Lawrence, Bernice
Nov. 29, 1911 – Dec. 9, 2013
Bernice Lawrence passed away peacefully on December 9, 2013 at the age of 102 years. She was a loving and caring mother, grandma, great-grandma and great-great-grandma who devoted herself to her family. Bernice was predeceased by her husband Norman (Ted, parents Ralph and Neva Armstrong, brothers Don and Bernard Armstrong, sisters Genevieve Hill and Geraldine Cummings. Left to cherish her memory are her sons Norman (Auldine) of Regina and Gary (Loraine) of Calgary; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law Gerda Lawrence (Hanley, Sask.), Ruby Lawrence (St. Paul, MN), and Finnie Armstrong (Surrey, B.C.), as well as many nieces and nephews. Bernice was proud to call Hanley, Sask. her home for 99 years and cherished the many friends she had there. The family would like to thank Sandra and the staff at Two Hearts Personal Care Home and Starla and the staff at The Star Treatment Home in Regina for their incredible care and compassion. A celebration of Bernice’s wonderful life took place at one o’clock Monday, December 16, 2013 at the Hanley Evangelical Lutheran Church. Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson in care of arrangements.
All posts by Tara de Ryk
SaskPower advanced meter consultant addresses resident’s concerns
The man in charge of SaskPower’s advanced metering program was at Craik town council’s meeting Wednesday to give an overview of the new smart meters.
Lloyd Crookshanks, consultant for SaskPower’s advanced meter infrastructure, attended the meeting to explain the benefits of the new wireless meters that, over the next year and a half, will be installed across the province.
The new meters will send a signal once every hour that provides regular information on electrical and natural gas consumption to SaskPower and SaskEnergy using a secure two-way wireless communication system. This transmission will allow both companies to use actual consumption information instead of generating estimates for billing purposes
In November, when she learned a smart meter was going to be installed on her house, Craik resident Ernady Destre approached town council with her concerns about the meters. She also wrote a letter to SaskPower’s CEO notifying the company of her refusal to have a meter installed.
“I refuse your wireless smart meter on the grounds that it has the capability of being a surveillance system, used by you or other parties, which could violate my right to privacy. Also my fundamental democratic right to protect my health from a possible carcinogen specifically radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by your wireless smart meter, supersedes any right you have to install a wireless smart meter on my property,” Destre states in her letter to Robert Watson.
Crookshanks said they have heard some concerns from people who do not want the meters installed on their property.
Many of these concerns are associated with the potential health impacts of radiofrequency energy emanating from the meters.
Crookshanks said SaskPower has done tests on the meters being installed, measuring the radiofrequency from distance of 8 inches away from the meter and the measurements come in at 0.5 per cent of Health Canada standards, which he said is “well, well below federal government regulations.”
He said this is much less than radiofrequencies coming from common devices such as cell phones.
To read more please see the December 16 print edition of The Davidson Leader.
Harriet Alexandra (Tommie) Weir
April 22, 1923 – November 26, 2013
Harriet Alexandra (Tommie) Weir (née Thompson,) age 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at Hillcrest Place in Brandon, Manitoba, with her family by her side.
Tommie was born April 22, 1923 on the family farm near Davidson, Saskatchewan the ninth of Harold (Harry) and Olivia Thompson’s fourteen children. Raised in Davidson, she trained as a Registered Nurse at the Regina General Hospital. There she became better known by her nickname Tommie, a derivative of her maiden name. The name stuck; her given name common only among her extended family.
While nursing at the Regina General Hospital, Tommie caught the eye of Walter Weir, a young man from High Bluff and Portage la Prairie who was apprenticing as a funeral director with Speers Funeral Home. Walter informed his parents, Maude (Christina Maude Cox-Smith) and Dick (James Dixon) Weir, who then resided in Winnipeg, that he was bringing his friend Tommie home for Christmas. Much to their shock, Tommie turned out to be a young woman. Maude quickly changed the sleeping arrangements while Dick poured Tommie her first drink!
Tommie and Walter married at the United Church in Davidson on November 3, 1951. They moved to Portage la Prairie where Walter began work at McMaster Funeral Home and Tommie worked as a nurse at the Portage General Hospital, residing in a suite over Hill’s Pharmacy. Their first child, Leslie Enid, was born shortly after and the young family moved to Minnedosa shortly after as the new owners of Weir’s Funeral Home (complete with local ambulance service, flower shop and furniture store, a common combination at the time.) Three sons came along over the next few years; John Dixon, James Patrick and Hugh Cameron.
Walter was elected as a member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly in 1959 under Progressive Conservative Premier Duff Roblin, requiring him to be away from home a great deal. Tommie kept the family and their business on an even keel. Walter’s appointment as a Cabinet Minister led to a move to Winnipeg in 1963 and eventual sale of the funeral home to Hugh Sanderson, a long-time employee, but developed the cottage as a connection for family and community.
In November, 1967, Walter succeeded Duff Roblin as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, hence becoming the Premier of the Province, a post he proudly held when he presided over the official opening of the Red River Floodway in 1968 and when together he and Tommie participated in hosting Manitoba’s Centennial celebrations, including the historic visit of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1970.
Tommie weathered the highs, lows and stresses of many election campaigns by Walter’s side. They were partners in public life. Their home was a gathering place for political colleagues and respected opponents, Minnedosa constituents and people from all walks of life who enjoyed their friendship and hospitality.
Retiring from public life in 1971, Walter and Tommie made their new home in Mississauga, Ontario, where Walter became President of Service Corporation International Canada and later joined Memorial Gardens. Their three sons kept life interesting and they enjoyed new friendships with neighbours and more frequent visits with “eastern” relatives. Five years later they decided to return to their roots, moving home to Minnedosa where Walter established a financial planning and insurance business. Tommie became involved in the community, particularly enjoying her leadership role in celebrating Minnedosa’s Centennial in 1983 and the Canada Summer Games in 1997. She tended a large garden for many years that kept her busy pickling and canning things that she loved to share with others. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting and crafts which will remain family treasures.
When Walter passed away unexpectedly in April, 1985, Tommie rose to the challenge of being family matriarch. She continued to be interested and involved in the lives of her children, grandchildren and her extended family. In earlier years Tommie enjoyed walks around the dam and beach road near her home in Minnedosa. She took care of and remembered countless relatives, friends and neighbours throughout the years, always finding ways to show kindness to others, whether it was funny cards, gag gifts her Halloween goodie bags, gifts of Christmas baking, decorated Christmas brooms or home-made antipasto, candy or fudge. In recent years crosswords kept her mind sharp and her vocabulary impressive. She enjoyed following sports, especially favourite players, always pleased to win a few dollars from Cam on their friendly bets.
Tommie was predeceased by her parents Olivia and Harry Thompson, husband Walter, his parents, Maude and Dick Weir, and her brother-in-law Bill Weir; her sisters, Nettie Frances, Gladys, Bertha Paintin and husband Claude, Lillian Bigg and husband Robert, Helen Hrubetz, Olivia Gillespie and husband Harold and brothers Stanley, Leslie, Alex, Robert (Barney) and his wife Margaret and their son Dale, who always had a special place in her heart.
Tommie also cherished the memory of beloved pets that were part of her family over the years, Mike, Tinkerbelle, Tuffy-Lin, Tuk, Brando, Quinn and Kayla and more recently time with Lynx, Patches and Comet.
Mom will be missed by her children, Leslie, her partner Terry Cheater and his family, granddaughter Kara Frain and husband Gord Dowhan, great-granddaughter Victoria Mary Dowhan (born after Mom’s passing), John Weir, J.P. (Pat) Weir, his partner Theressa Treloar and her family, Cam and his wife Alison Weir and their sons Nigel and Tyler as well as her sisters May Gill and her husband Bev (Unionville, ON,) Grace Halstead and her husband Ludwig (Skip) (Thomasville, Georgia,) brother Glenn Thompson and his wife Jesmond (Gimli, MB) and Leslie’s widow Elizabeth (Betty) Thompson in the United States in addition to many nieces, nephews and her vast extended family.
Leslie, John and Cam extend heartfelt appreciation to Pat and Theressa for always being there for Mom.
In accordance with Mom’s wishes, a private family service will be held and her remains will be interred next to Walter at the Minnedosa Cemetery. Flowers are gratefully declined. Should you wish to honour Tommie’s life please show kindness to someone who may be lonely or alone or make a gift in her memory to a cause you care about. Her family is thankful for her long life, well lived. Messages of condolence may be posted at www.brockiedonovan.com. Arrangements are in care of Brockie Donovan Funeral and Cremation Services, Brandon, MB, (204) 727-0694.
Lowdermilk
God has taken another angel home. Edna Mae Lowdermilk born on January 4, 1926 passed away peacefully on December 3, 2013 at the Davidson Health Centre where she lived since she moved from Kenaston in 2005. She has gone to be with the lord and to be reunited with departed family members.
Loving mother to Leslie (Marie), Linda (Richard), Lorne (Heather), Lee (MaryEllen). She will be sadly missed by ten grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, five sisters Fay, Lois, Fern, Marie, Doris and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members. Edna was predeceased by her parents Irwin and Minnie Ames, husband Bernard, grandsons Steven and Rosco Lowdermilk and sister Jean and brothers Cecil and Orville.
Edna was born in Davidson and lived on the Ames family farm until 1945 when she went to Saskatoon and took a secretarial course and lived with her sister Marie who was also attending school. She married Bernard September 1, 1949 and moved to the farm in Kenaston where they lived until 1982 when they built a new house in town and lived till moving to Davidson. She enjoyed gardening and her flowers gave her great pride. She loved spending time with her children and helping Bernard on the farm as best she could. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy and loved it when they would come and stay with her. She didn’t have a lot of hobbies but did enjoy needlework. After moving to town Bernard and her were regulars at weekly bingo games. She also enjoyed carpetbowling at the Adams Centre or just going to visit with friends there. They also attended many dances at the old hall as they both liked to dance and listen to music.
The interment for Edna will be held at a later date. For friends so wishing memorials in memory of her may be directed to the Davidson Health Centre.
Hanson’s Funeral Home in Davidson in care of arrangements.
Altar Egos marries comedic and musical talents
It was the time when the Soviet Union was falling, the Berlin Wall was crumbling and apartheid was ending.
Important events that changed the world.
Closer to home, however, all newly engaged couple Colleen McMasters and Mark Frobisher want to do is plan a simple wedding.
They soon find out that nothing is simple when two completely different sets of parents get involved. Add some bridesmaids who are girls who just want to have fun, a cast of other eccentric characters, the unexpected appearance of an old girlfriend, set it to the soundtrack of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and you have the makings of a pretty good musical comedy.
The version of Altar Egos, presented Nov. 28-30 by Davidson’s Kinsmen Club and Davidson Community Performers, was made great by the comedic and musical talents of the community’s performers.
From the band that played the music, the choir that provided the beautiful voices, to the actors on the stage, all turned in exceptional performances. Some gave memorable ones. Everyone in town now knows who Cory Dean is.
Mandy Tichit, delivered a Melissa McCarthy worthy performance as bridesmaid Maxine.
Appropriately big-haired Kelly Allan, as Colleen, conveyed the stress felt by many a bride-to-be who was foolish enough to have not eloped, despite her father’s (played by Peter Sarich) $20,000 incentive. Jason Low, as Mark, whose idea it was to have a simple wedding in the first place, quickly learns that nothing is simple when it comes to planning nuptials.
The audiences were appreciative of performers’ efforts and those of director Arlene Low, co-director Karen Reich and musical director Tracy Hodgins.
It took a lot of work, countless hours of preparation by cast and crew. In return, audiences received an evening of excellent entertainment and the opportunity to see yet another side, this one tie-dyed, of Jim Cross.
Bulbs rekindle fond memories
The community will gather Dec. 11 to celebrate the inaugural lighting of Davidson’s Memory Bulb Tree.
Davidson’s public works department, with the aid of the town’s bucket truck, was perched high in the sky last Wednesday, stringing lights atop the tall evergreen tree beside Davidson’s town hall.
At 7 p.m. next Wednesday, the memory bulbs will be lit and the names of the people for whom the bulbs were purchased will be read aloud. After this, everyone is invited into the town hall to enjoy fellowship, Christmas music and refreshments of coffee, hot chocolate and cookies.
The aim is to have a simple festive gathering where people may gather and share the community spirit, says Erin Gust, of Davidson’s Communities in Bloom committee.
People may purchase a bulb on the string of lights as a tribute to someone. Some bulbs are being bought in memory of a loved one or friend who has passed away. Others are being bought to signify an individual who is special or important in someone’s life.
The memory bulb tree is a joint fund-raiser for Communities in Bloom and the new swimming pool fund.
Davidson’s Communities in Bloom committee borrowed the idea from Dundurn where last year more than 900 light bulbs were purchased, setting the town’s spruce tree aglow and helping raise $20,000 towards building a new fire hall.
Davidson hopes its tree will similarly light up the night sky as people consider buying a bulb for a loved one this Christmas
There is still time to buy a memory bulb. They are available for purchase at the town office, local businesses and from members of Communities in Bloom and the swimming pool facility committee.