Category Archives: Obituary

Obituary

John Westwood Smith, 1927-2018

John passed away peacefully in Davidson on January 22, 2018 at the age of 90.

John was predeceased by his brothers Robert Smith and Thomas Smith, his sisters-in-law Alta Smith and Gail Smith and his brother-in-law Lewis Smale. He is survived by his sister Ethel Smale, his brothers Charlie Smith and Walter Smith, his sister-in-law Gina Folk and numerous nieces and nephews.

John was born in Bladworth and the family moved to the farm in Davidson in 1937. He was a hard-working farmer, an accomplished gardener, a cut-throat card player, a curler, a well-known Tractor Puller and he could fix anything.

A memorial luncheon was held at the Davidson Parish Hall on Saturday January 27, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Davidson Health Trust Fund or the Davidson Seniors – cheques payable to the Town of Davidson, or donations may be directed to a charity of one’s choice.

Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson in care of arrangements.

Aylesbury, Craik, Obituary

Obituary: Amundrud, Cletus

Amundrud, Cletus Erling 

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Cletus Erling Amundrud on Friday, December 15, 2017 at the Dr. F. H. Wigmore Regional Hospital in Moose Jaw. We felt comfort in knowing that he knew all of his immediate family had gathered by his bedside for his final journey just before his passing. 

He was the youngest of seven children born into the Joseph and Ada (Pratt) Amundrud family. He was born on NE-8-23-27 W2nd at Aylesbury, Saskatchewan on October 5, 1930. He always said he didn’t grow to be a big man because it was the beginning of the Dirty Thirties and he had to fight to get his food from his older siblings. He attended school in Aylesbury and then helped his father on the farm. 

Later he went to Calgary, Alta., and got a job putting up ice into boxcars that was shipped for refrigeration purposes. After that, he got a job working for an electrician and wired the main post office in Calgary. Later on, he came back to the Craik area and worked for Bert Wildfong on his farm, followed up with delivering fuel for the Craik Co-op.

It was at work where he met the love of his life, Celestina (Sal) Krassman, as she was the Co-op grocery store cashier. They got married on a beautiful, warm day on November 15, 1954. In the spring of ’56, they rented the Stevens’ farm, which is 1.5 miles west of Aylesbury, and where their large home still stands. He served on the local farm club executive, the snowplow club and the local Co-op board. 

He was one of the founding members of the Palliser Wheat Growers’ Association and the Canadian Custom Combiners’ Association. They worked very hard on their mixed farm with their three sons and their farm grew to a substantial size. They went custom combining in the U.S. for several years. 

Cletus continued to actively farm until 2007, which was the year he was very honoured to receive the Century Farm Award. Cletus and Sal enjoyed retirement on the farm and grew a large garden every year and looked after their beautiful yard. They loved entertaining their friends and family in their comfortable home. They also enjoyed their weekly trips to Moose Jaw to do some shopping and some relaxation at the casino.

He was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Ada Amundrud; brothers Addis, Ellwyn and Dale; sister Lela McInnes; parents-in-law Louis and Agatha Krassman; brothers-in-law John Vopni, John Kunkel, Ron McInnes, Albert Mills, Vic Krassman, Garry Krassman, and Doug Simpson; sisters-in-law Mary Amundrud and Daisy Amundrud. 

He is survived by his sisters Leona Kunkel of Davidson and Phyllis Mills of Bengough. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Dorothy Amundrud of Melville, Irene Krassman of Davidson, and Monica Simpson of Red Deer, Alta. He is survived by numerous nephews, nieces, loving friends and neighbours who thought the world of him. 

Cletus is survived by his loving family: Celestina (Sal), three sons: Guy Cletus (Janice) of Saskatoon, Alan Russell of Craik, and Brian John of Kobe, Japan; seven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. 

As per his wishes, Cletus’ memorial service will be held on July 26, 2018 in Aylesbury Hall when it is easier for his family and numerous friends to be together to celebrate his life. Funeral services will be provided by Hanson’s Funeral Services of Davidson, Sask.

Craik, Obituary

Obituary: Linfoot, Ed

Ed Linfoot

Ed died a peaceful death December 11, 2017. He was born September 25, 1931. Predeceased by his first wife, one son and one son-in-law. Survived by his wife, eight children, 24 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Ed at the age of 39 decided to go back to university for his pharmacy degree. Ed and his family moved to Leader, Sask., and purchased the pharmacy, naming it Leader Pharmacy. He enjoyed raising his family in Leader. Ed was very devout in his Catholic faith, enjoyed participating in the mass, and loved to sing. Ed worked as a pharmacist for 25 years. He was a man of technology, writing a pharmacy program in the 1980s, for which he took great pride. Computer work was very easy for him. His spiritual GPS was always set on God. As a pilot Ed initiated the construction of the Leader Airport. As one of the founders Ed enjoyed witnessing its completion, and having it named after him, “Linfoot Field.” Ed was active in all community life, as a Knight of Columbus, on town council and the recreation board. Ed also coached many sporting events. Ed retired to Mexico, where he loved to play tennis, problem-solved for the elderly in the TV business, and loved to dance, making many real good friends in the time in Mexico. Ed moved back to Canada to the theme of the Eco-Village in the RM of Craik. In the Eco-Village he enjoyed building a new home and lived there for nine years. Ed lived with many blessings in his long-lived life and he was a true Roughriders fan. Football was his passion, and “Green is the Colour!”

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Craik on December 19, 2017.

For those so wishing, memorial donations in memory of Ed may be directed to the Midlakes Pro Life Association, St. Joseph’s Church or the Craik Lions Club.

Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson was in charge of arrangements.

Davidson, Obituary

Obituary: Read, Sydney

Sydney Read

It is with mixed emotions and sadness we announce the passing of Sydney Read, cherished father, grandfather, great-grandfather, papa and best friend! He passed away on December 12, 2017 at the young-looking age of, in his words, 95 1/2 years, having had a fulfilling and blessed life.

Syd was born on June 2, 1922 on the farm at Section 22, Township 19, Range 16, West of the 2nd to William and Edith Read, who had immigrated from England quite a few years prior to his arrival. Dad was the eighth of nine siblings and some time after this, his dad and oldest brother Harold each homesteaded a quarter of land in the Snowden or Choiceland area of northern Saskatchewan. Dad often said he was born into a family that didn’t have a lot of wealth but there was always enough food to eat and lots of love.

In November of 1942 at the age of 20 years, Dad went to Edmonton and on the 16th of the month enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. From Edmonton six weeks later he was sent to Lethbridge for further training. Then from there he was sent to the East Coast and to England on the QE Ship. He celebrated his 21st birthday near Southhampton where he was in the 6th Group Bomber Command. “D” Day took place on June 6, 1944 and on June 30th Dad’s unit went to Normandy and then on into France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. After the war ended he spent some time in Germany and then back to England where he sailed from Southhampton on the Ile-de-France to New York and then train to Halifax. Finally after two weeks in Halifax he headed back home to Saskatchewan and on the 31st day of May 1946 was formally discharged in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

On February 15, 1947 he married the sweetheart who waited for him to come home from overseas! Dad said his brother Stan came with them to Prince Albert to witness the wedding. They had very little cash and no job but the very next morning a stranger stopped Dad on the street and asked him if he was looking for work. In turn that job led to a career with the provincial and federal governments working in Natural Resources and Northern Development! There was never a doubt in Dad’s mind that God blessed him then and throughout his life.

In March of 1948 they were blessed with a son and again in 1954 with a daughter. Shortly after Arlene was born Dad tried his hand at farming for about three years, but with the persuasion of several Northern Development co-workers he returned to the federal government until retirement in 1979.

In 1979 they moved to the farm east of Davidson where they lived until 1995 when they moved to Regina. There Dad and Mom were blessed to spend time getting to know Arlene and Rick’s two children, Brittany and Aaron, plus we were blessed that our youngest daughter Chelsea lived with them for four years as she attended the U of R.

In 2000 they moved back to Davidson and Dad and Mom enjoyed 10 years travelling, camping and their favourite, fishing up north!

Then in February 2010 Mom had to move into the long-term care facility in Davidson and until her passing on December 20, 2013 Dad was still her constant companion. Dad was amazing as, although legally blind, he continued to live on his own in the Elks units by the Davidson hospital. He was so blessed by friends Art and Emma Shaw, Marcella Strange, Frances Haugerud, Francis and Valda Cool and many others who took time to touch his life!

Family was so important to Dad and he is survived by his son Dale (Ruth) Read of Davidson and daughter Arlene (Rick) Kyle of Cochrane, Alta.

He is also survived by his grandchildren Kimberly (Darren) Bull, Troy (Leanne) Read, Chelsea (Jason) Craig, Brittany and Joe Dijker (Kyle) and Aaron Kyle; great-grandchildren Courtney (Braeden Lang), Brooklyn, Andrew and Emily Read, Samuel, Tucker and Isabella Bull and River Craig; also step great-grandson, Tyler Bull.

Syd was predeceased by his parents, all of his siblings and his wife Helen.

The interment took place on January 4, 2018 at Family Plot, Crockin Hill Cemetery, Choiceland, Sask.

Arrangements entrusted to Hanson’s Funeral Home, Davidson.

A celebration of Syd’s life was held on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 at 2 p.m. at New Life Pentecostal Assembly in Davidson with Rev. John Slemming and Rev. Scott Crawford officiating.

Hanley, Obituary

Mildred Nellie Ballard, 1931 – 2017

Mildred “Nellie” Ballard (Harbor) of Hanley, Sask., passed away at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon on December 7, 2017 with her family by her side. Nellie was born on the family farm on January 21, 1931. She attended school at Bell Rock and Hanley High. Nellie played ball with the “older” Hanley girls. She always said that she was younger than her teammates, but because she was such a good player they let her play. Nellie married Lyle Ballard on October 29, 1948 at the Harbor farm. Left to mourn her passing are: Diane, Stanley (Barb), Kim (Don), Lionel (Donna), Kevin (Melissa) and Kelly (Carla); her grandchildren Karen Pollock and son Tyler, Dee Ballard, Clay Ballard, Nikki (Craig) Storbakken and their son Hayes, Markie (Austin) Silenka and children Layne and Kodie, Nathen Bohrson and son Zachary, Arley Bohrson, Trisha (Drew) Kardash and their children, Hudson, Maecie, and Tatum, Mark (Amanda) and children Damon and Kassidi Ballard, Sarah Ballard Hawkshaw, and daughter Charlotte, Megan Ballard (Cam), Brooke, Kabree. She is also survived by her two brothers-in-law Earl (Elaine) Ballard and Elmer Ballard. Nellie was the last in the line, she was predeceased by her husband Lyle, her parents Rosie and Ernest Harbor, brother Stanley Harbor (killed in action WWII), sisters Catherine Suttie (Jim), Helen Remmen (Rolf), Doris Toles (Allan); Lyle’s parents Lilllian and Rueben Ballard, Lyle’s sister Lila (Clifford) Wood, Lyles’s brother Melvin (Billy) and their children Leslee, Terry, Dixie and Ronnie, sisters-in-law Jeanette Ballard, Irene Ballard, and granddaughter-in-law Tracey.

In her later years, Mom loved to watch sports. Curling and tennis were her favourites. She was an avid sewer and we have many of her quilts which were spread out among us including one for Harley, Kelly’s dog. She had many friends. Her home was an open house to the twins’ friends when they moved to town in 1980 and still they dropped by for a visit from time to time.

A Celebration of Nellie’s Life Funeral Service was held at the Hanley Centennial Hall on Tuesday December 12, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.

Expressions of sympathy in lieu of flowers may include donations to St. Paul’s Hospital, Saskatoon or a charity of your choice.

Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson was in care of arrangements.

Bladworth, Davidson, Obituary

Cardinal, Larry John

Larry John Cardinal passed away suddenly on November 30, 2017 at the young age of 65. Larry was a man of many passions. You could find him throughout the year dropping a line in the water waiting to catch the big one. During the fall he could not wait to get out to help with the harvest. He enjoyed being out in the golden sun working the fields with his family.

Larry’s biggest passion was his family. He leaves behind his best friend, his fishing and hunting partner and the biggest love of his life, his wife of 36 years Lorriane Cardinal. Larry also leaves behind two sons who share in his passion. He leaves behind Michael (Teresa) Cardinal and Rodney (Julie) Cardinal. His three grandchildren were his biggest pride in life. He was very proud to be a grandfather and loved Danika, April and Austin with all his heart. Larry came from a very large close-knit family who spent many holidays, reunions, fishing and hunting trips together. He leaves behind his brothers Walter (Darlene) Cardinal, Mark (Gaylene) Cardinal, Frank (Elaine) Cardinal, his sisters Amber (David) Greene, Nadine (Dwight) Gartner, Iris (Byron) Greene, Inez and her partner Paulette and Indira (Grady) Goodman, Helen and her partner Dan, and Sandra Bast. He also leaves behind many dear brothers- and sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, great-nephews and -nieces. His companion and furry sidekick Patch will miss him greatly.

Larry is predeceased by his parents Tony and Doris Cardinal, his mother- and father-in-law Mary and Herman Skalicky and granddaughter Autumn Cardinal. Larry’s motto was WIN which stood for “What’s Important Now”. Larry wore a WIN band on his wrist every day to remind himself and for him to remind others of this.

An interment will take place at a later date in July 2018 at the Bladworth Cemetery.