Hanley, Obituary

Mildred Nellie Ballard, 1931 – 2017

Mildred “Nellie” Ballard (Harbor) of Hanley, Sask., passed away at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon on December 7, 2017 with her family by her side. Nellie was born on the family farm on January 21, 1931. She attended school at Bell Rock and Hanley High. Nellie played ball with the “older” Hanley girls. She always said that she was younger than her teammates, but because she was such a good player they let her play. Nellie married Lyle Ballard on October 29, 1948 at the Harbor farm. Left to mourn her passing are: Diane, Stanley (Barb), Kim (Don), Lionel (Donna), Kevin (Melissa) and Kelly (Carla); her grandchildren Karen Pollock and son Tyler, Dee Ballard, Clay Ballard, Nikki (Craig) Storbakken and their son Hayes, Markie (Austin) Silenka and children Layne and Kodie, Nathen Bohrson and son Zachary, Arley Bohrson, Trisha (Drew) Kardash and their children, Hudson, Maecie, and Tatum, Mark (Amanda) and children Damon and Kassidi Ballard, Sarah Ballard Hawkshaw, and daughter Charlotte, Megan Ballard (Cam), Brooke, Kabree. She is also survived by her two brothers-in-law Earl (Elaine) Ballard and Elmer Ballard. Nellie was the last in the line, she was predeceased by her husband Lyle, her parents Rosie and Ernest Harbor, brother Stanley Harbor (killed in action WWII), sisters Catherine Suttie (Jim), Helen Remmen (Rolf), Doris Toles (Allan); Lyle’s parents Lilllian and Rueben Ballard, Lyle’s sister Lila (Clifford) Wood, Lyles’s brother Melvin (Billy) and their children Leslee, Terry, Dixie and Ronnie, sisters-in-law Jeanette Ballard, Irene Ballard, and granddaughter-in-law Tracey.

In her later years, Mom loved to watch sports. Curling and tennis were her favourites. She was an avid sewer and we have many of her quilts which were spread out among us including one for Harley, Kelly’s dog. She had many friends. Her home was an open house to the twins’ friends when they moved to town in 1980 and still they dropped by for a visit from time to time.

A Celebration of Nellie’s Life Funeral Service was held at the Hanley Centennial Hall on Tuesday December 12, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.

Expressions of sympathy in lieu of flowers may include donations to St. Paul’s Hospital, Saskatoon or a charity of your choice.

Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson was in care of arrangements.

Bladworth, Davidson, Obituary

Cardinal, Larry John

Larry John Cardinal passed away suddenly on November 30, 2017 at the young age of 65. Larry was a man of many passions. You could find him throughout the year dropping a line in the water waiting to catch the big one. During the fall he could not wait to get out to help with the harvest. He enjoyed being out in the golden sun working the fields with his family.

Larry’s biggest passion was his family. He leaves behind his best friend, his fishing and hunting partner and the biggest love of his life, his wife of 36 years Lorriane Cardinal. Larry also leaves behind two sons who share in his passion. He leaves behind Michael (Teresa) Cardinal and Rodney (Julie) Cardinal. His three grandchildren were his biggest pride in life. He was very proud to be a grandfather and loved Danika, April and Austin with all his heart. Larry came from a very large close-knit family who spent many holidays, reunions, fishing and hunting trips together. He leaves behind his brothers Walter (Darlene) Cardinal, Mark (Gaylene) Cardinal, Frank (Elaine) Cardinal, his sisters Amber (David) Greene, Nadine (Dwight) Gartner, Iris (Byron) Greene, Inez and her partner Paulette and Indira (Grady) Goodman, Helen and her partner Dan, and Sandra Bast. He also leaves behind many dear brothers- and sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, great-nephews and -nieces. His companion and furry sidekick Patch will miss him greatly.

Larry is predeceased by his parents Tony and Doris Cardinal, his mother- and father-in-law Mary and Herman Skalicky and granddaughter Autumn Cardinal. Larry’s motto was WIN which stood for “What’s Important Now”. Larry wore a WIN band on his wrist every day to remind himself and for him to remind others of this.

An interment will take place at a later date in July 2018 at the Bladworth Cemetery.

Aylesbury, Craik, Obituary

Marion Frances MacLaggan, 1945 – 2017

December 8, 2017 Marion MacLaggan passed away peacefully in her sleep with family at her side at the Sunnyside Adventists Care Home in Saskatoon. Marion was born in Paignton, Devon, England on March 27, 1945 to parents Ron and Frances Brown. The family moved to Moose Jaw in 1948 and later to Aylesbury, Sask., in 1951 where Ron ran the Red and White grocery store and where Marion completed her schooling. She then moved to Saskatoon in 1963 to become a Lab Tech at RUH. In Saskatoon she met Rae and they were married on April 19, 1965. They were blessed with son Kevin (grandson Kohl) of Saskatoon and daughter Ashley (granddaughter Moira) of Vancouver B.C. Also former daughter-in-law Merilee Morales of Saskatoon. Marion is predeceased by her parents Ron and Frances Brown and brother-in-law Terry MacLaggan of Saskatoon. She is survived by her husband Rae, son Kevin (grandson Kohl), daughter Ashley (granddaughter Moira) and by her only sibling Eric Brown (Sharron) of Cowichan Bay, B.C. Also surviving Marion are three nieces Brenda Fleury (Dean), Wanda Levac (Dwayne) and Debbie Longmore (Davyn) and their families all of Swift Current, Sask.; two nephews Gary Brown (Inge) and David Brown (Tabby) and their families of Whitehorse, Yukon and sister-in-law Lois (Terry) Johnston and family of Kelowna, B.C. Marion loved family most of all, her grandson and granddaughter being her pride and joy. Her favourite pastime was reading. She also liked travelling to Fairmont, B.C., curling and playing slow pitch when she was younger. She worked at RUH as a Lab Tech, Hi-Lo Mart, Pinder’s Drugs, MacLeod’s, K-Mart, Zellers, and finally London Drugs until her illness. Thank you to the wonderful staff at Sunnyside Adventist Care Home for the loving care Marion received there. At Marion’s request there will be no funeral. A family Memorial will be held at a later date. Memorial donations in Marion’s memory may be directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Saskatchewan. Condolences for the family may be left at www.saskatoonfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to SASKATOON FUNERAL HOME (306) 244-5577.

Davidson, featured

Province honours “Lentil King” with Order of Merit

Lt.-Gov. Vaughn Solomon Schofield is pictured with Saskatchewan Order of Merit recipient Murad Al-Katib.
(Photo courtesy Government of Saskatchewan)

By Joel van der Veen

REGINA — When Murad Al-Katib came home Wednesday night, his teenage son Tariq greeted him with a hug and told his father he was proud of him.

In the last two years, Al-Katib has been celebrated and honoured on the global stage multiple times.

But as he told the Leader last week, there’s something special about being recognized by those closest to you.

On Wednesday, Al-Katib was one of 10 inductees into the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, the province’s highest honour, presented at a ceremony in Regina by Lt-Gov. Vaughn Solomon Schofield.

As a first-generation Canadian, Al-Katib said the honour meant a great deal to him.

“This is home, this is Saskatchewan,” he said in an interview with the Leader. “We were raised with that pride, that this was our (home) and our province.”

Al-Katib, a native of Davidson who now lives in Regina, is president and CEO of AGT Food and Ingredients, one of the world’s largest suppliers of pulses, staple foods and food ingredients.

The citation from the province called him one of Saskatchewan’s “greatest homegrown success stories,” crediting him with creating jobs here and linking the province’s producers to new and emerging markets across the world.

He was also recognized for his philanthropic work, based on a philosophy he has called “compassionate entrepreneurialism.”

Last year AGT worked with the United Nations, Red Cross and other organizations to distribute more than 4.5 million food parcels to refugee families.

Al-Katib said receiving the award was an emotional experience, as he stood alongside nine other people, noted for their accomplishments in the arts, education, business, government and military.

For the full story, please see the Dec. 4 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, featured

“Heartland” fans enjoy a day on the set

From left, Cathy Sperling, Maggie Boehm, Ashton Schneider, and Jack and Marie Schneider attended a “Fans as Extras Day” on the set of “Heartland,” on the Calgary Stampede grounds on Nov. 23.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Ashton Schneider recently had the chance to see his favourite TV show come to life.

The 15-year-old from Davidson, along with four family members, witnessed a taping of the CBC show Heartland in Calgary in late November.

They were part of a “Fans as Extras Day,” during which they were on the set for five hours as the cast and crew shot scenes for the upcoming season finale.

The scenes take place in an arena, and roughly 1,200 fans were invited to the set to fill the stands as extras.

Ashton made the 1,500-km trip with his cousin Maggie Boehm, his grandmother Cathy Sperling and grandparents Jack and Marie Schneider.

While all of them are fans of Heartland, Ashton says it’s his favourite show, and he’s seen most of the episodes, some of them multiple times.

“He was just so excited,” said Cathy. “I think it was really a highlight for him . . . To think that you could ever get that close.”

For the full story, please see the Dec. 4 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

featured, Strongfield

Wind delays work on Strongfield curling rink

The frame for Strongfield’s new curling rink (pictured on Nov. 28) is now complete. The addition of tin roofing and siding is expected to wrap up this week.
(Photo courtesy of Brandy Losie)

By Joel van der Veen

STRONGFIELD — Once again, prairie winds appear to be conspiring against Strongfield’s curlers.

A July 20 wind storm flattened the village’s curling rink, a popular gathering place for more than 50 years.

Before long, plans were underway to build a new rink, a simplified structure that would allow curling to continue.

Inclement weather has delayed construction, but organizers are hopeful that the rink will be ready in time for curling season.

Amanda Glubis, who serves on the recreation board, said she has her fingers crossed that curling will be able to start the first Monday in January, as per tradition.

“If the wind would co-operate, they’d have been done a long time ago,” she said last week. “It’s getting into a busy time of year for everything and everyone . . . The crunch is on.”

Construction on the rink began in early fall. The wooden frame was finished in mid-November, and crews installed tin on the roof last week.

Strongfield’s mayor, Jeff Vollmer, said they hoped to have tin siding in place this week.

“Every time it gets nice out it gets windy,” he said Wednesday. “Hopefully in the next few weeks they can get a lot done.”

Wind is especially problematic when workers are handling large sheets of tin, Glubis said, adding, “It’s not a fun job.”

The new rink will measure 52 feet wide by 154 feet long and stand 16 feet high.

It will look significantly different from the old rink, which featured a curved wooden roof, but it will serve the intended purpose.

“We’ll be able to use it for suppers and curling, and that’s what we wanted,” said administrator Brandy Losie.

Contractors had to adjust the size slightly when they came up against the concrete pilings from the old rink, which had been installed at an angle.

An insurance payout from the old rink is expected to cover the cost of the basic structure, at around $120,000.

For the full story, please see the Dec. 4 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan