Outlook RCMP Constable Elliot Chubak said a resident of the property discovered the robbery in progress and when he shone a light into the Quonset the crooks took off. He said the robbers managed to steal under $5,000 worth of items before they fled.

Chubak said the resident did not get a good look at the get-away truck and they have no leads at this point. He said this could be different if people report suspicious vehicles to police when they are first encountered.

“The people that do this usually go out scouting first and drive by, go into the yard and ask for directions,” said Chubak. “It’s very important to try and get a plate number and a description.”

This information gives authorities something to look at right away in an investigation, he said, so people should report anything suspicious in the area from strangers selling bibles to asking for hunting information to police.

“It’s a great start for people to notice anybody coming in asking for something just to get a plate number.”

If anyone has any information about the Aug. 10 break-in, the Outlook RCMP is asking them to contact the detachment or Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers.

Sports

Tigers and Hitmen put on show for local ball fans

The Saskatoon Tigers and Regina Hitmen baseball clubs put on an exciting show for local ball fans earlier this month when the two Special Olympics teams took the field for a well-played afternoon doubleheader at Davidson.

“It was good,” said Tigers third baseman Braden Skillitier. “We had a lot of hits. We had a loss and a win. Regina was good.”

The scorching sun beating down on the teams Aug. 10 at the Davidson Ball Diamonds didn’t stop the players from giving their all in both halves of the two-game series that featured Tigers pitcher Trevor Unrau peppering the corners with smoke and teammate Morley Varcoe knocking the stuffing out of the ball to Hitmen ball players Morris Aisican running hard around the bases and Jason Mercer turning two from second. The boisterous crowd that filled the bleachers behind home plate showed their appreciation for the good effort whenever a nice hit was cracked or a strong defensive play in the field stopped a runner from advancing.

“It was great competition and great sportsmanship from everybody,” said Tigers coach Steven Koszman. “It’s a good social atmosphere and it’s a good opportunity for us to play in a game because our athletes practise (and) practise, but it’s really hard for us to find games. That is really what these games are all about. Give them that opportunity to compete.”

Rick Sanden, coach of the Regina Hitmen, said whenever the two teams meet the games turn out to be a fun experience for everyone involved and serve to keep the interest up among the players. He said a few members of their recent bronze medal winning team from the Special Olympics Canada 2014 Summer Games dressed for the Hitmen in the Davidson doubleheader and along with the new faces on the club allowed him to see where the team is at as they prepare to travel to St. Paul, Alberta, later this month for the Conrad Jean Slo-Pitch Tournament.

“Some of our guys (made plays) we haven’t seen before,” said Sanden. “There are a few things we’ve got to work on, but it was good (and) two close games.”

Koszman said the doubleheader at Davidson and everything else they do during the year is made possible through various fund-raising initiatives put on by Special Olympics teams including their popular SlugFest Charity Slo-Pitch tournament. He said the annual spring tourney raised over $15,000 this year and helps support the Special Olympics Saskatoon softball program through giving their athletes the money and opportunity to take part in sport, which sits fine with his third baseman.

“I love the game,” said Skillitier while the team packed away their equipment after the series.

Obituary

Firby,-George-Ronald

Firby
George Arthur Ronald (Ron) Firby aged 84 years passed away peacefully at Davidson Health Centre on Tuesday, August 12, 2014. Ron was born on the farm east of Kenaston to Jim and Eliza Firby on June 25, 1930. He attended school at McCraney School and Horseshoe Lake School. In 1945 he and his family moved to Kenaston where they took over the Y Service Station and Bulk Fuel. He worked there as a fuel truck driver getting an underage driver’s permit which he still had when he passed away. In 1947 his dad bought land so Ron helped him farm as well. In 1948 he met the love of his life Bernice (Bunny) Lindberg who worked at the Hanley Creamery. They married on June 26, 1950 in Rivers, Man. and came back to Kenaston to live across the road from his parents where the rink now stands. After ten months they moved out to the Black farm, east of Kenaston where they lived for another year. They then built a house on the west quarter of 19-30-2-3 where they moved in 1952. By the time they moved into the house they had two boys, Calvin Murray born Mar.31, 1951 and Kenneth Allen on July 11, 1952. They farmed and had chickens, pigs and cows to pay the bills. At this time he also worked for Pete George of Kenaston digging dugouts after harvest. In 1955, April 8, Donna Rae was born. At this time he also worked for D. Hoffman doing line work on telephone lines. He then worked for a contractor on the first four classrooms in the new school in Kenaston. On Aug. 20, 1962 Linda Darlene was born. Ron then worked for Con’s Construction on the next stage of Kenaston School , three classrooms and the gym. In 1964 the family moved to the Willbor Thompson farm on the west side of Davidson. On Dec. 17, 1964 Dale Ronald joined and completed the family. In 1967 Ron was elected as councillor for Willner RM where he served for 21 years, 19 as councilor and two as reeve. That same fall he also started driving school bus which he did for nine-and-a-half years and then worked as a spare driver for one-and-a-half years. He was on the Davidson Hospital Board from 1987 to 1992 and also sat on the District 15 Ag Board for 15 years. He was very community minded and hard working. Ron was predeceased by his parents Jim and Eliza Firby; also by the love of his life Bunny in 1994; and his oldest son Murray in 1969. He is survived by his children Ken (Terry) Firby, Donna (Rick) Rostie, Linda (Terry) Nordmarken, Dale (Patti) Firby; grandchildren Tracey (Dean) Palmer, Colette (Stephen) Webster, Kirk (Mel) Rostie, Kyle (Geri) Rostie, Kristyn (Carlos) Wells, Kory Nordmarken, Kari (Jim Crittenden) Nordmarken, Kalsy (Lindsay) Nordmarken, Dayna Firby, Sarah Firby, Cassie Firby; and great-grandchildren Carson and Emry Palmer, Michelle and Keagan Rostie, Ashtyn and Odin Rostie, Jadyn, Ryder, and Cohyn Wells, Paige, Haley and Larissa Crittenden, and Orrick Schiebelbein.
The funeral service was held on Tuesday, August 19, at 11 a.m. at the Davidson United Church. Private burial followed at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Saskatoon.