Myrna Christine Henry

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother and grandmother, Myrna Christine Henry, late of Regina, Saskatchewan, on December 7, 2025 at the age of 85. She bravely faced recurring breast cancer and advancing rheumatoid arthritis, but fought off both diseases for many years.

Myrna was born on November 21, 1940 in Pierson, Manitoba to Clifford and Alvina MacPherson. The second oldest of four children, Myrna started out on the farm with her older sister Dorene and younger brothers John and Allan. By all accounts, Myrna was a spitfire youngster with a lot of energy.

Myrna married Harvey Henry from nearby Gainsborough, Saskatchewan in 1958 and they made their life on the family farm that Harvey had taken over from his father. Right from the start they were exceptionally busy building up the farm operation while starting a family of what would be five active children (Mark 1961, Craig 1962, Karen 1965, Natalie 1968 and Derek 1974).

Her tireless work ethic came in handy during those years. No task was too great or too physically demanding. She truly was a person who felt hard work was its own reward. There was no kind of work she wouldn’t take on - whether it was weeding the garden, picking berries, driving the grain truck or cleaning out a grain bin. And she did it all with high energy.

She was tragically widowed at just 49 years of age when her beloved husband Harvey passed away on April 1, 1990. Yet she persevered and farmed with her three sons for 16 more years. All the while working as a teacher’s aide at Gainsborough Elementary School. “Mrs Henry” was a farmer who also made a difference in the lives of many local kids.

A very big part of her life was gardening. During her farming years she ran three separate gardens that seemed like the size of a football field to her kids. Those gardens were the primary source of some amazing meals. Myrna had few peers when it came to cooking, baking and canning. She had so many specialties that were simply unmatched.

Myrna was also a sports lover and an athlete who loved to compete in any sport she could play (softball and curling being her favourites). Perhaps even more, she loved watching her children and grandchildren take part in their huge array of activities. She absolutely hated to miss anything and was always an invested, supportive fan (with a special fondness for her beloved Gainsborough Angels).

Her love for watching her grandchildren grow up drove her to leave Gainsborough in 2008 to live her retirement years in Regina where most of her children and grandchildren lived. It must have been hard to leave her friends and the community she lived in all of her life, but her family came first.

She was an avid reader. She loved Wordle, Scrabble, cards, games and crossword puzzles. She wrote poems. She participated in community theatre, whether it was performing or sewing costumes. There wasn’t very much she wouldn’t try. She was never big for travelling, yet she eventually boarded a plane for the first time and went all the way to Australia! She also went to the Caribbean.

Myrna was truly one of a kind. On one hand, she was a completely selfless person who always put all others before herself. On the other hand, if you were playing crib against her, you are a foe to be taken down at any cost! She was a very practical, frugal person who disliked wasting or discarding anything, yet she was always very generous to her family. Her selflessness was constantly made obvious by the fact that her frugality only applied to her own needs.

The essence of her character was a devout, kind and thoughtful person who believed that being good to others, thinking of others, helping the less fortunate and giving time to the community were the best ways to express her faith and values. She lived up to those values every day. She was tough. She was strong. She was principled. And she cared deeply for her family and was always completely immersed in everything her kids and grandkids were doing in their lives. The memories she leaves are immense and her imprint on her family and friends will never be extinguished.

She will be forever remembered and revered by her children Mark (Janice), Craig (Tammy), Karen (Arlen), Natalie (Jason) and Derek (Holly); grandchildren Kelsey (Spencer), Kayla, Matthew, Sara, Kellen, Reece (Adisynn), Landon, Reed, Greta, Peyton, Austyn and Presley.

Myrna will be fondly remembered and is survived by her companion Allan Potapinski, Gainsborough, SK; brothers Allan (Donna) MacPherson, Sylvan Lake, AB; and John MacPherson, Kisbey, SK; stepbrother Keith Walkom, Grand Prairie, AB; stepsister Corrine (Wayne) Blomberg, Estevan, SK; sisters-in-law Kathleen McCort, Winnipeg, MB; and Rose Thomson, Barrie, ON; and stepbrother-in-law Ed Aabak, Ogalla, Nebraska.

She was predeceased by her husband Harvey; father Clifford MacPherson; mother Alvina Smith; sister Dorene Marr; father-in-law Dale Henry; mother-in-law Freda Henry; stepmother Fern MacPherson; stepfather Ellard Smith; brothers-in-law Allan Marr, Tom Thomson and Harold McCort; stepbrothers Conrad Walkom, Grant Walkom, Marshall Walkom and Blaine MacPherson (in infancy); and stepsister Corliss Walkom Aabak.

The family would like to say a sincere thank you to all of the doctors and nurses that treated her so well during her health challenges - especially Dr. Khalid Pervaiz, Dr. Robert McDougall, Dr. Ayesha Bashir, Dr. Carmen Johnson and the amazing staff at the Palliative Care Unit at the Regina Pasqua Hospital.

A celebration of Myrna’s life will be held on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at 4pm at the Heritage United Church, 1050 N Arnason St, Regina, SK.

Flowers can be sent to the Victoria Avenue Funeral Home, 2080 Victoria Ave. E, Regina, Sask. S4N 7B9 or In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Regina Food Bank, 445 Winnipeg Street, Regina, Sask. S4R 8P2.