Hanley, Obituary

Obituary: English, Sonja

web-obit-englishSonja 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.

Davidson, featured

Enchantment under the sea

A group of four pirates — Tyce Farden, Jaxon Wightman, Finn Low and Reece Johnson — sets sail during the elementary drama club play “The Little Mermaid,” presented at Davidson School on Nov. 25.
A group of four pirates — Tyce Farden, Jaxon Wightman, Finn Low and Reece Johnson — sets sail during the elementary drama club play “The Little Mermaid,” presented at Davidson School on Nov. 25.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — For an actor just a few months into his Grade 6 year, Aiden Pasher is proving to have quite a wide range.

In May, when Davidson School hosted the Missoula Children’s Theatre and presented The Jungle Book, Aiden played a young buck, one of the animals preyed upon by the villainous Shere Khan.

Last weekend, in The Little Mermaid, he had a rather more dignified role — King Neptune, ruler of the sea.

Pasher said memorizing the lines and rehearsing adds up to a lot of work, but it’s worth the effort.

“You get to show your passion and who you really are,” he said. “You get to express your feelings, put your heart out there.”

An audience of 200 gathered in the Davidson School gym on Nov. 25 for the elementary drama club production, which was more than two months in the making.

About 45 students between grades 3 and 6 were involved, including the actors and crew.

Arlene Low, who directed the show along with Crystal Johnson, Correne Pedersen and Cassandra Delorme, said it was the largest cast she has directed.

The production got underway in mid-September, with parts given to all interested students. Many parts were shared by multiple actors, allowing more kids to participate.

For the full story and photos, please see the Dec. 5 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

featured, Imperial

Imperial impresses with “Peter Pan”

Wendy (Lexi Lewis) and Peter Pan (Jenna Joa) survey the sights as they fly through the night sky in Imperial School's production of "Peter Pan."
Wendy (Lexi Lewis) and Peter Pan (Jenna Joa) survey the sights as they fly through the night sky in Imperial School’s production of “Peter Pan.”

By Joel van der Veen

IMPERIAL — In between performances of Imperial School’s annual dessert theatre last week, a student asked director Carol Baade what show they were going to do next year.

“I said, ‘We haven’t got through these shows yet,'” Baade recalled with a laugh.

Such was the enthusiasm shown by students and staff alike as the school presented Peter Pan in three performances at the Imperial Community Centre between Wednesday and Friday.

Every one of Imperial’s 46 high school students was involved as part of the cast or crew, while many teachers, parents and others contributed to the show’s success.

“Probably the main goal is to do it as a team and a school project,” said Baade, the school’s principal. “There’s been lots of hours and lots of adventures.”

The play was based on the 1904 J. M. Barrie play and the 1953 Disney cartoon, using songs from the latter.

The shows incorporated singing and dancing by the actors, as well as a couple of performances by the Imperial School “A” Band under the direction of Vlad Osatiuk.

Celina Remlinger played the part of Tinker Bell and also served as student dance captain. Pat Joa and Holly Yanoshewski were the voice coaches while Wynter Batke and Lexi Lewis served as masters of ceremonies.

This fall marked 20 years since Imperial School’s high school students made it an annual tradition to mount a full musical production.

For the full story and more photos, please see the Dec. 5 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, featured

Panther breaks new ground, loading lentils for area buyer

Employees at Panther Industries loaded the company's first railcar of lentils for Saskatoon-based Alawa Foods on Nov. 15.
Employees at Panther Industries loaded the company’s first railcar of lentils for Saskatoon-based Alawa Foods on Nov. 15.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Panther Industries is breaking into new territory, thanks to a partnership with Saskatoon-based Alawa Foods.

Staff at the company’s Davidson plant loaded their first railcar of locally-grown lentils for Alawa on Nov. 15.

General manager Clayton Schneider said Panther was looking to expand beyond its current offerings, which include distribution for the oil and gas industries, custom packaging and manufacturing of wooden pallets.

“We were just looking at different ways of diversifying,” he said.

The plant is outfitted with a transloading station that can move goods from truck to rail or vice versa.

Several months ago, Schneider began discussions with Alawa Foods CEO Heidi Dutton Weber about using Panther as a transload station.

Alawa has been in operation for roughly a year and a half. Company officials were interested in doing business with local producers, but needed a location to transfer crops into railcars.

Dutton Weber, a 15-year veteran of the pulses industry, said the company saw room for more competition in the area. Their current focus is on red lentils.

Alawa is currently constructing a 30,000 square-foot pulse processing facility at Vanscoy, with plans to begin operations there by the fall of 2017.

Feedback from producers has been positive since the first railcars went out from Panther, and Dutton Weber said they’re open to talking to others.

“We’re ready to engage other producers in the area,” she said. “Our hope is to give them another choice to help market their grain.”

For the full story, please see the Dec. 5 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, Loreburn, Sports

Sr. boys and girls host LCBI to begin basketball season

Davidson’s Elena Nykiforuk attempts to stop LCBI’s Maia Jorgensen during a senior girls basketball game on Wednesday.
Davidson’s Elena Nykiforuk attempts to stop LCBI’s Maia Jorgensen during a senior girls basketball game on Wednesday.

DAVIDSON — Basketball season began Wednesday at Davidson School as both the senior boys and girls hosted teams from Outlook’s Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute (LCBI).

The senior boys easily triumphed over the LCBI Bisons. The Raiders led 39-21 at the end of the second quarter and finished with a score of 85-45.

Andrew Read was the high scorer for Davidson with 26 points, also racking up 17 rebounds and five assists.

Parker Smith scored 16 points and Mark Rettger, who recently returned to Davidson, added 13 points to the tally. These included a successful three-point shot for both players.

The senior girls began the afternoon with a tight game against the Lady Bisons.

The Raiders led 21-20 at the halfway point, but LCBI pulled ahead and maintained a slim lead for most of the second half, winning 40-37.

Two players from Loreburn led the scoring for the Raiders. Merkayle Lakinger scored 12 points, while Tori Rendall had six points.

For the full story and more photos, please see the Dec. 5 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

 

Bladworth, Obituary

Obituary: Butler, Howard

web-obit-butlerHOWARD E. BUTLER

Howard Eldred Butler passed away peacefully with family by his side on Friday, November 25, 2016 at Royal University Hospital. Howard is survived by his wife Betty; son Gord (Karen) Butler; daughters Linda (Stan) Schneider and Michelle (Ron) Richards; grandchildren Jennifer (David) Price, Jessica (Geoff) Raycraft, Jenise and Kristina Schneider (fiancé TJ King), Shyla and Addison Richards; two great-grandchildren Aurora and Orion Price; brother Lawrence Butler (Teresa) and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. Howard was predeceased by his son Joe Butler; parents Norman and Janet Butler; and siblings Florence, Gertrude, Janet, Art, Clarence, Harold, Ken and Pearl. Howard was born on the family farm in Bladworth, Sask., on April 2, 1932 where he farmed with his father until purchasing land in the Grasswood district south of Saskatoon in 1964. He married Betty in 1969 and they continued on with the family farm both in Saskatoon and Bladworth, until renting out the land in 1994. They fully retired in 2008 aside from a handful of cows that Howard kept in Saskatoon. He was a proud cattle and grain farmer and was always willing to offer advice. Howard enjoyed baseball, hockey and especially curling throughout his lifetime and was a member of the Nutana Curling Club for over 40 years. He would often be spotted behind the glass cheering on family and friends alike, eager to replay the 7th end over a coffee or a cocktail. Howard and Betty moved into Saskatoon in 2012 and recently to Luther Riverside Terrace. Howard will always be lovingly remembered for his welcoming smile and open home whether you were a friend for a day or a lifetime. There will be a viewing on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 from 7:00 -8:00 p.m. at Park Funeral Chapel (311 – 3rd Avenue North). A Celebration of Howard’s Life was held on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. at Prairieland Park, Hall B (503 Ruth Street West). Memorial donations in Howard’s memory will be accepted for the Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Fund. Condolences and to share your memories of Howard, visit www.parkfuneral.ca “Obituaries.” Arrangements entrusted to Derryl Hildebrandt, Park Funeral Chapel, 306.244.2103.

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan