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!!
