Mrs. Malina "Winnie" Winnifred Doud Ward

Malina "Winnifred" Ward formerly of Colgate, Saskatchewan passed away at the Weyburn Special Care Home at the age of 95 years. She was born to Joseph and Malina Doud on August 20, 1915 at the farm at Maxim. Surrounded by family she passed peacefully on October 8, 2010.

Winnie is predeceased by her husband, Cressie, her siblings Michael and Ellen Doud, and Bessie Bangsund. She leaves to mourn her children - Marlene (Roy) Sjostrand of Midale, Sharron (Verner) Emde of Midale, Blaine (Melanie) Ward of Colgate, Lois (Larry) Erick of Camrose, AB and Verla (Don) Baille of Weyburn, 17 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandson. Her siblings - Josephine Bangsund of Weyburn, Borgheld Duignan of Regina, Langan (Irene) of Calgary and Dorothy (Lawrence) Robillard of Portage La Prairie, MB. Her in-laws Lila Dinsmore, Florence Mackey and Gordon (Dorothy) Ward all of Weyburn.

Grandma always wanted to be a teacher, however she only completed two days of Grade 8 one day in 1931 and one day in 1932. She felt it was more important to stay at home and help her Mama with her siblings. She may not have been highly educated academically but she taught us more than she will ever know. We believe she was our teacher of values and life lessons. She would tell us many stories of hardships of growing up in the depression. Grandma was a great story teller and she could paint a picture with her words that made you feel as if you were right there.

She married Cressie Ward on July 17, 1937 at All Saint's Anglican Church in Weyburn. She took great pride in being a housewife and mother to her five children. She lived on the farm west of Colgate until 1965 when the family moved into Colgate. In 2005 she moved into the Weyburn Special Care Home.

Grandma was a member of the Birthday Club, Rebekkah's, Maple Ladies Aid and U.C.W. She and Grandpa enjoyed many fun nights of square dancing. Church was very important to her and she loved to volunteer her time at the Annual Fowl Supper.

She was a good cook and a very talented seamstress. She loved to crochet, making beautiful doilies and fridge towels. She kept busy making the towels while still in the nursing home. She also enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles.

Grandma's hands were never idle - she was always busy doing something. And when we would ask her what she had accomplished she would simply say, "By the time I had finished counting my blessings, I was too tired to do anything else."

Her family was her world and when she would talk about her family she would so proudly boast, "There's not a bad apple in the bunch."

God and Faith were important to Grandma. She set a wonderful example for her family to follow. Grandma never complained about anything but quite often would tell of how much she missed Grandpa. Grandma always told us they never had much but considered themselves rich. She had a plaque that hung in her kitchen that read, "I may not be rich, but my grandchildren are my jewels." Because she grew up with "less than nothing" she always taught us how important faith and family are.

The funeral service was held on Ocober 14, 2010 at 2:00 pm from Zion Lutheran Church with Reverend Katherine Harper officiating. Interment took place at the Colgate Cemetery. An Honour Guard was formed by the Rebekkah's. Pallbearers were her grandsons - Lance Sjostrand, Laird Sjostrand, Farron Ward, Brad Erick, Shawn Erick, Christopher Baillie and Curtis Baillie. The Honorary Pallbearers were her granddaughters - Marla McCormick, Mardelle Sjostrand - Neuberger, Rhonda Martinson, Lana King, Valda Nakonechni, Lonnie Naylor, Kathy Teel, Wendy Ward, Jennifer Ward and Chelsey Baillie. Memorial donations may be made to All Saints Anglican Church. Arrangements under the direction of Fletcher Funeral Chapel, Weyburn, SK.