It was through agriculture that Mom met Dad (Tom Richardson). Her father thought that the town’s lawyer would be a better choice for a husband, but she would stand her ground and Mom and Dad would marry on December 31, 1951. Farming and their life wasn’t easy - stories of selling the Model A Ford for wood for winter, and losing their cattle to Bang’s Disease and having to start over were but a few struggles they overcame. Even with struggles, they raised a family of five by milking cows and shipping cream as well as selling eggs, cream and butchered chickens on the side. Memories of mom included her standing outside calling the cows (“Come Boss”) for milking at night, teaching baby calves to suck from a pail, sitting on the top bench of the Whitewood Auction Mart as calves were sold in the fall, and going to town to deliver eggs. Mom always planted a garden with loads of canning for the winter. Clothes washing was done with a wringer washer on Saturdays - and that wringer washer was used until they moved to town in 1998. Bread....lots of bread was made by her. Even when Dad had passed, she made half loaves. She could do wonderful things with macaroni, hamburger and tomato soup. A cut up wiener in cheesy macaroni was a meal fit for a king. Roasts were done until there was no question that they could not be revived (ketchup was a saving grace). Beef tongue sandwiches, chicken put in the meat grinder to make sandwich meat - child labour was used to turn the grinder. The Edge Of Night was the only soap opera she watched as well as Coronation Street. Mom would make sure there was supper for Dad when he got home from long days of hay making, and make sure there was lunch for him made for the next day. She’d go raspberry, chokecherry and Saskatoon picking and we’d have the jams and syrups to choose from in the cellar later on. When all the bales were made, Mom would help haul them home with Dad. She could wear a pair of pants and put grease on or change rake teeth with the best of them. She could plow through snow drifts going into town - and knew how to use a shovel if we got stuck. Her snow removal system was King the horse harnessed to a big scoop. Sunday School and church, Christmas plays, convocations- she supported all her kids in all aspects. Mom was active in the community: she was a member of the Northlog Women’s Institute until they dispersed, joined the United Church Women’s Auxiliary, contributed to the annual Farmer’s Rally in the fall, and had won many prizes over the years with the Fall Fair -from bread, to cookies, to art to eggs - we are sure there is a world record there somewhere.
She was known as the Egg Lady, and a lot of eggs and cream deals were done over the years. Grandma duties came into the roster of things to do, and her fridge was full of art and school pictures. She was a card shark and many card games were played over the years. Then as dad got frail, she was Nurse Nightingale. She would always say Dad was a stick in the mud, wanting to stay home...but in actuality it was more her. Strongly independent-she figured ways to bring home 20 pound bags of flour (because it was cheaper) and get it into her kitchen, even with severe weakness in her arms. Her last garden was put in 2018, and her last loaves of bread were made in June of 2019. It was a big change, but she joined in the care home activities and found her artistic side. Staff from the Helping Hands Care Home, and Broadview Centennial Lodge grew to be a second family to Mom. Family was around as much as possible; visits outside, waving through the windows and FaceTime were to become the only way visiting could be done. Mom was lucky to have such a loving family, and this family was so very privileged to have mom. One does reap what is sown, and Mom had harvested all the love in the world.
Predeceased by her parents and six siblings, an infant son John, an infant grandson Craig Joseph Peter, daughter Jean Peter and her husband Tom in 2016.
Madge is survived by her brother Dave, daughters Sandy (Ken) Christie, Wendy (Chris) Schmaltz, Sharon (Terry) Strueby and a son Gary (Debbie); a son-in-law Phil (Sheila) Peter; eleven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.
A private family graveside service will be held in the Broadview Cemetery.
If friends so desire, contributions may be made to the Broadview Centennial Lodge Activity Fund, Box 670, Broadview, SK S0G 0K0.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.8.18