Ruth Emily Graham

Mom passed away peacefully at her residence at Preston Park 1 in Saskatoon on February 7, 2025. She was born in Sylvania, SK on July 11, 1927. Growing up on the family homestead in McKague she attended Reigate School, where she skipped from Grade 1 to Grade 2 after three months. She would often recount being the first student to arrive at school in the mornings to start the fire in the wood stove. She earned a bit of money doing this, which she used to buy her first pair of skates. In the summers she played first base on the softball team–without a glove!--and broke the middle finger on her left hand, which would still pop in and out! She was also proud of her pig, Rosy, who placed first in the County Fair. After graduating Grade 12 in Tisdale, Mom went to Park City Business College in Prince Albert where she obtained awards for proficiency in accounting, cursive writing and shorthand. A career of four years followed at the Tisdale Co-op, where she made many friends with whom she enjoyed beach parties and barbecues at Kipabiskau Lake on weekends.

Mom received a job offer at a law firm in Calgary, which only lasted 11 months because she missed home. She returned to Melfort to work at Valley Motors, where she met her new best friend and coworker Dolly. The Sales Manager, Joe Penkala, introduced her to the shop mechanic, Walter, who would later become our Dad. Joe moved on to Saskatoon and eventually became Police Chief, and Mom and Dad later moved to Saskatoon as well.

Mom and Dad had three daughters, but unfortunately their marriage ended. Mom raised us on her own while taking employment at L.A. Dean & Sons, Co-op Ag Centre on 11th Street, and later at Bearing & Transmission from 1963 to 1983.

Our birthdays were February, March, and April, so there were lots of parties! Summers were spent at Waskesiu horseback riding, roller skating, swimming and eating lots of ice cream. Home was in Caswell Hill across from Ashworth Holmes Park. Mom loved having a full house and would let the park supervisors come over to use our stove to make hot chocolate and popcorn for movie nights, or store boxes and boxes of Kleenex flowers for the Children’s Day parade float in our basement. In the winter Mom would take us tobogganing at the hill on Avenue P or at Pike Lake, and skating on the pond where Idylwyld and 51st Street are now. Every Christmas she would take us to Mayfair Hardware to pick out a Christmas tree, which she would tie to the roof of the car to bring it home.

Mom bought an acreage by Pike Lake in the 1970's where she enjoyed her vast flower and vegetable gardens, riding her horse, Penny, raising chickens and turkeys, and her beloved dog, Shylo. Mom would often entertain us on trail rides with her expert yodelling skills! After selling the acreage, Mom moved back to Saskatoon to enjoy retirement and spend time with her grandchildren. She loved hosting family get-togethers and nothing made her happier than having all of her children and grandchildren together. Her grandchildren were blessed to have a very involved Nanny who gave them so many special memories.

In 2022 Mom suffered a bad fall in her apartment so we moved her to Preston Park 1 where she met new friends and amazingly, an old one–Joe Penkala. Mom’s health continued to decline with side effects of vascular heart disease so the goal was to keep her happy and as comfortable as possible.

Mom is survived by her daughters Connie Rye, Val Graham, Linda Graham and husband Dave Deobald; grandchildren Christine, Theo, Emily (Tevon) and Jeremy; Dave's daughters Elizabeth (Trevor), Virginia (Joel), Jennifer (Lance), Katie (Clint) and their children; her brother-in-law Tony; nephew Mel (Eileen); niece Marion; along with their children and grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents Brian and Alice, her brothers Arnold and Leonard, her sister Mary, and numerous aunts and uncles.

A HUGE thank you to Jodi Gronsdahl, Executive Director at Preston Park 1 and Erin Smotra for guiding your staff to give Mom the best care–everyone from Reception to Care Aides to Dietary to Adam in maintenance for helping set up Mom’s suite to accommodate her end of life care. You are all angels sent from heaven. Thanks to the staff on 5B in St. Paul’s Hospital who work in extremely stressful conditions but still provide exemplary care. Also thanks to Britney in OT for arranging equipment, Home Care nurses for providing wound care management, Elaine in Palliative Home Care, and Ryan in Paramedicine for pain management–you are invaluable.

Rest in peace, Mom. You are free from pain.

MIZPAH

Cremation and final arrangements are entrusted to Mourning Glory Funeral Services. A private family gathering will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Saskatoon Cancer Centre, Alzheimers Society, Arthritis Society of Canada, or SCAT Street Cat Rescue.