Rae Bernice Currie

Rae Bernice Currie passed away on May 21, 2025, in Stanford Senior’s Village, Parksville, BC. She was predeceased by her parents, Raymond and Violet (McNabb) Buss, her husband Doug Currie, daughter Myrna Currie, five sisters: Gladys Flick, Frances Morse, Helen Bobo, Joyce Knox, and two brothers, twins Merton and Milton Buss. Until recently, Rae was living in Surrey and White Rock, B.C, but moved to Vancouver Island in 2021 to be near her two sons.

Rae is survived by her two sons, Richard and Glynn Currie of Parksville, two grandchildren, Michelle Currie of Parksville and Ian Currie and his wife Joahnna of Edmonton, as well as two great-grandchildren, Shaun and Robyn Currie of Edmonton.

She was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on March 11, 1926. Her parents were prairie pioneers who homesteaded north of Mankota, Saskatchewan. In 1926 Raymond rented his farmland and moved into Regina to take a steam engineer’s course. Completion of the course made him eligible to operate steam powered machinery, the latest agricultural innovation of the day.

From Regina the family moved to a farm south of Stoughton. It was there she spent her formative years. She began school at O’Brien School and remembered riding to school on the back of Marion Ryalls’ horse.

In 1933 the family packed up and returned to Mankota where Rae spent her remaining childhood years. Because her new school was so small Rae skipped Grade 2 and entered school at Grade 3. She always did well in school and graduated in 1943.

Rae moved to Moose Jaw in 1943 to attend Normal School. She completed the six-week course and earned a teaching certificate. That fall, seventeen year old Rae began teaching in a one room school with Grade 12 boys who were as old as she was!

Rae taught in Secretan, Shaunavon, Cavalier and Corning schools. It was while teaching in Corning that Rae Buss met her future husband, Doug Currie.

After stops in Regina and Bulyea, Rae and Doug moved to Stoughton and raised three children: Glynn, Rick and Myrna. In Stoughton she was a busy person: raising a family, running a family business and participating in community activities, including the Legion Auxiliary, the Ladies’ Aid to the United Church and with activities at her children’s schools. The work ethic learned as a child on a pioneer farm served her well.

In 1966 Rae moved with her family to Estevan where she operated a clothing store for several years. In 1976 Rae moved to Surrey, B.C. where she continued to work. Eventually retiring to White Rock where she made many dear friends.

Rae has long been involved in the church as a member and as a supporter of many projects to help the less fortunate.

In lieu of flowers please continue to support Rae’s work to help the less fortunate by making a donation to a charity of your choice.

Rae will return to Estevan to lie beside Doug and Myrna.