June 14, 1935 – August 11, 2025

It is with heartfelt sadness that the family of Agatha Rupcich, of Saskatoon, SK and formally of Kenaston SK announce her passing on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the age of 90.

Agatha was born to Mary and Phil Lehmann in Estevan, Saskatchewan, June 14, 1935. She attended school in several communities in Saskatchewan as her father worked for the railway. She graduated from Davidson High School in 1954. After high school, she attended Teachers College at the University of Saskatchewan. Prior to starting her teaching career, Agatha spent time berry picking in British Columbia and traveling to Europe for an adventure.  Agatha taught in Dilke, SK until 1958 and then moved to Kenaston to teach until 1965. 

It was in Kenaston where she met Dan Rupcich. They were married August 21, 1965.  They built a home in Kenaston where they welcomed two children Mark and Maria. 

Agatha’s faith and involvement with St Andrews church was a significant part of her life.  She helped with everything from baptisms to funerals and every celebration and sacrament in between. 

Agatha became a Kenaston Village councilor in 1971 and followed by mayor of Kenaston from 1973 to 1982.   Agatha was very active in her community being involved with the Library, Chamber of Commerce, and many community activities from parades to picnics.

Agatha loved supporting her family by doing everything from driving the combine at harvest, growing a garden, attending sporting events and dance recitals.  Baking pizza on Saturdays for the girls, buying mud pies with cookies or sharing her roses with friends and family in the community were some of her favourite things to do.

In 2019 Agatha decided that it was time to be taken care of and moved to Trinity Manor where she liked nothing more than having her meals prepared for her and getting to walk away from the dishes.  She enjoyed many card games, music groups and conversations with all the people that she described as having the most interesting stories and lives.

Agatha had diabetes for the last 35 years which took a toll on her body from stealing her eyesight and causing her other organs to work a little harder.  On August 10, 2025, she closed her eyes and with the vision of standing in a wheat field with a light breeze blowing, she left this earth to join the rest of the angels in heaven.

Agatha is survived by her loving family, son, Mark; daughter Maria (Scott); sister-in-law Peggy Ludlow and numerous nieces and nephews that brought much joy to her. Agatha was proceeded by her husband, Dan; her parents, Phil and Mary Lehmann; and her sister, Florence Morrow. The funeral mass was held on August 25, 2025, at 11 AM at Saint Andrews, Roman Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers for those wishing to make a memorial donation in memory of Agatha may be directed to the St Paul’s Hospital Foundation Palliative Care Unit. Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson is in care of the arrangements.

Katherine (Kay) Burgess, aged 101 of Imperial passed away peacefully with family by her side, at the Long Lake Valley Integrated Facility, on Tuesday July1, 2025. Kay was predeceased by her husband Bill and her granddaughter Anita. She is survived by her six children, Mark, Greg, Marie, Joan, Peter and Anne and their spouses as well as nine grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister Ann, her sisters in law Cleone, Eileen and Val and numerous nieces and nephews.

Kay was born on November 29, 1923 on the family farm close to Bladworth.  She was the 3rd daughter born to John and Mary Krpan.She attended Silver Lake school until Grade 11 and then finished grade 11 and 12 in Kenaston.  She went to Normal school for three months in Moose Jaw.  Due to a shortage of teachers, as a 20 year old girl, she found herself teaching in Broderick, Sk. From there, she moved back home and taught at Silver Lake for 2 years.  She then moved to Regina where she worked for the Sears mail order office as a telephone operator and later at Wilson Stationers.  In 1950 she moved home to the farm to help her mother whose health was failing.  That fall she was asked to teach at Rouse School in the Imperial district.  School kept her busy but she found time to do petite point, crochet, listen to Lux Radio Theatre, write letters, play Bridge and Canasta, read, attend church and Red Cross meetings.  Early in March of 1951, Kay met Bill Burgess at a school dance. After a brief courtship, they were married on October 25, 1951. They enjoyed 65 wonderful years together. They established a farm site, where they lived until 1960 at which time, they sold out and moved to Imperial. Bill was hired to work with Ike Cruise, building the Catholic Church.  Upon completion, Dad established his own carpentry business and Mom became his bookkeeper, writing up invoices, paying suppliers and filing the taxes. Dad always said “If I couldn’t trust her with my money, I wouldn’t have married her!”

Kay was the ultimate homemaker. Her home was always clean and tidy.  Her food was delicious, her baking marvellous and no one ever left her table hungry.  She loved gardening, canning and picking berries, which resulted in delicious homemade jam, pies and jellies. She loved music, old time dancing, solitaire andjigsaw puzzles.Kay was a news and weather fanatic.  She watched the nightly news religiously and read a variety of newspapers including the Regina Leader Post, the Watrous Manitou, the Davidson Leader and the Western Producer.  She loved reading books about pioneer life on the prairies.  Her most treasured book was Clearing in the West by Nellie McClung.  She also enjoyed reading the Anne of Green Gables book series as well as the Little House on the Prairie books.

The town of Imperial where they resided from 1960 to 2018 was very important to Mom and she was proud to say she was from there.  For many years, she was the person new moms called to book a baby clinic appointment.  She also served on the Imperial Recreation Board, delivered Meals on Wheels and volunteered at the Watrous Music Festival.

She was very busy in the community and the church and attended many community events.

Mom and Dad loved to dance and were wonderful to watch.  They went to the Over 40 dances in Davidson, Twoonie Tuesday at Manitou Beach and jam sessions at Govan.  Once Kay and her friend danced a pattern dance to the Lili Marlene.  Kay was still an incredible dancer until well into her 90s and her son Mark and her enjoyed a dance or two while attending a Remembrance Day dance at the Legion in Saskatoon.

Bill and Kay were life partners in pretty much everything.  She helped him, he helped her. Mom was the sole parent for many years, while Dad attended the Saskatchewan Technical Institutein Moose Jaw and during the years that followed, when he worked for the Davidson School Division.  After Dad retired, they enjoyed morning and afternoon coffee at the café uptown. They also enjoyed cutting the grass at the farm which was followed by a coffee in the farm house before returning home. Their day typically ended with a hand or two of rummy, for money, of course! Dad received a Century Farm Award from the provincial government, of which he and Mom were both very proud of. When Dad’s health started to decline, Mom was his caregiver and cheer leader.  She wasn’t afraid to take on any challenge, managing his medications and appointments, dietary restrictions and day to day care.  Her positive attitude and unfailing support to our Dad was immeasurable and he made sure she knew he appreciated it.  In May of 2017, Dad passed away.  Mom continued to live at home until July of 2018, at which time, needing help with her daily care, she moved to Warm n Cozy care home in Saskatoon. True to form, accepting the change, she soon was involved in morning exercises, coffee time, sitting outside in the yard, playing bingo, enjoying her mail, listening to visiting musicians and enjoying visits from family and friends. She especially loved when her great grandchildren came to visit.  She loved when they sang songs and danced around and were just being themselves.  They were quick to share a hug, hold her hand and they loved combing her hair. Those visits are precious memories that her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will always treasure.

On May 12, 2025 Mom was moved back to Imperial into the Long Lake Valley Integrated Facility.  She settled in well and although it wasn’t always evident that she knew where she was, we think that deep in her soul, she knew she was home.  Kay was a much loved resident at Warm n Cozy and LLVIF – her care givers enjoyed her sweet nature, easy manner, expressions of gratitude and her wonderful cheerful smile.  She will be forever missed and spoken of often, for the incredible wife, mother, grandmother and GG that she was!!

Elizabeth (Betty) Lois Schmit passed away peacefully on June 13, 2025, in Quesnel, British Columbia at the age of 93.

Betty was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Wisse. She grew up near Elrose, Saskatchewan, along with sisters Mary, Viola, Joyce and Doreen.

Betty graduated as a Registered Nurse in Moose Jaw and then pursued her nursing career in Davidson, Saskatchewan, where she met Joe Schmit, a young local farmer with a small plane. They married in 1955 and raised their family in Davidson while farming and flying.

Betty was predeceased by her husband Joe and son Gary, and is survived by children Patricia, Valerie, Kim, Doug and Tom.

Betty lived the last few years in Quesnel, British Columbia, and her thoughts were always with her family, despite the distance apart.

Betty was quick to establish friendships with many who met her. She will be lovingly remembered as one who was a genuine listener, an engaging conversationalist and at times a fierce debater. She was an artist, did beautiful needlepoint and knitted many cherished sweaters. We all had colourful mitts made with love by G’ma.

Betty will be missed immensely by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her influence throughout her life on those around her will live on.

Davidson Town Council was elected on the promise of transparency, and Mayor Keith LePoudre exemplifies that pledge with his monthly “Meet with the Mayor” sessions. The sessions, held at council chambers on the first Wednesday of the month, welcome ratepayers to discuss their concerns and ask questions in a casual drop-in environment. Attendance varies from month to month, but LePoudre brings his laptop regardless, so he can review bylaws or draft a letter during downtime.

“(Meet with the Mayor) was a chance for me to meet with people if they have concerns and give them an opportunity to talk,” he said. “Initially, I had hardly anybody show up, but it’s slowly built up. The largest crowd I had at one time was seven or eight people. “The issues on that day were trees overtop of sidewalks and people not trimming their trees.” Through meeting with people, he helped them understand town responsibilities and those of the property owner with respect to branch overhang. He informed them that in cases where the trees reside on town property that public works staff are responsible for their care. In instances where branches come from property owner’s land, letters are sent to remind owners of their responsibility to keep sidewalk access available. He says that the common concerns people come to him are reflected in the recently conducted Quality of Life survey.

“What we’re doing about infrastructure. Where our money is spent, and stuff like that,” LePoudre said. “That always comes up in the meetings I have with people.” Town infrastructure comments are often focused on streets, sidewalks, sewer lines, and water service, but LePoudre is quick to remind people that buildings fall under infrastructure as well. “We are starting to develop a plan going forward, where we try to do some (of every- thing) every year,” he said. “For example, we have done camera (inspections) of all of the sewer lines, so we know which ones have to get done.” Using sewer relining as an example, LeP- oudre can quickly explain the scope and costs associated with major projects. Sewer relining work will be soon underway on two different blocks in Davidson. Of areas identified in need of repair, all but possibly one location can be fixed by relining from the surface as opposed to more expensive digging and replacement. Five hundred meters of relining is to take place at a budgeted cost of $200,000. LePoudre estimates it will take about 10 years of relining five to six hundred meters per year to replace the end-of-life sewer lines in town. Sidewalks have had a similar evaluation performed. Sidewalks with high-trip potential will be addressed first with a focus on higher traffic areas often found adjacent to businesses and services.

Council is currently budgeting $15,000 per year for sidewalk maintenance. However, it may be carried over multiple years to keep costs of contractor travel down and/or due to contractor availability. Town waterworks have received a lot of attention recently. Pumps have been replaced at both wells, a distribution pump replaced, and variable pressure pump controllers installed to soon permit changing water pressure to match the town’s variable hourly usage demands. A 2025 Operating Capital Budget infographic was mailed to utility consumers which outline the above work expenditures and many costs related to town operations. Residents may pick up additional copies at the Town Office or view the info-graphic on the town’s website.

“We’re (released) that information before but it’s hard to communicate,” he said. Council will continue to work on how it can best communicate to ratepayers using online and mailer info-sheets. LePoudre points to the council’s priority of creating an assessment management plan. The document will be a living document, meaning that it is to be continued updated and revised as town needs evolve and main- tenance is performed or equipment retired. “The Asset Management Plan says, ‘this is what we’re doing in the future,’ so people know what we’re doing,” he said. “It’s an actual plan.” LePoudre explained the challenges the town has faced with a recent project on Enterprise Lane. The high-traffic gravel service road, utilized by many businesses, residents, and Highway 11 travellers south-east of town, has been a sore spot for years. The town has tried multiple years to address the challenges of resurfacing the road, but were met with uncertain plans from the Ministry of Highways and contractor availability. “We finally got them to admit that they need to do it by 2027,” he said. “This whole project will be put out for tender in November 2026.”

He was pleased to say that the ministry will pay for a portion of the update due to its restructuring on the Highway 11/Enterprise Lane intersection and the ratepayers will enjoy a reprieve from the earlier forecasted costs. Additionally, the ministry will help the town in securing contractors for the project. Residents are invited to attend the next Meet with the Mayor for more information or to discuss any other issues.