With deep sadness the family announces that Gerda (Chris) Svanhild Stewart (Christiansen) passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 27th, 2010 at the Mont St. Joseph's Nursing Home in Prince Albert, SK. Known as Chris to her friends and family, she was born on January 1, 1925 to Martin and Dagny Christensen who farmed in the Weldon district. Mom started school in Weldon and finished her schooling in Kinistino. As they had 4 miles to go to school, in the summer she would walk with her sisters or drive with horse and buggy; in the winter they travelled with horse and cutter and later on with a team and caboose. When she finished school she obtained a teaching permit and taught at Dryden School. It was there that she met our Dad, Bob Stewart. They were married November 12, 1946. They had four children, and farmed in the Bonnie Hill district until 2001 when they moved to Birch Hills. In 1985 they started to spend their winters at Desert Hot Springs, California and continued to do so for the next 10 years. Both Mom and Dad greatly enjoyed this time in their lives. In her earlier years mom was a member of the Bonnie Hill Helping Hands. Mom had a gentle way about her and a pleasant personality. Those who knew her enjoyed her great sense of humour. Mom loved having coffee with her friends and family and going out for lunch. She enjoyed playing golf in her later years. Mom was an avid gardener and was noted for her pickles, homemade jams and jellies and fresh baking. We all recall coming home from school to the aroma of freshly baked bread, cakes and cookies. Mom's great love was playing the piano and she had a special gift of playing by ear often picking up tunes from the radio. She played the piano with Elmer Opseth and Everett Whelan. They played at many small town dances and entertained the seniors at the nursing homes at Kinistino, Weldon and Birch Hills. Mom was a great mother and had a lot of patience and a soothing touch whether it be to wipe a tear or soothe a scraped knee. Mom enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved to hear about the interesting things they would say or do, and to hear about places they had travelled. Mom will be sadly missed by her four children: Linda (Elvin) Birch of Minnedosa, MB, Judy Leippi of Red Deer, AB, Gord (Maria) Stewart of Saskatoon, SK and Annette Schaan of Prince Albert, SK; her 7 grandchildren Mark Birch, Lori Birch, Kim (Doug) Lautamaus, Rick Leippi, Jessica (Aaron) Wandler, Brandi Schaan, and Kyla Schaan; 5 great-grandchildren Kate-Lynn Lautamus, Dylan Birch, Damon and Olivia Wandler and Colton Leippi; her sister Marlyn (Vic ) Boisson; her sister-in-laws Darlene Stewart of Regina, Yvette Stewart of Birch Hills, SK, Mary Stewart of Rocky Mountain House, AB, and Phyllis Stewart of Chilliwack, BC., and numerous nieces and nephews. Mom was pre-deceased by Bob, her husband of 59 years, her parents Martin and Dagny Christensen; her sister and brother-in-law Olive and Anders Antonsen; her mother and father-in-law Jessie and Lloyd Stewart; brothers-in-law Lindsay, Nelson, Pat, Doran and Donald Stewart and sisters-in-law Joyce Southern and Marjorie Banks; and nephew Roger Stewart. A celebration of mom's life will be held Monday, November 1st, 2010 at 2:00 pm at the Lutheran Church in Birch Hills, SK with Rev. Emmanuel Menyereye officiating. Interment Birch Hills Cemetery. In lieu of other tributes, anyone wishing to place memorial donations in Chris's memory may do so to the Mont St. Joseph's Nursing Home or the charity of the donor's choice. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the care-givers at Liza's Personal Care Home, Prince Albert, SK, Victoria Hospital, Prince Albert, SK, Jubilee Lodge, Kinistino, SK and at Mont St. Joseph's in Prince Albert, SK all who helped make mom's stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Arrangements are entrusted to Northern Funeral Service-MacKenzie Funeral Chapel, Brian & Bev Stobbs, Jennifer Wildeman Funeral Directors. 763-8488

• Date : 2010-10-27 06:00:00
• Location : Prince Albert, SK