All posts by Tara de Ryk

Obituary

GoodsmanGeorgeobitphoto2

Goodsman, George Edward
October 18, 1917 – October 26, 2013

George Edward Goodsman was born at home on his father’s homestead on October 18, 1917. He took his schooling at Bermuda School and completed grade eight before leaving school to assist his father on the farm. He remained a farmer all of his life. He grew up in the age of horses and always loved them. He owned and enjoyed horses throughout his lifetime. He chose to serve his Lord and Master in 1933 at the age of 16 and was faithful to this choice to the end of his days. He married Jean when he was 35 years old and was married for almost 61 years. He died peacefully in the Davidson Health Centre on October 26, 2013 at the age of 96. In his younger days, George loved to have fun and was known to be a tease. He had a wonderful memory for numbers, names and events until his final illness. We have lost a link with the history of this community as well as the history related to friends and family. In the last stage of his life his caregivers remarked on how thankful he was.

He is dearly loved and fondly remembered by his wife Jean of Stalwart; three sons; Gordon of Thailand (Brenda); Gary (Bonny) and Glenn of Stalwart ; and his daughter Gayla of Lethbridge, Alta., as well as grandchildren Devin, Tanna and Jeric and step-grandchildren Sheena, Chelsea (Tyler, Kale) and Sean. He is survived by one brother, Frank (Helen) of Lumsden and brother-in-law Albert (Olive) of Viking, Alta.; sisters-in-law Edna of Saskatoon, Marie of Stalwart, Ellen of Regina, Marg of Maple Ridge, B.C., Ella of Calgary, Alta., Audrey of Kelowna, B.C. and Phyllis of Viking, Alta. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.
 

The funeral service was held in Imperial Community Centre, Imperial, Sask. on Friday, November 1 at 2 p.m. conducted by Jim Atcheson. A private family interment preceded in Imperial Cemetery. For those so wishing donations to Long Lake Valley Foundation or Davidson Health Centre would be appreciated. For online condolences, tributes or to make a donation please visit http://www.fotheringham-mcdougall.com

Craik

Craik library launches Page Turners

Reading is fun.
Helping kids discover the pleasure in books is the aim of a new program launched this month at the Craik branch of Palliser Regional library.
The Page Turners, a reading club for children in grades kindergarten to five, met Oct. 1 at the Craik library, where they became immersed in the funny, far-fetched stories of Robert Munsch.
Munsch’s illustrated picture books are popular with many children because of the crazy predicaments that children and more often, their parents and teachers, find themselves in.
The Craik library created the Page Turners Club to remind kids that it’s fun to read, said librarian Jo McAlpine.
The club is also a way to encourage children to regularly visit the library.
“It’s a change from holiday themes, so everything isn’t centred around holidays and to show kids they can come to the library when it isn’t Halloween.”
Jody Kearns leads the group, reading a few stories to the children and then gets them involved in a hands-on activity.
Last week’s task involved making a giant cookie to coincide with Munsch’s book Mmm, Cookies!
The Page Turners also made diaries so they may keep track of all the books they’ve read.
To motivate children to keep reading, McAlpine said, they have developed a reward program so that every week, when children return a book they receive a project. Once they return three to four completed projects, they receive a prize.
These projects are fun and simple.
The first project was to match characters to Munsch’s books. Another project shows kids how to draw a pig.
The inaugural meeting of the Page Turners Club had 14 children participating. Next month’s club meeting will feature Dr. Seuss.
“We’re feeling a little guilty about older children (not having a reading club of their own), but we don’t have enough leaders,” McAlpine said.
Craik library’s Page Turners Club meets the first Tuesday of the month.

Obituary

obit SchneiderLucy

Schneider
Lucille Veronica
Beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully on October 15, 2013 at the Davidson Health Centre.
Lucy married Ray Schneider in 1949 and bought their own farm in Young where she worked hard milking cows and raising chickens. In the late 50s they moved to Bladworth and Lucy took over the chores and raised her children while Ray worked away from home. She loved being in her garden, playing cards, visiting and cooking for her family and friends. There were always cinnamon buns in the oven, pies cooling on the counter and a pot of soup on the stove. A few years later Lucy went out to work and was the custodian at the Davidson Schools for many years. Lucy retired when Ray’s health failed and she was devoted to taking care of him until he moved to the Davidson Health Centre. She looked forward to cooking his favourite meals when he came home on weekends. The coffee pot was always on and the house was always full of company, either playing cards or Yahtzee. She loved to play Bingo and go to the casino but her greatest joy was her children and grand kids. She kept up with their lives through many visits and phone calls. She was right by their side through the good and the bad. She was an angel on earth.
She will be lovingly remembered by children Michael (Carol), Stanley, Debbie, and Dean (Heidi); grandchildren Jason (Tamara), Scott (Melissa), Janelle (Jason), Roxanne (Nick), Heather (Dan), Brittany (Greg), Joshua (Stephanie), and Jordan (Katelyn); great-grandchildren Eric, Paige, Logan, Teagin, Tessa, Lachlan, Brooke, Hailey, Kassidy, Shaye, Bruin, Carter, Jayla, Cohen, Chloe, and plus one; sister Esther Irvine; brothers Clifford (Elaine) Irvine, Roger (Lorraine) Irvine, Richard Irvine and Stewart (Roxanne) Irvine; sisters-in-law Marcella Mitzel, Emelia (Lawrence) Pavelich, Theresa (Edward) Haberman and Grace Schneider; brothers-in-law Pius Schneider and Lawrence (Kay) Schneider; uncle Vincent (Pat) Pavelich and aunt Shirley (Dale) Weisner; also numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.
Lucille was predeceased by her husband Raymond; mother Frances Irvine; son-in-law Jose Vicente; parents-in-law Michael and Kathryn Schneider; sister and brother-in-law Cecilia and Vern Pinceman; brothers- and sisters-in-law Andrew (Shirley) Schneider, Elizabeth (Ken) Christopher, Jerome Schneider and Peter Mitzel.
Funeral services were held on Friday, October 18, 2013 at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Davidson, Sask. Lucille was laid to rest at the Bladworth Community Cemetery. Arrangements in care of Hanson’s Funeral Home.

featured

89-year-old Hanley woman survives elements

Verna Zwarich says she is prepared to buy a cell phone.
It’s a concession the 89-year-old Hanley resident made last Tuesday, speaking from her bed at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. She was recovering from surgery to repair a broken hip.
A cell phone would not have spared Zwarich the operation she needed Sunday to fix her hip, but if she’d had that phone, then maybe the surgery could have occurred days earlier, preventing a four-day ordeal of hypothermia and dehydration as Zwarich lay in her farmyard northeast of Kenaston waiting for help.
“I prayed and prayed and prayed so much. It was a big help to have God on my side,” Zwarich said.
She looked and sounded surprisingly well for an elderly woman who’d spent days out in the cold without warm clothes, food and water.
She gives credit to God for her survival, however, Zwarich, who prides herself for a life of hard work, must also possess a mighty will to live. A strong stubborn streak likely didn’t hurt either.
“What an experience at my age. But I’m a strong person. I do all kinds of work on my own,” she said.
She was out at her beloved farm about 9-and-one-half miles northeast of Kenaston on Wednesday, Oct. 9, doing yard work, including putting away lawn ornaments. She was nearly finished with just two more ornaments to stash in the shed when at 2 p.m., as she was walking to her pickup truck, her right hip broke and she fell. (This injury happened to the same leg that she hurt a few years earlier when the riding lawnmower she uses to cut the grass in her farmyard fell off the bed of the truck onto her knee requiring a knee replacement.)
Her right leg useless, Zwarich said she tried to pull herself into the truck, but couldn’t reach anything to grip. As she lay near the truck, Zwarich said she watched as cars and a school bus drove by on the nearby road.
“I was waving for people to stop, but they go so fast and they don’t ever look. I was out in the open where they could see me,” she said.
She crawled to the house, but couldn’t raise herself up to open the door.
So, “I crawled over to the shed Wednesday night because I knew the door was open there. I kicked the door shut and I laid there for the rest of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.”
Zwarich said she found two “skinny little quilts” in the shed she was able to cover herself with, providing a slim bit of warmth during the frosty nights. There she laid for three nights and two days, listening to the mice scurrying about the shed all the while praying and hoping that help would come.
“I was so cold,” she said with a shudder.
Saturday it seemed her prayers were answered.
To read more please see the Oct. 21 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Davidson

Hanley Elks farm for community

Members of the Hanley Elks last Tuesday celebrated their second successful harvest.
Five combines made the rounds on a half section of land northeast of Hanley as part of the local service club’s fundraiser.
“Our slogan is: Hanley Elks Farming for Our Community,” said Garry Dubyk, exalted ruler of the Hanley Elks Lodge No. 153.
Proceeds from the sale of the soft white wheat crop, whose yields Dubyk expected to average 55 bushels to the acre, will go towards community projects.
Some of the proceeds from last year’s harvest were donated to the Hanley skating and curling rinks, as well as helping with medical expenses in the community. Other revenues from the first harvest were invested into community farming project.
“A lot of last year’s revenue we put back into it,” said Henry Peters, Elk member and one of the project organizers.
He said the Elks borrowed the idea of farming land to raise money from other communities. He said the idea behind it is instead of having a lot of suppers and other small functions to raise money, they could pool their manpower and resources by farming land.
This year’s harvest is bittersweet for the Hanley Elks. The land belongs to the late Erwin Beaumont, who passed away in the spring.
Dubyk said Beaumont, who was 80 rented his land to the Elks in 2012 when he heard the group was looking for land to use in its fundraiser.
“He was so proud and happy because his dad had been an Elk,” Dubyk said. “Erwin even rode around with us for the harvest.”
To show their appreciation to Beaumont for allowing them to rent the land, the Elks invited him to their events that year, something the long-time bachelor seemed to enjoy.
“It’s sad he got sick,” Dubyk said.
Beaumont got cancer and died before he could watch the Elks farm the land a second time.
Dubyk said the Elks appreciate Beaumont’s family, who are honouring the three-year lease agreement they had with Erwin.
They also appreciate the support from machinery dealers and input suppliers for helping them with the initiative.
Hanley Elks has 48 members ranging in age from their early 20s to 80s.

Obituary

obitMcLaren, Dorothy

McLaren, Dorothy May
Oct. 28, 1920 – Sept. 15, 2013
It is with saddened hearts we announce the passing of our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and auntie.
Dorothy was born in Girvin on Oct. 28, 1920 to Dave and Euphemia Low. She was raised and got her schooling in the Girvin District.
She married Peter Alexander McLaren on July 25, 1944. They lived in the Girvin area where they farmed and raised their five children until 1985 when they moved to the Craik manor.
Dorothy was predeceased by her husband Peter on July 23, 1993. She continued to live in Craik for awhile then moved to Davidson.
Dorothy was also predeceased by her son Jim in June, 2009. She leaves to mourn her children, son Larry of Girvin, daughters Betty of Davidson, Donna (Gerry) of Coronach, son Doug (Cindy) of Davidson and daughter-in-law Sharon of Bladworth. She also leaves 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many friends.
Dorothy loved sports like curling, playing ball and later golf. She enjoyed music, reading, jigsaw puzzles and crosswords. Her favourite thing to do was going out for coffee with family and friends – they also came first in her life. Mom, until we meet again, we love and miss you forever. Your loving family.