McPhee, Audrey Blanche (Peggy)
August 12, 1928 — May 5, 2017
Peggy was born in Hanley, Sask. She passed away peacefully in Polson Extended Care, Vernon, B.C., with her children at her side. She is predeceased by her husband Roy, her mother and father, and all her brothers and sisters. Peggy is survived by Jeanette, Larry (Donna); grandchildren Craig and Rob; one great-grandchild Karsen; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The service is to be held in Hanley, to be announced at a later date.
By Joel van der Veen
HANLEY — A field of snow, seven teams and four spray-painted bases — all for a good cause. What’s not to love?
It was another successful year for the Hanley Sno-Pitch Extravaganza, an annual fundraiser for cancer research.
Organizers reported a clear day, a strong turnout and close to $16,000 raised.
“It was one of our nicer years,” said Madison Prosofsky, who organized the event with Robyn Libke. “It makes playing ball a lot of fun.”
The Extravaganza was held on Feb. 11 outside the Elks Hall, with seven teams taking part.
Including players and volunteers, around 125 people were involved in this year’s event, raising a total of $15,675.95 for the Saskatoon Cancer Centre.
The hall served as the event headquarters. Ball games were played on the adjacent lot with bases marked in pink spraypaint — “about as redneck as it gets,” in the words of organizers.
For the full story, please see the April 17 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
By Joel van der Veen
HANLEY — Last year, they played farmers beset by drought and depression, economic and otherwise, in the midst of the Dirty Thirties.
This year, they were ghosts creating havoc in Saskatoon’s Delta Bessborough hotel.
Leanne Griffin, co-director of the drama program at Hanley Composite School, said she likes giving her actors some variety in their roles from year to year.
“It’s good to stretch them and make sure they get to experience different styles of acting,” she said. “That helps them grow in their performances.”
Close to 80 people attended a dessert theatre at the school on Wednesday, featuring the club’s performance of The Hotel.
The 60-minute play was written by Griffin, and co-directed by herself and Brandon Hutchinson with a cast of eight students.
The story centres around a group of six ghosts at the Bessborough, who spend their days recreating their own deaths to scare hotel guests.
For the full story and more photos, please see the April 10 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Rose Haight
Rose Haight (nee Paulow), age 85, passed peacefully into glory to be with her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Feb. 11, 2017 with family by her side at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.
Rose was born August 25, 1931 to her parents, John and Anna Paulow. She grew up on the family farm near Krydor, Sask. After completing school Rose moved to Saskatoon. She started work at the Saskatoon Sanatorium, then later as a telephone operator.
Rose married Glenn Haight on October 14, 1961. They settled in Hanley where they farmed together, and raised their three children (Jeff, Audrey and Lyle).
She was a strong farm girl, who worked hard her whole life. Rose enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation every day of her life. She delighted in watching baby barn swallows sticking their yellow beaks and heads over the edge of a nest for the first time, seeing young calves kicking up their heels, kittens carefully walking across the grass feeling the soft blades on their tender toes, and she loved to pet the soft heads of the baby chicks as they ran around and pecked the ground for the first time.
Rose loved to see the flowers blossoming around the house, crops growing in the fields, and the many trees growing around the yard that she and her husband, Glenn, planted. Rose enjoyed gardening, canning, quilt making, helping move farm equipment to different fields, and many other aspects of the farm life. At the end of every day she loved to read her Bible, and the Daily Bread devotional.
Rose loved and remembered the achievements of her husband, children, grandchildren, and other family members and friends. Rose is fondly remembered for the many games of checkers she played with her children and grandchildren, a cookie box that was always full, ample supplies of peppermints in the cupboard, and her famous macaroni dish made with just the right amount of Cheez Whiz in the sauce. She put others first many times saying, “Don’t worry about me. You do what has to be done first.”
Rose will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Rose is survived by: her husband, Glenn, of 55 years; children Jeff (Lana), Audrey (Nick) and Lyle (Jill); eight grandchildren (Aaron, Joel, Jared, Caleb, Bria, Kyla, Carolanna and Lydia); two great-grandchildren (Jesse and Micah); younger brother Steve (Allene), and numerous nephews and nieces.
Rose was predeceased by an older infant brother, parents John and Anna, older brother John and his wife Mary.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Prairie Spring Care Homes, the Saskatoon Cancer Center, St Paul’s Hospital, Royal University Hospital 6200 and Oncology Day Care, for their great care of Rose during her last few years. A celebration of Rose’s life will be held Monday, February 20 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hanley Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hanley, Sask. Arrangements are in the care of Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson, Saskatchewan. Donations in lieu of flowers can be directed to Hanley Lutheran Church, Saskatoon Cancer Center, or a charity of choice.
Though Rose’s strong heart has stopped its beating,
birds will keep on softly singing,
gentle breezes will keep on blowing,
through the yard that Glenn and Rose’s love built,
until we meet Jesus, and forever more.
By Joel van der Veen
HANLEY — A jump in temperatures last week didn’t bode well for hockey players in Hanley.
The town’s arena, in operation since 1982, is perhaps the last operating facility in the area that still relies on natural ice.
“I think we are pretty close to being the only natural ice around here for a while,” said Cindy Prosofsky last week.
With winter temperatures on the rise, residents can only expect to use the rink for a couple of months each year.
Prosofsky said the rink wasn’t up and running till the end of December, and several days in a row of above-zero temperatures could put the rest of the season in jeopardy.
“You look at the weather we’re having right now,” she said. “Who knows what will happen to our ice?”
After three years of fundraising, Hanley is moving closer to bringing artificial ice to the rink.
Back in 2014, organizers set a fundraising goal of $1.5 million for an ambitious project that would have included a cement pad over top of the existing rink floor.
Prosofsky, who serves as president of the artificial ice committee, said they are in the midst of revising their plans.
As of last week, they had not released their new fundraising target — indicating only that it would likely be significantly lower — or the total raised so far. Prosofsky said that information would be publicized soon.
The Hanley Arena was built between 1980 and 1981 and officially opened on Feb. 21, 1982, replacing an earlier skating arena constructed in 1928.
For the full story, please see the Jan. 23 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Sonja English
It is with great sadness that we announce that Sonja Helen English (nee Opseth), aged 81, passed away on Nov. 9, 2016 after a brief struggle with cancer.
Sonja is lovingly remembered by her husband Wes; son Robert English (Marika), their children Adam (Miranda), grandson Garrett, and Christina; daughter Gina Martinson (Iver) and their children Ashley (Chris) and Spencer (Kristine).
Sonja was born Oct. 22, 1935 in Birch Hills, Sask., to Sophie and Trygve Opseth. She did her schooling in Birch Hills and LCBI Outlook before marrying Wesley English in 1954.
Together they built their home and their family in Hanley, Sask. It was there Sonja worked for the post office, Red and White store and library. She was a member of the Royal Purple, an active member of the Hanley Lutheran Church, a sewer, bingo goer, and enjoyed tending her garden.
She was loved and will be missed by her extended family members and friends.
A funeral service was held at the Hanley Lutheran Church on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Arrangements were in care of Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson.