Gerry was born January 20, 1931, in Rhein Sask. She was the 5th oldest out of 12 children.
In her younger years she helped on the family farm, babysat her younger siblings & attended school.
Gerry was a hard worker so at 17 she had no trouble getting a job at Woolworth's/E.B. Smith’s in Yorkton.
It was there she met Lorne McLachlan. They were married November 7, 1951. In 1953 they bought a farm outside of Creelman, Sask. Lorna was born in 1954, Kelly 1957 & Cathy in 1958. Sadly Kelly passed away only 2 days after he was born.
After many hardships on the farm they packed up & moved to Fillmore. Mom found employment as a telephone operator & Lorne followed in his dad's footsteps as a self made carpenter.
In the summer of 1966 they moved to Weyburn, Sask. Lorne started work for Swertz Bros. Const. & eventually started his own business under the name of Mac's Construction. Gerry worked at the Saan Store for many years. She went on to work at Walkaway Shoes & then finally as Night Clerk at the King George Hotel. During her working career as well as living in the communities of Creelman, Fillmore & Weyburn, she made many life long friends. To this day many still think of her as a dear dear friend....
After Lorne passed away in 1995, Gerry sold their home & moved into Legion Towers. She remained there until October 2020 when she moved into Weyburn Special Care Home. Due to Covid family decided to move her out of the care home & into her daughter's home. It was there she remined until shortly before she passed.
Gerry's love of music & people gave her the opportunity to play with various bands over the years. She played by ear piano & accordian. After retirement she was fortunate to travel places she never thought she would. She loved visiting with Lorna & family in Quesnel, BC; family members in Sask. Alberta, BC & Yukon where she could reminisce, play music, sing songs & have another "Morning Toque..."
She travelled with Cathy & family several times to Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Disneyland, Arizona & Mexico making new friends everywhere she went...but she never forgot her friends back here at home.
She was a born care giver, full of love & compassion for everyone she knew. She was an amazing mother, provider & source of strength to her children. Loving & caring to her Grand & Great-Grand children. Devoted friend to many....
Gerry was dearly loved and will be incredibly missed by all that knew her.
Gerry was predeceased by her parents, Alex and Mary Ries; husband, Lorne McLachlan; infant son, Kelly; siblings, Elmer, Doreen, Colleen, Bert, Ken, Lorne, Donnie, Shirley and Viola.
Gerry will be forever loved & missed by her brothers, Delbert (Renate) Ries of Kamloops, BC and Robert “Bob” Ries of Strathmore, AB; daughters, Lorna (Alec) Wasmuth of Quesnel, BC and Cathy (Ron) Arndt of Weyburn, SK; grandchildren, Natasha Wasmuth (Ahren Chappell), Cory Ror (Brenda Schneider) and children, Adrianna and Nathan; Chad Ror and his son, Beckett; sisters in law, Sandra Ries, Lois Ries, Louise Ries and Debbie Campbell Ries as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives & friends.
A special thank you to Gerry’s Legion Tower Family.
Mom felt very fortunate to have celebrated her 90th birthday with her family.
A Graveside Service & Interment will take place Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery, Weyburn, Saskatchewan with Pastor Jody Pfeifer officiating.
Donations in memory of Gerry may be sent to Weyburn General Hospital “Palliative Care Fund”
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