Esther Selma Dahl Verity

Esther was predeceased by her parents, Olaus and Olga Dahl; her brothers & sister, Elvin, Oliver, Ernie, Melvin, Einner, Roy, Art & Violet Shaw and her brother-in-law, Floyd Telenga.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Eric of Weyburn, SK; her daughter, Marnell (Bryan) Cornish of McTaggart, SK and their children, Kevin, Shaun, Karla (Colin) and Janelle and her son, Rod (Ronda) Verity of Regina, SK and their children, Dallas (Lisa), Allison and Marissa; three sisters, Marie Wankel (Doug) of Elbow, SK, Ruby (Murray) Weatherall of Maple Creek, SK and Vera Telenga of Lethbridge, AB; sisters-in-law, Irene Dahl of Bethune, SK and Cheryl Dahl of Gladmar, SK as well as many nieces and nephews.

Esther Selma Dahl was born February 11th, 1927 at Minton, SK. She was raised on a farm with eleven siblings of a close family who worked and played together over the years. She attended Normal School for teacher training and after one month of training, they chose 100 of the most promising students to go out and begin teaching in communities where teachers were in short supply. Over the years through correspondence and summer classes, she completed her Bachelor of Education, convocating from the College of Education in 1983. She worked for 35 years as a teacher in Patricia, Huronville, Rose Peak and Goodwater schools, retiring in 1988. Most of her teaching years were spent in the elementary grades and she had a special gift with Grades one and two, getting her students off to a good start in reading and basic skills. The last year of teaching, she was hired as the Principal of Goodwater school and so completed her career. Even though she was no longer officially teaching, she always took an interest in helping others learn, especially with reading. She remained a teacher at heart.

Esther married Eric Verity on July 14th, 1950 in Ceylon, SK. and they were blessed with two children, Marnell and Rod. Esther and Eric farmed together south of Goodwater for 40 years, moving to Weyburn in 1989 and lived there until her passing. Esther loved to garden and work outdoors with lots of flowers and vegetables to can. In her early days she was an avid baseball player and later took and interest in curling with the senior ladies in Weyburn. She was an excellent seamstress and sewed many outfits for herself and her children. She was also an excellent cook with fried chicken and buns her specialty. She served on local community groups to support the community of Goodwater. Esther and Eric attended the Weyburn Free Methodist Church faithfully for over 40 years, where she served on ladies’ groups, lunch committees, as Sunday School teacher, greeter and the Church librarian. Eric and Esther celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary on July 14th, 2010. Esther received a devastating diagnosis over the last two years of her life and this too she faced with courage, dignity and quiet strength. ALS affected the muscles of her speech and swallowing, eventually taking away her ability to speak and eat many foods.

Family was important to Esther and she was always in attendance at her children’s sports, music and school events. This involvement followed with her grandchildren and their accomplishments and activities were highlights in her life. She also valued friends and was gifted in hospitality. The coffee pot was always on and a meal could always be stretched for company, even during the times of her disease, she still welcomed visitors and served her company even though she couldn’t eat herself. Esther was well loved by her family and friends and will be deeply missed. She was a very special lady.

Funeral Services were held Tuesday, December 28th, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. from Weyburn Free Methodist Church with Rev. Jay Mowchenko officiating. Interment followed in Green Acres Memorial Gardens, Weyburn, SK. The Active Pallbearers were: Kevin Cornish, Shaun Cornish, Dallas Verity, Colin Erickson, Jeff Robinson and Les Sproule. Donations in memory of Esther may be made to the Gideons International in Canada, 501 Imperial Rd. North Guelph, ON, N1H 7A2, or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be left at: www.fletcherfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Chapels Ltd., Weyburn, Sask. (306-842-5432)

A Life Well Lived

To laugh often and much

To win the respect of intelligent people

And the affection of children

To leave the world a better place

To know that even one life has

Breathed easier because you have lived

This is to have succeeded

Ralph Waldo Emerson