Elizabeth “Betty” (Siroski) Rolheiser September 1, 1950 — May 2, 2016
Family and friends of Elizabeth Rolheiser are mourning the loss of a mother, sister, aunt, teacher and kindred spirit. After a very brief but intense battle with cancer, Elizabeth went to her final rest on May 2, surrounded by loved ones at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon. She will be remembered fondly by those who shared in her life, though this profound loss will also linger in our hearts.
Elizabeth was born to Frank and Rita Siroski and was raised on the family farm east of Kenaston. Her bothers Robert (wife Cathy) and Murray (wife Della) as well as sisters Anne (husband Travis Alder) and Maureen (husband Dennis Rempel) as well as numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews loved her and carried her in her hours of need.
Elizabeth took leave of her children Claire (husband Cameron Dyck), Tyler (wife Stephanie Dotchin), and Stephanie (husband Trynton Bowers), who will carry her legacy of love with them in their hearts. Elizabeth’s two grandchildren, Genevieve and Isabelle, will remember nothing but smiles, hugs and unconditional love. Elizabeth will find rest with those who have gone before her, including her husband Denis (deceased July 2009).
To all of her many dear friends, thank you for sharing in her journey and comforting her during the past weeks. Elizabeth was remembered on Monday, May 9 at a Funeral Mass at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in North Battleford, Sask. The Battlefords Funeral Service provided the funeral arrangements.
Juliann Sorotski (pictured here with Staff Sgt. Greg Abbott) speaks about her daughter Sheree Fertuck’s disappearance during a media conference Monday at Saskatoon RCMP headquarters.
SASKATOON — Wednesday, specialized investigative units began searching specific locations in the Kenaston area, looking for any evidence related to the disappearance of Sheree Fertuck.
The 51-year-old mother and grandmother has been missing for four months and police say they now believe Fertuck has been murdered.
“We believe Sheree has been the victim of a homicide. This conclusion comes after lengthy searches, analysis of all the evidence and our investigation into her disappearance at this point in time,” said Staff Sgt. Murray Chamberlin of the RCMP’s major crime unit. He said for Fertuck to have “absolutely no contact with the family, which is extremely out of the norm for Sheree, no banking activity, no activity on her hospital card — all those things add up to say that this is a homicide.”
At a news conference April 11, Chamberlin announced last week’s targeted search. He said the goal of the investigation into Sheree’s disappearance is to find her and to bring her home.
“Family was the most important thing to Sheree. Her No. 1 priority was her children and her wonderful grandchild,” her mother Juliann Sorotski said.
She hasn’t seen or heard from Sheree since early December.
On Dec. 7, 2015, Sheree took a break from hauling gravel and had lunch with her family at their farm east of Kenaston near Highway 15. She was last seen at 1:30 p.m at the wheel of her gravel truck, leaving the family farmyard. She missed an 8 p.m. appointment that evening.
The following morning, her family began looking for her. Sheree’s truck was found in a gravel pit farther east off Highway 15 with her cell phone, keys and coat inside.
Searches conducted by police, the family and the community immediately after failed to find a trace of Sheree.
“We miss her so much,” Sorotski said. “For those who knew Sheree, she loved her dog and was a strong, hardworking and a kind person. Sheree always took time to stop and talk to people. She knew everyone in the area and this is reflected in the numbers that came to search for her. I am overwhelmed by the support our family has and is still receiving.”
Chamberlin said police haven’t “discounted anybody as possible suspects or as possibly being involved in her disappearance.”
He said the investigation hasn’t found anything to indicate Sheree was involved in criminal activity.
“As far as motive, there is nothing to indicate that Sheree did anything to facilitate her disappearance or that caused her disappearance.”
Investigators were out last week searching specific spots around Kenaston and other areas of the province. Chamberlin wouldn’t disclose exact locations, but said these are areas, through their investigation, police had identified as important spots to look.
“The landscape has changed significantly since Sheree’s disappearance. Snow is gone, ice is off bodies of water.”
As of Friday, the search was still ongoing and an RCMP spokesperson said it could continue through the weekend.
Fertuck is approximately 5’4”, 250 pounds with graying brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing grey sweat pants, a grey sweater and white running shoes.
Davidson’s Jordan Matheson and Avery Ebenal both have their eye on the birdie during a mixed doubles match against Kenaston’s Carson George and Brooke Villeneuve on Tuesday.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — A dramatic rise in the number of Grade 7 players enrolled means Davidson School has two junior badminton teams this year.
Coach Ian Osmond reported that around 20 players in Grade 7 have joined the program this year, along with 17 players in grades 8 and 9.
“We actually had to split the teams up this year,” he said, noting that Karen McConnell has agreed to coach the younger players.
He said the Grade 7 class is an active bunch, which may account for their high level of interest in the sport.
“They love sports, they love taking part in school activities,” said Osmond, “and they’re a big class.”
Davidson’s Grade 8 and 9 players hosted the teams from Kenaston, Loreburn and Outlook in exhibition matches on Tuesday afternoon, allowing them to enjoy some low-stakes play and to scope the competition for this year.
Kenaston coach Evan Pasternak said he has seven junior badminton players registered this year — mostly boys, with just one girl, Brooke Villeneuve, taking part.
He said his players are looking to have fun and improve their skills, adding, “We’re not a serious, hardcore badminton team by any means.”
Grant Abbott is coaching both the junior and senior teams at Loreburn Central School. They started up in mid-March.
Abbott said they have a young junior team this year, with six players in grades 7 and 8.
Among them is Alyssa Glubis, who reached district finals last year but lost to a player from Biggar. Abbott said he’s hopeful she’ll reach finals again this year.
He added that he was pleased to see the high level of involvement among Davidson’s juniors this year, even if it likely means tougher competition for his school.
The season is moving ahead quickly, with intersectionals scheduled for April 21. Loreburn will host Outlook, and Kenaston will host Davidson.
Sectionals will follow on April 26 at Outlook High School, while district competition will wrap up the season on April 30, with competing junior players heading to Rosetown.
For the full story, see the April 11 edition of The Davidson Leader.
Maizie Siroski was born on Sept. 6, 1924. She passed away with her family by her side on March 16, 2016.
She is survived by her loving family: sons Les (Pat), Barry, David (Susan); and grandchildren Jennifer (Jesse) Schneider, Shaleen Siroski, Shannon (Mark) Thoner, Justin Siroski, Bradley Siroski, Tara (Jody) George, Jackie (Dallas) Loberg, Steven Siroski, Shelley (Tyler) Townsend, Sarah Siroski (Keith Matheson), Shelby Siroski (Taylor Pardy) and Jillian Siroski.
Maizie also leaves to mourn 21 great-grandchildren, her sister Violet Siroski, brother John (Katie) Sekulich and sister-in-law Joan Sekulich.
She was predeceased by her husband Henry, son Don, parents, brothers and sisters.
Maizie spent her life as a very busy homemaker. She loved to cook, clean, garden, and look after her husband and four boys. She was a very caring person and loved to help anyone in any way she could. She will be missed dearly by family and friends.
The Mass of Christian Burial was held March 22, 2016 at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Davidson. Interment at St. Andrew’s Cemetery, Kenaston.
Memorial donations in memory of Maizie may be directed to Davidson Health Trust Fund or St. Andrew’s Cemetery Fund.
Hanson’s Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.
The senior girls basketball team from Kenaston School poses following their bronze medal win at 1A provincials in Moose Jaw on March 19.
By Joel van der Veen
KENASTON — Winning the bronze medal at Hoopla last weekend may not have been the way Kenaston’s senior girls hoped their season would end.
But given the challenging year they’ve had, coach Gene Zdunich said, simply making it to provincials seemed out of reach at some points.
“It was a real struggle this season, we had so many injuries and so many people sick,” Zdunich said Tuesday.
“Just surviving it and getting to Hoopla was kind of the high point,” he said. “I didn’t know how far we were going to go in the playoffs.”
The Kodiaks hosted 1A regionals on March 11 and 12, easily defeating both Eston and Paradise Hill and paving the way for them to compete in provincials in Moose Jaw the following weekend.
They began the weekend with a close, physical game against Fillmore on March 18. Their competitors held a narrow lead for most of the game, with Kenaston tying the score at 44-44 with 35 seconds remaining.
However, Fillmore broke the tie with a string of successful foul shots, earning a 48-44 victory.
“We just couldn’t seem to catch a break,” said Zdunich, adding that in the closing minutes, “A lot of it was not in our hands.”
The Kodiaks thus moved on to the consolation game against Asquith on Saturday, which they easily won with a score of 81-34.
“Asquith’s a pretty young team,” said Zdunich, adding that competing in a faster-paced game came more naturally to his players.
Ann Ulmer was the high scorer for Kenaston in both games, scoring 17 points on Friday night and 38 points in the consolation match.
However, Zdunich said both games saw a true team effort from the Kodiaks, adding, “All of our kids worked so hard.”
He noted that he was also working with a younger team this year, with no Grade 12 players on board. On the plus side, the Kodiaks will be able to build on their past success next year, as no players are graduating.
Kenaston’s senior girls have reached 1A provincial finals 12 times since 1971, including a three-year string from 2013 to 2015.
The Kodiaks won gold in 1972, 1973, 1999 and 2013. In the latter year, they defeated Middle Lake 51-38 in the final.
The Davidson Bantam Huskies pose following their win over Viscount-Colonsay on March 15.
DAVIDSON — The Bantam Huskies finished the season with a 7-3 win over Viscount-Colonsay, taking the B-side championship in East Central Minor Hockey League playoffs.
Davidson hosted the final game in the best-of-three series on March 15, following a 3-2 loss to Vi-Co on March 6 and a 3-2 win on March 8.
Travis Griffin opened the game with an unassisted goal for Davidson, while their opponents were held scoreless through the first period.
Vi-Co’s Hunter Breckner scored to start the second period, followed by a second goal by Griffin, assisted by Deacon Nolting and Riley Berry.
Davidson’s third goal was scored by Derek Schmiedge, assisted by Josh Warkentin and Phoenix Prpick, bringing the score to 3-1 at the end of the second period.
Back-to-back goals by Derek Schmiedge and Hunter Wall — scored within 32 seconds of each other near the start of the third period — bolstered Davidson’s lead.
Hunter Herback then scored for Davidson, assisted by Hunter Wall and Derek Schmiedge, followed by a second goal for Vi-Co’s Hunter Breckner.
Connor Tetzlaff scored for Vi-Co with seven minutes remaining, followed by a goal for Davidson by Riley Berry, assisted by Josh Warkentin and Derek Schmiedge, bringing the final tally to 7-3.
The bantam boys had finished the regular season with 12 wins and nine losses. Derek Schmiedge was the team’s high scorer for the season with 32 goals and 22 assists, followed by Maguire Scheidt and Riley Berry.
Mark Scheidt coached the Davidson team this season, assisted by Greg Lemcke and Rob Warkentin. Leah Herback served as team manager.
