Ida Beatul

of a woman who lived life on her terms

Ida was born on July 11, 1928, to Arthur and Matilda McCutcheon (Scarrow) in Rockglen, Sask. It was on a farm south of Rockglen that she learned almost every aspect of farm life. Grandma (Matilda) McCutcheon passed in 1932 when Mom was four years old. As a result, she spent most of her time tagging along after Grandpa and being raised by her three older sisters, mainly Loys and Alma. She started school in a one-room school called Lacodaire. She attended there until grade 10 when she went to the Sisters of Sion in Moose Jaw to complete high school. After graduating from high school in the early summer she attended a two-month teacher training course at the Normal School. In the fall, she began teaching in Indian Head. After a second summer of training and another year of teaching, she obtained her teaching certificate. She returned to the area south of Rockglen to teach at Ayrton School. She stayed for one year. In July of 1949, she married Clarence (Buck) Johnson. She taught one more year at Goose Creek School. Her mode of transportation was a 1928 Chev car and when winter came, she stayed with the Arnold Wolfe family.

Dad would pick her up with a team on Friday and return her on Sunday evening. A freak snowstorm in June hastened Mom’s end to teaching. Life on the farm was not easy. The farm was growing, and life was good until tragedy struck in the fall of 1968 when Dad passed in the middle of harvest. Now what!! Mom took the bull by the horns and continued farming. Businesses, government, and local people were skeptical of this concept, “a woman with five kids running a farm!” Yet she bulldozed ahead. With the help of a hired hand, she made it work.

In 1972 she married Alec Beatul who lived west of Scout Lake. They enjoyed many years on the farm and eventually built a house and retired to Rockglen. Throughout the years they travelled extensively about the world with friends and family. Eventually, they bought a winter home in Pharr, Texas where time was spent golfing, meeting new & interesting people, and hosting many happy hours. Mom always lamented that she missed one continent -that being Antarctica. Alec passed in 2016 and at that time Mom moved to the Rolling Hills Lodge in Rockglen where she continued her active social life and travelling within Canada. Nothing delighted her more than a competitive game of cards with the kids especially, if she could win. She was an avid Bridge Player and thanks to some very dedicated Bridge players she was able to keep playing until a couple of months ago. Over her life, she was never afraid to try something new. She lived life to the fullest. But as with all-- father time catches up and we all must slow down. Mom’s last months were spent at the Grasslands Long Term Care Home. There she received the greatest of care and once more made new friends,

Ida is survived by her children Lorna Johnson (Robert Prefontaine) her son Royce Koester (Brandy) and son-in-law, Dale Robinson; Sheila (Roger) Beaupre her sons Tim Koester, and Richard (Varsha Sharma) Beaupre; Jean (Darcy) Ager and their children Marcie (Dan) Jones, Kim (Cody Small), Brad (Kate) Ager; Helen (Brian) Ager and their children Byron (Melissa Moses), Joni (Jeremy) Sundeen; Harvey (Kathy) Johnson and their children Gerald (Shayna) Johnson, Michael (Tanya) Johnson, Dallas (Jessica) Johnson. She is survived by 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Irene Johnson, Irene Roll, Elaine Stangler, Loraie Borthwick, and Doreen Wenham.

Ida was predeceased by her first husband Clarence Johnson, granddaughter Rolandia Robinson (Koester), her second husband Alec Beatul, her sisters Loys Dennis, Alma Sweet, and Isabel Heels and two brothers Ira McCutcheon and Jim McCutcheon, three stepbrothers Bill Schmidt, Bud Schmidt, and Gerry Schmidt-McCutcheon. She was also predeceased by numerous brothers and sisters-in-law.

Although Mom is gone, we will think of her words: "Gotta Go"

A Celebration of Ida's life was held Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Rockglen Community Hall, Rockglen, SK. Linda Kirby presided. Donations may be made to the Grasslands Health Care Auxiliary.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Johnson family may be shared at www.rossfuneralservice.com. Arrangements entrusted to Ross Funeral Service, Assiniboia, SK 306-642-3373