Category Archives: Elbow

Elbow, Mistusinne, Obituary

RIPPLINGER: REV. FR. STEPHEN

Mar 10, 1924 – Nov 8, 2018

With sadness, we announce the death of Fr. Stephen Ripplinger on Nov. 8, 2018. Fr. Steve was born on March 10, 1924 to Stephan & Catherine Ripplinger on a farm 1 mile south of Kendal, SK. Fr. Steve is survived by his siblings: Bernie Ripplinger (Angie), Edwin Ripplinger (Donna) &Bernadette Agi; brother-in-law Walter Rog, sister-in-law Clementine Ripplinger as well as many nieces nephews and friends. As well, Father Steve leaves to mourn Joan – the other half of the “team” – who worked with Father in Moose Jaw at Church of our Lady and Sacred Heart Parish in Davidson. For 45 years Joan wore many hats: parish worker, secretary, liturgist, confidante, companion and caregiver. Father Steve spent three years in the army in the Ordinance Corps in Montreal, working in the dock yards loading ships carrying war supplies to USSR ports.

After the war, Fr. Steve entered St. Joseph Seminary in Edmonton for three years and then four years in Regina Cleri Seminary. Fr. Steve was ordained in 1953 as one member of the largest ordination class ever in the Archdiocese of Regina. After various early postings, he became pastor of Ceylon and the missions of Tribune and Trossachs, where he was for 15 years. Following this, Fr. Steve was co-pastor at Little Flower Parish in Regina. In 1971 -72, Father obtained his Master’s degree in “Pastoral Counselling” from St. Paul’s University in Ottawa and he was often sought out by individuals and families for help. On Aug. 1, 1972, Fr. Steve was appointed Pastor of Church of our Lady in Moose Jaw, where he served for 16 years. In July 1988, Father was transferred to Davidson parish for eight years. Throughout his 60 years of pastoring, Fr. Steve was always involved in the community in which he lived; he promoted and supported the C.W.L. in his parishes, was a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus and the Legion. Fr. Steve was an enthusiastic sportsman and outdoors man – belonging to wildlife groups and receiving numerous trophies for fishing, hunting, bowling and curling and became quite a good taxidermist and painter. Fr. Steve retired as a parish priest in 1996 and moved out to his cabin at Diefenbaker Lake. He then served the mission of Davidson at Elbow until he was 90 years old. Throughout his years of priesting, Fr. Steve was a “people” person. He treated everyone equally, no matter their status, making all feel welcome and important. Because of this, people have loved him and remembered him. Prayers were held on Wednesday Nov. 14, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. and the Mass Of Christian Burial on Nov. 15, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. in the Holy Rosary Cathedral, Regina, SK. Interment was held in the Kendal Community Cemetery, Kendal, SK. For those wishing donations may be made to Heart & Stroke Foundation. Hanson’s Funeral Service of Davidson, SK in care of arrangements.

Davidson, Elbow

Citizens heroic actions recognized

Wayne Willner was able to thank all the people who helped save his life after he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at Douglas Provincial Park. Pictured are Wayne and some of his rescuers (from left): Eric Packet, Alissa Forman, Jill Rettger, Wayne & Anne Willner and Josh Dolinski.

DOUGLAS PROVINCIAL PARK—Wayne Willner is living proof that it pays to be kind to people.

The friendly hospitality Wayne and his wife Anne have bestowed over the years has made them people whom others want to be around.

After all, you never know when you’ll need a few people nearby to save your life.

The lifesaving actions of those around them the night of May 19, when Wayne went into sudden cardiac arrest, were recognized last Wednesday.

The Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program and Saskatchewan Parks, Recreation and Culture held an event at Douglas Provincial Park to recognize Eric Packet, Alissa Forman, Jill Rettger, Josh Dolinski, Elbow volunteer First Responders Mark Janke and Dale Hundeby and the EMS crew from Central Butte who assisted in getting Wayne to hospital by STARS Air Ambulance.

They all helped Wayne beat the odds.

In Canada, the odds of surviving an out of hospital cardiac arrest is 5 per cent, said Amber Gorman, co-ordinator for the PAD program in Regina.

It’s her job to help businesses and organizations become automated external defibrillator (AED) sites. She knows they are crucial in helping people who experience a sudden loss of heart function.

“If you can start chest compressions on someone who goes into cardiac arrest immediately it increases chances of surviving by 30 per cent. If you can get an AED on somebody within two to five minutes, it increases chances of surviving by 80 per cent,” she said. “If you do nothing for 10 minutes, chances of surviving go down 10 per cent every minute. There is a less than two per cent chance of surviving after 10 minutes.”

Elbow First Responders Dale Hundeby and Mark Janke know the importance of bystanders getting involved.

“The CPR they were doing before we got here was the critical difference,” Hundeby said.

“To be there on the spot made all the difference in the world,” Janke agreed.

Hundeby recalled the words of an instructor during a first responder training session that could help people overcome fear or reluctance when it comes to performing chest compressions and using an AED.

“You can’t do anything wrong if they’re already dead. You can’t get any worse than dead,” Hundeby said.

That’s where Wayne was headed shortly after 10:30 p.m., May 19 when Anne discovered him unconscious in the backyard of the Store by the Shore.

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Davidson, Elbow, Obituary

LOCKWOOD, Hazel Eileen

October 29, 1919 – February 2, 2018

Hazel Lockwood passed away on February 2, 2018 after living 98 happy years. She was ever grateful for her many blessings. Hazel was the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan Hudson of Ogema Sask. She had twin brothers, Morley and Mervin. She taught school at Truax, Pangman and Chamberlain. She met farmer Donald Lockwood at a dance at the Davidson airport. They were happily married for 62 years; proud parents of three children – Laurie, Lee and Morley. Don and Hazel lived in Regina for 13 years when Don was Vice-President of Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and returned to Davidson to retire. They were fortunate to travel extensively over the years and live as “snowbirds” for 20 winters in California. Hazel actively enjoyed volunteer work, music, china painting, curling, bridge, golf and writing family history. She moved to Saskatoon after Donald’s death in 2006. Hazel was also predeceased by her son Laurie in 2010 and son-in-law Dale Bristow in 1986. Her loving family survivors are Lee Bristow (Lorence Peterson), Morley (Jeannie) Lockwood and Valerie Lockwood (mother of Todd and Sheri) and grandchildren: Todd (Erin) Lockwood and daughter Norah; Sheri (Brian) Erickson and their sons Avery, Easton and Zachary; Mark (Charmaine) Bristow and their daughters Teryn, Denae and Eden; Ian (Stacey) Bristow and their children Maya, Mason and Sophia; Kimberly Bristow; Cara (Mark) Burton and their children Taytem and Trysten; Logan Lockwood; Ashley (Riley) Hart and daughter Oaklyn; and Drew Lockwood. Hazel is also survived by Glennys McNabb (Laurie’s partner) and numerous nieces and nephews. At Hazel’s request, there will be no funeral. For those so wishing, memorial donations in memory of Hazel may be directed to a charity of choice. Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson in care of arrangements.

Elbow, Loreburn, Mistusinne, Sports, Strongfield

Curlers come home to Strongfield’s new rink

League curling resumes tonight, Monday, Feb. 12 in Strongfield. This new curling rink replaces the older structure that was toppled by a July 20, 2017 windstorm.
(Leader photo by Tara de Ryk)

STRONGFIELD—Curlers along Line 19 have come home.

Monday night curling has resumed at the Strongfield Curling Rink. The season kicks off tonight in the brand new rink that was built to replace the old rink that was destroyed by a July 20 windstorm.

A “Welcome home to Strongfield” banner was hung on the inside wall, greeting curlers as they stepped on the freshly made ice.

The banner is a thoughtful touch courtesy of Ron Sabiston.

When he was sorting through the remnants and equipment of the destroyed curling rink that were stored in the ice-skating rink next door, Sabiston said he found the banner, which was from the village’s homecoming celebration in 2012.

So he brought it over to the new curling rink and hung it up.

“This is like home. We’ve lived here the last four months,” Sabiston says.

He’s a member of a crew of volunteers who have been working nearly non-stop to get the new rink ready for the season.

He is known as “Northend Ron” to differentiate him from the other Rons living in and around the community including Downtown Ron and West Farm Ron.

“I found it kind of ironic. There were four Rons in town and then I get here and found out there’s two more Rons on the farm.”

Strongfield is like most Saskatchewan towns, populated by community-minded individuals who get things done. And they all have nicknames, so it can take a minute or two for a stranger to sort out who’s who.

George “Shorty” Follick was flooding the ice last Monday night. He’s known as Shorty to distinguish him from Strongfield’s former mayor George Bristow, who was of much taller stature.

Also part of the volunteer crew are Ryan Glubis, Strongfield Mayor Jeff Vollmer, Ronny Follick, Dave Wirth, Devon Ellscheid, Ernie Pryor, Jessica April and Amanda Glubis.

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Elbow

Elbow revokes rink privileges

Elbow rink.

ELBOW—Fun and games at Elbow’s Rink have been put on hold.

Due to an incident of mischief and vandalism the village has locked the door to the facility. It posted this closure notice on its website Friday, Jan. 26: “Due to damages the Elbow Rink will be closed until further notice”.

Village administrator Yvonne Jess described the damages as minor, more of a nuisance, including messes made in the washrooms, damage to a basketball hoop and paper towels were strewn about.

However, “Someone decided to burn some paper towels on the skating surface. This was the big concern,” Jess said. Concerned that the facility could have burned down, the village decided to lock the doors until council decides what to do next.

Council will be discussing the rink closure at its Feb. 12 meeting.

This winter, the Village decided not to put ice in the rink. Instead, in mid-December, they opened it up for kids in the community to use it to play floor hockey and basketball. There are also ramps and jumps in the building for use as a BMX/skateboard park.

The doors were never locked and people were free to come and go whenever they wanted.

Jess said users were informed that this access was a privilege, one they were expected not to abuse.

Jess said they do not know who is responsible. Nor has it been reported to RCMP.

Elbow, featured

Parent named Elbow’s Citizen of the Year

Elbow Mayor Rob Hundeby presents Joe Parent with the Citizen of the Year award during the village’s ratepayers meeting on Wednesday.

 

By Joel van der Veen

ELBOW — Three contenders were neck-and-neck for the title of Elbow’s Citizen of the Year, divided by a spread of just eight votes.

In the end, Joe Parent was the winner of this year’s title, presented during the village’s ratepayers meeting on Wednesday.

Parent was nominated in recognition of his efforts to beautify the town, and in particular his work on the Urban Orchard at the centre of Elbow.

Mayor Rob Hundeby, who presented the award, thanked Parent personally for his work in leading the crew of volunteers that tends and maintains the orchard.

“It’s just awesome to see that flourish,” said the mayor.

A report by the Friends of the Orchard indicated a successful year with a bountiful harvest that included apples, saskatoon berries and multiple varieties of cherries.

Parent in turn thanked those who nominated and voted for him, saying he was proud of the orchard — calling it a “unique” place in Elbow — and grateful for the support of the village and volunteers.

He has also worked on the village park and the entrance garden at the Elbow cemetery.

Also nominated this year were Evelyn Bramble and Grace McTavish. Residents and ratepayers were eligible to vote for their nominee of choice. Continue reading Parent named Elbow’s Citizen of the Year →