Grace Elizabeth was the first child to Samuel (“Gurley”) and Gladys Oakes, who homesteaded near Wood Mountain. Born September 17th, 1917, at Assiniboia Hospital, she was the first of six children. As such, she was tasked with a chorus of chores, be it household or farm work, as well as helping her mother care for her younger brothers and sisters. Grace loved being outside and helping her dad; she far preferred stooking oats and putting up hay than cooking or washing dishes. Grace’s parents never categorized work as being gender specific; everyone pitched in. Later on, during the war years and when her dad suffered some health issues, Grace’s farm capabilities became indispensable to the family.
The Oakes gave their children a solid work ethic, instilling in them the sense of fulfillment in helping others. They also taught them to appreciate all life’s offerings, including art and music. It’s no surprise that several family members played a musical instrument. Grace’s only instrument was her voice. She loved to sing and to harmonize, and would lend her voice to several church choirs over the course of her adult life. She was also an avid reader (and recently admitted that she sometimes rush through her chores to get back to a book before the daylight vanished). Young Grace attended Guildford and Bayard Schools up to grade 6, and then completed higher grades via correspondence school. She also learned to sew, knit and crochet, and became so proficient that, even in the toughest of times ahead, her family was well dressed.
In 1936, Grace met Herbert (“Becky”) Justus, a hired hand at the homestead, and they were married a few months later. They welcomed a son, Joseph, in 1937. The three stayed on the homestead for several years but Mother Nature was adversarial, delivering hail, grasshoppers and plant pathogens that crushed most crop yields. For a brief period, Becky worked at a lignite mine near the border and Grace was their cook. In 1939, Becky enlisted and for the next 6 years, Grace and their young son bounced between various Armed Forces bases across Canada when it was feasible to join her husband, and back to the Wood Mountain homestead when it was not or when her dad needed help during harvest. Near the end of the war, Becky came ever-so-close to being deployed overseas. He was discharged from service in 1945. The couple welcomed their second son, Ronald, in 1946.
Over the next decade or so, Grace and Becky moved about southern Saskatchewan, following whatever work was available. From 1950 to 1953, they lived at Orkney, where Becky was a grain buyer, working long hours at the elevator. Grace once described that first year at Orkney as “hell”. She was a gregarious soul and so “hell” to her was the feeling of complete isolation. However, not one to wallow in self-pity, she jumped at the first opportunity to make friends and fashioned her way into a curling club and a whist group. She not only escaped the bondage of hell, she was delighted for the recreation and the joy of great friends.
In 1956, Grace and Becky settled in Rockglen. Becky opened a shoe repair shop on Railway Avenue and also worked with Bob Tiefenbach as an electrician. Grace joined O.B. Henrikson at the Rockglen post office as the Assistant Post Mistress, where she worked until her retirement in 1982. She had fond memories of serving her community there for 25 years. A few months later Becky was hired at the hospital and it was through a connection at the hospital that prompted the couple to take up square dancing in 1960. The newly formed square dancing troupe struggled at first because there was no caller! That changed when Bill Schmidt started calling; from then on, every Thursday was blacked out to do-si-do, sashay and promenade. For the next couple of decades, they attended most square dancing events in the region—especially if Bill was calling.
Grace could laugh at herself easily; you just knew that she didn’t have any idea how engaging she was. Anyone who knew her is familiar with her quick wit. And just about everyone, at sometime or other, unintentionally played the role of her straight man. Even in her later years, her retorts were lightning fast and put people in stitches. Her humour and humility were enduring parts of her character.
When Grace’s husband took ill with Alzheimer’s, she quietly carried the burden of his care, even after he was admitted to Grasslands Hospital. Caregiver’s of Alzheimer’s patients deal with great anguish, watching their loved one fade. She spent many days conversing with Becky about things he wanted to talk about, trying to fit into his imaginary world for those hours without losing herself. She was by his side when he passed in 1997.
In the years that followed, Grace’s love of travelling accelerated. She took many trips with her sister and other relatives and friends. Her tours took her north as far as Alaska and south to Arizona, and from eastern Canada to the Hawaiian Islands. If you asked about her sights, she’d mention a landscape or a particular garden or sunset, but the conversation always found its focus on her travel companions and the wonderful people she’d met. For her, it was always about the people!
Grace would tell you that it is relationships that gave her longevity. Perhaps she was right. It most certainly contributed to her radiance. In 2017, Grace celebrated her 100th birthday. She looked as dazzling as ever; a stranger would have had a hard time guessing her age. The celebration was attended by more than 100 people. Family and friends came from British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba, and as far away as Ohio and Nebraska, as well as many, many more from this southern Saskatchewan region.
With the help of her son, Ron, Grace stayed healthy enough to remain in her own home in Rockglen until just a few months ago. Only until mobility became a problem did she need to move into assisted care at Grasslands. We are so grateful for all the care she received in her advanced years.
Grace passed away peacefully the morning of December 16th, 2023—exactly 26 years and one week after her husband. She was also predeceased by her brother Garrould (1940), her sisters Dorothy (2008) (Ralph) Bloom and May (2022) (Melville) Sherwin, brother-in-law Alfred Panzer, her husband, Herbert (1997) and her oldest son, Joseph (2018). Grace is survived by her sister Betty Panzer, her brother Dick (Doreen), her son Ron, her daughter-in-law Helene, along with five grandchildren (Bill, Kris, Steve, Phil and Angie) and several great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
God has called home a remarkable human being. We will greatly miss her.
A Celebration of her Life will be held Saturday, May 18th, 2024 at the Rockglen Community Hall, Rockglen, SK. All are welcome.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Justus family may be shared at www.rossfuneralservice.com. Arrangements entrusted to Ross Funeral Service, Assiniboia, SK 306-642-3373
Submitted by Kris Justus, Grace’s granddaughter.
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