Obituary for Jean Sather
DOROTHY JEAN (MELLESMOEN) SATHER
January 2, 1927- April 2, 2020
Jean Sather, aged 93 years, passed away peacefully at the Watrous District Health Complex on Thursday, April 2, 2020.
Dorothy Jean Mellesmoen was born January 2, 1927 to Sigvald and Rose Grace (Hill) Mellesmoen on the farm located west of Renown. Jean was the middle child of six who all lived in a tiny two bedroom house. Life revolved around family (siblings, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents), neighbours, church, farming and school. Her formal education was obtained from Hawkshaw School, which was in walking distance. As a young girl she worked for the Forsyth family at the bakery in Watrous. She helped with the family’s children as well as the bakery business. Jean moved to Saskatoon to live with her half-sister Sylvia and worked at the Bessborough Hotel for a few months before returning back home.
Jean met her future husband, Melvin Edward Sather at a dance in the old Mainline building in Watrous. They were married October 9, 1947. Melvin's parents Sverre and Marie (Lilleby) Sather moved to Watrous so that Melvin and Jean could take over the family farm located three miles south of Renown, which is now farmed by Milton and Calvin. Melvin and Jean worked hard on the farm. They were grain farmers and had cattle, pigs, chickens and of course had a large garden. Jean took a great interest in preserving and canning fruits and vegetables. She was an amazing cook and baker and passed this on to her daughters.
They raised a family of five children: Milton (1951), Judy (1954), Alan (1956), Calvin (1958) and Laurie (1964).The three boys grew up farming. As soon as they were able to drive, there was a job for them.
Over the years more land was bought and various hired men helped with the daily chores. In 1960, they purchased Jean’s mom and dad’s homestead, which is now operated by Milton and Calvin. Jean was active in the Renown Ladies Club and later the Watrous Senior Citizens Club when they retired to town.
Jean was an avid hockey mom for many years, attending regular games plus chaperoning weekend tournaments in Yorkton and Weyburn. Friendships developed and flourished. Later in life she enjoyed watching sports on TV. In the summer time she enjoyed watching the Toronto Blue Jays, the Riders and a few years ago began cheering for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In the winter time she liked watching hockey and she was glued to the TV during curling season always cheering for Team Kevin Koe.
In 1982, Melvin and Jean decided to build a retirement home in Watrous. Now Jean was busy building and furnishing a new home. Many hours were spent planning and developing flower beds, garden spaces and planting trees. They were avid participants at the horticultural show receiving many ribbons each year. Their life now revolved around family and friends, playing cards, bingo, bowling and going on casino bus trips, and of course babysitting their grandchildren and attending their activities as they grew up. The grandchildren loved grandma’s specialty of soup and sandwiches for a quick lunch. To this day this is one of everyone’s specialties.
They took many memorable trips: Mediterranean cruise with Sylvia and George Levers, Panama cruise, Norway and Sweden with Harold and Anna Sundquist, Hawaiian Islands with Laurie, Niagara Falls with Alan, farm bus tour to the United States with Arnie and Irene Mattson, and New Orleans with Judy and Laurie.
Jean loved her crafts: making wood fiber flowers which she learnt from her mother, tatting, crocheting, knitting, sewing, cross stitch and liquid embroidery. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have many pieces of her fine handy work.
Melvin and Jean celebrated 70 wonderful years of marriage October 9, 2017. Mom was very strong and determined, patient, kind, hardworking, had a great sense of humour and a heart of gold. She was a caregiver, always looking out for everyone before herself. She was always interested in how and what her family were doing. Mom’s greatest treasure was her family and enjoyed spending quality time with everyone. She especially loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and her face lit up when she saw each one of them. Mom was so amazed with today’s technology. She was given a tablet as a gift from Calvin and was able to stay connected with the kids. She received many, many pictures of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren by email and she even felt confident enough to reply back! Mom was determined to live in her own house until the end and this is what she did.
Jean is survived by five children and their spouses, 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, one sister, three sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Immediate family:
Milton and Cathie, daughter Wendy (Yda ), granddaughter Jenna; son Jason (Fehrin), grandchildren Caleb, Addyson, Landen and Avery; son David (Kelly), grandchildren Natalie, Lexi, and Kylie; Judy and Gerald Schmid, daughter Christina (Joe) Steen; son Curtis (Trina), grandchildren Amelia and Oliver; son Brad (Karen), grandchildren Avery and Ethan; daughter Carrolyn (Clayton) Shular, grandchildren Cohen and Keira; Alan and Kathy, son Collin (Ellen); son Craig and grandchildren Chloe and Lucas; son Jameson; Calvin and Cathy, son Brent (Catherine), grandchildren Brielle, Ellisa, twins Weston and Brooklyn; daughter Paula (Patrick); Laurie and Larry Regier, son Jamie; daughter Janelle (Cole) Neufeld, grandchildren James and Colt.
Jean is also survived by sister Irene Van Loo, Langley, B.C., sisters-in-law Mildren Paquin, Saskatoon, Thelma Sather, Saskatoon and Leona Sather, Watrous, brother in-law Don Roberds, Langley, B.C. as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband Melvin (2018), her father Sigvald (1968), her mother Rose Grace (1977), father-in-law Sverre (1952) and mother-in-law Marie (1985), step-sister Sylvia Levers, sisters Kathleen Swanson and Evelyn Roberds, brothers George and Gordon, brothers-in-law George Levers, Raymond Swanson, Henry Van Loo, Harold Sather, Palmer Sather, Clarence Sather, Ed Dewey, Don McKenzie, Harold Sundquist, sisters-in-law Sophie Dewey, Mabel McKenzie, Anna Sundquist, Lavina Mellesmoen and several nieces and nephews.
A private family service will be held at the Watrous Cemetery on April 8 conducted by Pastor Darren Holland.
Memorial donations can be made to the Watrous Palliative Care Unit, Box 130, Watrous, Sask. S0K 4T0.
January 2, 1927- April 2, 2020
Jean Sather, aged 93 years, passed away peacefully at the Watrous District Health Complex on Thursday, April 2, 2020.
Dorothy Jean Mellesmoen was born January 2, 1927 to Sigvald and Rose Grace (Hill) Mellesmoen on the farm located west of Renown. Jean was the middle child of six who all lived in a tiny two bedroom house. Life revolved around family (siblings, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents), neighbours, church, farming and school. Her formal education was obtained from Hawkshaw School, which was in walking distance. As a young girl she worked for the Forsyth family at the bakery in Watrous. She helped with the family’s children as well as the bakery business. Jean moved to Saskatoon to live with her half-sister Sylvia and worked at the Bessborough Hotel for a few months before returning back home.
Jean met her future husband, Melvin Edward Sather at a dance in the old Mainline building in Watrous. They were married October 9, 1947. Melvin's parents Sverre and Marie (Lilleby) Sather moved to Watrous so that Melvin and Jean could take over the family farm located three miles south of Renown, which is now farmed by Milton and Calvin. Melvin and Jean worked hard on the farm. They were grain farmers and had cattle, pigs, chickens and of course had a large garden. Jean took a great interest in preserving and canning fruits and vegetables. She was an amazing cook and baker and passed this on to her daughters.
They raised a family of five children: Milton (1951), Judy (1954), Alan (1956), Calvin (1958) and Laurie (1964).The three boys grew up farming. As soon as they were able to drive, there was a job for them.
Over the years more land was bought and various hired men helped with the daily chores. In 1960, they purchased Jean’s mom and dad’s homestead, which is now operated by Milton and Calvin. Jean was active in the Renown Ladies Club and later the Watrous Senior Citizens Club when they retired to town.
Jean was an avid hockey mom for many years, attending regular games plus chaperoning weekend tournaments in Yorkton and Weyburn. Friendships developed and flourished. Later in life she enjoyed watching sports on TV. In the summer time she enjoyed watching the Toronto Blue Jays, the Riders and a few years ago began cheering for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In the winter time she liked watching hockey and she was glued to the TV during curling season always cheering for Team Kevin Koe.
In 1982, Melvin and Jean decided to build a retirement home in Watrous. Now Jean was busy building and furnishing a new home. Many hours were spent planning and developing flower beds, garden spaces and planting trees. They were avid participants at the horticultural show receiving many ribbons each year. Their life now revolved around family and friends, playing cards, bingo, bowling and going on casino bus trips, and of course babysitting their grandchildren and attending their activities as they grew up. The grandchildren loved grandma’s specialty of soup and sandwiches for a quick lunch. To this day this is one of everyone’s specialties.
They took many memorable trips: Mediterranean cruise with Sylvia and George Levers, Panama cruise, Norway and Sweden with Harold and Anna Sundquist, Hawaiian Islands with Laurie, Niagara Falls with Alan, farm bus tour to the United States with Arnie and Irene Mattson, and New Orleans with Judy and Laurie.
Jean loved her crafts: making wood fiber flowers which she learnt from her mother, tatting, crocheting, knitting, sewing, cross stitch and liquid embroidery. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have many pieces of her fine handy work.
Melvin and Jean celebrated 70 wonderful years of marriage October 9, 2017. Mom was very strong and determined, patient, kind, hardworking, had a great sense of humour and a heart of gold. She was a caregiver, always looking out for everyone before herself. She was always interested in how and what her family were doing. Mom’s greatest treasure was her family and enjoyed spending quality time with everyone. She especially loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and her face lit up when she saw each one of them. Mom was so amazed with today’s technology. She was given a tablet as a gift from Calvin and was able to stay connected with the kids. She received many, many pictures of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren by email and she even felt confident enough to reply back! Mom was determined to live in her own house until the end and this is what she did.
Jean is survived by five children and their spouses, 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, one sister, three sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Immediate family:
Milton and Cathie, daughter Wendy (Yda ), granddaughter Jenna; son Jason (Fehrin), grandchildren Caleb, Addyson, Landen and Avery; son David (Kelly), grandchildren Natalie, Lexi, and Kylie; Judy and Gerald Schmid, daughter Christina (Joe) Steen; son Curtis (Trina), grandchildren Amelia and Oliver; son Brad (Karen), grandchildren Avery and Ethan; daughter Carrolyn (Clayton) Shular, grandchildren Cohen and Keira; Alan and Kathy, son Collin (Ellen); son Craig and grandchildren Chloe and Lucas; son Jameson; Calvin and Cathy, son Brent (Catherine), grandchildren Brielle, Ellisa, twins Weston and Brooklyn; daughter Paula (Patrick); Laurie and Larry Regier, son Jamie; daughter Janelle (Cole) Neufeld, grandchildren James and Colt.
Jean is also survived by sister Irene Van Loo, Langley, B.C., sisters-in-law Mildren Paquin, Saskatoon, Thelma Sather, Saskatoon and Leona Sather, Watrous, brother in-law Don Roberds, Langley, B.C. as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband Melvin (2018), her father Sigvald (1968), her mother Rose Grace (1977), father-in-law Sverre (1952) and mother-in-law Marie (1985), step-sister Sylvia Levers, sisters Kathleen Swanson and Evelyn Roberds, brothers George and Gordon, brothers-in-law George Levers, Raymond Swanson, Henry Van Loo, Harold Sather, Palmer Sather, Clarence Sather, Ed Dewey, Don McKenzie, Harold Sundquist, sisters-in-law Sophie Dewey, Mabel McKenzie, Anna Sundquist, Lavina Mellesmoen and several nieces and nephews.
A private family service will be held at the Watrous Cemetery on April 8 conducted by Pastor Darren Holland.
Memorial donations can be made to the Watrous Palliative Care Unit, Box 130, Watrous, Sask. S0K 4T0.