Barbara Hamlin of Olds, Alberta passed away peacefully at the Olds Hospital on Thursday, March 15, 2012. Members of her loving family were by her side. A Celebration of Barbara’s Life was held Monday, March 19 in Olds, Alberta. Barbara was predeceased by her mother Emily, father Roger and sister Anne. She is survived by her husband of 60 years Tom; her children Tom (Debra), Patricia and Robert (Sharon); grandchildren Sarah, Brianna (Aaron), Emily, Michael, Latham and Atley; great-grandson River;brother Fred and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Barbara was a kind and generous person who will be greatly missed by those fortunate enough to know her. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Diabetes Foundation or a charity of your choice, would be appreciated.  Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., Olds entrusted with arrangements. Phone 403-507-8610 or email www.heartlandfuneralservices.com.

1920 – 2012

Janet M. Crawford passed away March 9, 2012 at the age of 91 with her family at her side. Janet was born on Sept. 30, 1920 and grew up on a farm in the Kenaston area. On May 30, 1944, Janet married Harold Schatz and lived in the Horseshoe District. They adopted a daughter Heather in 1948. Harold passed away in 1959 and Janet and Heather moved to Kenaston where Janet worked for Hamre’s store. Janet then met George Crawford in 1959 and they were married in 1960. She became a farmer’s wife until George’s passing in 1980. Holly and Janet then moved to Davidson. Janet worked at the local restaurant in Davidson as a cook for a few years until retirement. Janet moved to Medicine Hat in 2006 where she resided until her passing. Janet was always helping out at the farm whether it be in the field or cooking meals for the crew. She always had lots of food and made sure no one left the table hungry. In her retirement years she loved to go for coffee and her and her sister Audrey were always at “coffee row” in the morning. Audrey and Janet would hop on a bus tour and see different places as well as hop in the car and go out to Medicine Hat to visit Janet’s daughter Holly. They would drive over to Simpson and check out the crops and make sure Jim was doing everything right. Janet loved being with her grandchildren and always took time out to visit with them. Janet was predeceased by her first husband Harold Schatz in 1959 and her second husband George Crawford in 1980, plus one son Murray, her parents Jim and Eliza Firby, one infant sister Greta, sisters Nellie, Mickey (Delia) and Shirley and brother Fred. She is survived by her children: Heather Schatz, Jim (Holly), Holly (James), Louise (Ray), Linty (Veronica), Hughie (Janet), Ressa (Kris) and Owen as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sister Audrey, brother Ron and sister-in-law Lorraine and brother-in-law Ray. A graveside service was held at Simpson, Sask. on March 13, 2012 with funeral arrangements in care of Hanson’s Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s society or to the charity of one’s choice.

Helen Thelma Barlow joyfully danced into the Kingdom of Heaven on January 27, 2012. We can only imagine the welcoming party that was there to greet her and the laughter, singing and the visiting that took place as she was reunited with family and friends.
Our beautiful Norwegian Mom was born on May 17, 1923 in Elbow, Saskatchewan to Halsten and Clara Bjorgan. Elbow was home to Helen until the fall of 2007 when she moved to Saskatoon to be close to family. She loved her family and friends with all her heart and was the happiest when she was surrounded by those she loved.
We loved her enthusiasm for life and her feisty spirit that lit up a room. She embraced her illnesses with grace, patience, strength, always humour and her legacy of love will continue through all those who were blessed to share her path. Mom will go down in history for the famous “buns and molasses bread” that she made and so generously shared with everyone. As well, she will be remembered for the beautiful handiwork she did.
Helen was predeceased by her husband Ralph in 1995; sister Verna; brothers Ken and Gordon; and sisters-in-law Blanche and Evelyn. She is survived by three daughters, Sandra (Fred) Turetski, Cranbrook, B.C.; Wendy Barlow, Vegreville, Alta.; Amber Barlow (Kevin), Saskatoon; nine grandchildren, Darwyn (Betty Jane) Boucher, Stacey (David) Virgin, Stephanie (Ty) Stokes, Dezeri Westlake, Natali Martin, Bobbi Jo (Derek) Nyman, Shane (Lynn) Cammer, Dustin Cammer, Tiffany Cammer; 14 great-grandchildren; and brother Morris Bjorgan, Elbow. A memorial service will be held in Elbow at a later date.
A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.

Note: These obituaries are taken from the pages of The Davidson Leader.

Hazel Marion Palmer was born on October 25, 1917 at home at Glenside, Sask. She passed away on January 13, 2012 at the Davidson Health Centre. She was the first child of Louis and Katie Mae Morrison. Louis came to Saskatchewan from Ontario to homestead in 1910; Katie Mae moved to Saskatchewan from Iowa as a young bride in 1917. Hazel was predeceased by her brothers Cecil and Dale Morrison. The family moved to the farm at Bladworth on April 30, 1927. She spent most of her school years at the Knob Hill School and also went to “normal” school in Bladworth. Hazel married Roy Palmer on April 18, 1944 after a long courtship, and they shared 53 years together. They deeply loved one another and worked side by side farming in the Davidson area for 50 years. They retired and moved to the town of Davidson in 1993. Roy predeceased Hazel in 1997.
Hazel was known to many in Davidson as “the egg lady” as she delivered eggs in town for over 20 years. She would go to town once a week to both deliver eggs and have a little visit with her customers. Roy would patiently wait for her at each stop. At the end of such a day, they would often go to Harry’s Drive-in for ice cream. Hazel embraced life and looked forward to each day as an opportunity not a burden. She worked hard but also took time for hobbies such as crafts, ceramics, and flowers. She said that flowers were one way she had something beautiful, even in the hard years. She was not afraid to try new things such as growing banana potatoes in her patio potato bags. She also loved to read and that was a big loss to her when she lost her sight due to macular degeneration. However, she also took all the treatments available to her in an effort to keep her sight for as long as possible. She often said she was willing to try new treatments to help the next generation. Although Hazel never had children of her own, she enjoyed visits from all her family and friends. Everyone was made welcome, and she always made sure her guests were well fed. If she met you once, she would remember you forever. Hazel made a point of always trying to get to know a little something about you. She always listened to what you were saying, whether it was on the end of a crackling phone line or doing dishes with her. But more importantly, she always heard what you were telling her because she truly cared about what was important to you and she never stopped wanting to learn.
Hazel was laid to rest at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Saskatoon, beside Roy and her parents, by her nephews honourary pallbearer Allen Pederson, pallbearers Eldon Pederson, Reg, Ross, John and Gordon Morrison, and great-nephew Kurtis Merrithew.
Hazel was a strong and independent woman and her family wish to thank so many people for helping Aunt Hazel to remain independent and in her home. To all the home care staff – thank you! You tended not only to her physical needs but also kept her informed of the news she loved to hear about her town. We thank all the staff at the Davidson Health Centre. It was a comfort to us that she was in such good hands. Thank you to Rev. Eurig for your support and visits to Hazel. Thank you to Hilda for coming to read The Davidson Leader. Hazel is survived by many nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law and cousins. Aunt Hazel will live in our hearts, memories and stories for generations to come.

Curling legend Stan Austman of Saskatoon, formerly of Kenaston slid peacefully away with his family at his side on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon after a well-fought battle with cancer. He took this on like he did a curling game, each time coming back from a major defeat, like when he was four down going home without the hammer and stole five.
Stan was born on August 20, 1936 at Kenaston. He is survived by his sister, Phyllis of Saskatoon; his daughter, Vickie Miller (Wade Boe) of Guernsey, children Dusty and Stephanie (Travis Runn) of Saskatoon; his son, Jeff (Marlene) of Kenaston, children J.J. (Lindsay Ziola) and Christine (Michael) McKechnie of Saskatoon; his wife of 32 years, Lorine Austman and his son-in-law, Darwin Miller both of Kenaston; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Clarence and Gerry Torguson; and brother-in-law Wes Torguson, as well as numerous cousins. He was predeceased by his parents Theresa and Joseph Austman, Vickie’s partner Harvey Sigfusson and sister-in-law Anne Lenard.
Stan was a man who wore many hats career-wise, sports-wise and actually wearing them on his head. He was Voc. Ag. grad in 1958 and farmed for 40 years, making sure there were no weeds, rows were straight. He also loved his yellow CCIL combines and the crews who helped out. His many careers included the PFAA as inspector at the Tartan Curling Club in Regina as a curling instructor and assistant manager; as a taxi driver in Saskatoon and later for his grandchildren, their friends and anyone who needed a ride; at the Grain Commission as a grader and in Sandy Bay as an addictions counselor and substitute teacher. Stan was inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame in November of 1995, the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in June of 1995 and the Kenaston Athletics Wall of Honour in 2005. His curling highlights and accomplishments were many, curling 5,013 games in his life, a Region 6 coordinator of the Saskatchewan Curling Association for 12 years and a lifetime member on the Sask. Sport Committee for several years. He won two consecutive Canadian High School Boys Championships with the Bayne Secord Rink in 1954 and 1955 and two consecutive University titles in 1956 and 1957 with his own team. He won the Vancouver Car Bonspiel in 1962 with the Merv Mann rink and also curled in the British Empire Games with the Bayne Secord rink. He curled in the Dominion Championships, in the Elks (a 45-year member) and Massey Ferguson, as well as many provincial playdowns in men’s, mixed, Elks, Texaco and Farmers. He was well known for the time he slid all the way down the ice and put the rock on the button as a demonstration, which changed curling forever by adding a hog line rule. His favourite memory was being Eugene Hritzak’s fifth man and coach in Moncton in 1985 where he realized his lifelong dream of curling in the Brier. He was a friend and inspiration to all who knew him, including the SCA, the curling circuit, his friends in Bill W. Harry Bailey Swimming, Brier, Craven, his combine crews, “A” teams as we called them. No one will forget his big heart and a smile.
A service of remembrance was held at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Kenaston on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Gene Whitehead officiating. Interment was in Kenaston Cemetery, and lunch followed at Kenaston Place.
For those so wishing, memorial donations in memory of Stan can be made to the Kenaston Cemetery Fund, the Elk’s Purple Cross Fund or to the charity of your choice.
Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson in care of arrangements.

Wilma Marion Wirth of Davidson, Sask., aged 102 years, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at the Davidson and District Health Centre.
Wilma is survived by her loving family: children Philip Wirth; Marjorie (Jack) Langille; Marilyn (Al) Henry; Sharon (Jim) McIntyre; Don (Mary) Wirth; Vern (Carmen) Wirth; Garry (Judy) Wirth; and Vance (Patricia) Wirth; also numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.
Wilma was predeceased by her parents William and Isabella Dean and her loving husband Page Wirth.
The funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 14, 2012, at 1:30 p.m. from the Davidson United Church, Davidson, Sask., with Rev. Diane Eurig officiating. Interment in the family plot, Davidson Cemetery, Davidson, Sask. For friends so wishing, memorials in memory of Wilma may be directed to the Saskatchewan Heart and Stroke Foundation, Saskatchewan Lung Association or the Davidson Cemetery Fund. Hanson’s Funeral Home in care of arrangements.