It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Gertrude “Gertie” Marie Montgrand, late of Prince Albert, SK on April 13^th, 2022, at the age of 86 years. She was known to most as “Gertie”, she was a sister, wife, mom, auntie, kookom, chapan, cousin, friend, and seechalik. Born on June 25, 1935, Gertie was one of 11 children born to John & Marie Merasty in Pelican Narrows.

Gertie was a residential school survivor. At the tender age of 5 years old, she was taken to the Sturgeon Landing Residential School where she lived for the next 10 years.  Only returning home once a year for brief visits during the summer, she traveled on the Sturgeon Weir to and from Sturgeon Landing to make the trek that would change the course of her life.  Over the last 10 years, several of her grandchildren, children, nieces, nephews, and even some friends traveled the same route that she had traveled as a child so they could better understand and celebrate her tenacity, strength, and overwhelming ability to forgive.  The 1^st trip was from Mirond Lake to Pawistik Lodge in 2 days and the 2^nd trip was from Pawistik to Denare Beach in 3 days. This past summer they paddled in one day from the Sturgeon Weir to Sturgeon Landing to finish the trip that took the young Gertie two weeks to a place that, despite the trauma she endured, helped develop the unforgettable woman we know and loved.

After returning home from school, was in Sandy Bay that Gertie met her husband of 53 years, Alfred Montgrand, who was working as a Conservation Officer.  Alfred met Gertie walking along the shoreline, where she was carrying a gunnysack.  As a Conservation Officer, Alfred asked her what she had in the bag and when he looked it was a moose-head!  He must have liked her though because he let her go!  It wasn’t long after they were married.

Alfred and Gertie had six children and raised them in Sandy Bay where Alfred worked at Island Falls.

In 1973, they made the big move to La Ronge. It was here Gertie decided to get her drivers’ license at the tender age of 45.  She wanted to be more independent and passed her road test by telling the driver instructor that “Oh yes, I know how to parallel park!”  So, he passed her! Having never parallel parked in her life! And never did after.

Gertie and Alfred had taken in numerous borders over the years.  Students from all over the North came to school at Churchill High School and those who stayed there were either family members or simply young impressionable kids of which many had never been away from home. Many have kept in contact because of the amazing support she was and the family they became.  Gertie was also a babysitter to so many children, whom she cared for greatly.  This likely prepared her for her later work for 16 years as a Matron at the La Ronge RCMP detachment.  She was good at it and was very proud of her service. She was probably the friendliest person many of the people she minded over would have the honor of meeting.

Alfred and Gertie lived in La Ronge for 22 years, until another big move in 1995 brought them to Prince Albert.  They moved in with Betty, to what everyone knew as “The House” on 10^th Street. Forever busy, it was always a home where everyone was welcome to come to visit, live, and lay their head at a moment’s notice.

After Alfred passed in 2004, Gertie became more and more involved in committee meetings to fill her time. She then eventually sat as an Elder for various boards (CFS, NITHA) up until Covid hit in 2020.

She had an adventurous spirit and rarely said no to traveling anywhere.  She could be ready in 5 minutes, as long as you gave her 3 hours’ notice!  She has traveled to numerous places, and could probably sing the song “I’ve been everywhere man”, like ……… Air Ronge, Alfie’s Pond, Buffalo, Calgary, Chicken Lake, Cuba, Cumberland, Deadwood, Denare Beach, Edmonton, Flin Flon, Fort Smith, Hay River, Kelowna, Kiputs Lake, La Loche, La Ronge, Leask, Los Angeles, Nanaimo, Niagara, North Battleford, Regina, Reindeer, Reno, Pukatawagan, San Diego, Sandy Bay, Saskatoon, Southend, Toronto, Vancouver, Vegas, Victoria, The Pas, Turner Lake, and of course, Moose Jaw.

For those that don’t know, Gertie decided that for her 80^th birthday she would go skydiving!  Yes, skydiving at 80 and, not wanting to let Gertie show them up, 7 of her family members took the plunge with her. She never got tired of telling people about her adventure and, if it hadn’t been for Covid, she would have gone again for her 85^th. The night before she passed, with the pride of her adventure, she even made her daughter Betty tell the nurse about it!

She loved her sports, especially the Roughriders and Blue Jays.  She loved any team that any of her children or grandchildren participated in.  It was not uncommon to hear her cheering loudly and you could always distinguish her voice above all others. Her passion was not unnoticed nor unheard.

She loved music whether it was singing, listening, or dancing. She enjoyed every aspect of it – especially the music she could play her spoons to. Gertie loved watching fiddlers and never missed a chance to go see any performance and even more so if her favorite dancers were jigging – or knew she could convince them to.

Over the years she loved the fact that her grandchildren took the opportunity to dance or perform.  If you ever went to visit Gertie you would find pictures and newspaper clippings of her grandchildren hanging all over her apartment.  She would travel hours and hours just to watch a 20-minute performance.  Once, on a whim, she had her daughter and granddaughter drive her 30 hours to Vancouver before the “curtain” went up on a play that her grandson Joel was in.  Each of her grandchildren would be able to tell a story or adventure that they shared.  She loved them all and was so very proud of each and every one.

Throughout the years she met many celebrities like Adam Beach, The Snowbird pilots, Jimmy Rankin, Guy Lafleur, David Suzuki, Wayne Gretzky, and other actors, professional athletes, and, of course, her famous niece TINA TURNER. She shared a lot of adventures and so many stories. She didn’t get tired of telling these stories over and over again, and we never got tired of hearing them.  Over the years though, her storytelling started to get a little racy and it would get quite funny as we were never used to hearing the colorful language.

Gertie would make friends everywhere she went – her loving spirit, open heart, and warmth drew people into her circle, and once there, they never left. Gertie had a resilient spirit and lived a full life.  She was content and felt her time was near.  We are all so fortunate to have had her as long as we did and genuinely are blessed with every memory, every hug and kiss, every moment of laughter with jokes, and stories never-ending.

She loved the world, and the world loved her. She will be greatly missed and forever loved.

Kisakitin …  Mom, Auntie, Sister, Kookom, Chapan, Friend

Ikosi – kawa-pa-mitinan

Condolences can be sent to the family on our website at www.mackenziechapel.ca.  Arrangements in care of MacKenzie Chapel & Crematorium.  Brian & Bev Stobbs, Mark Gyoerick – Matayah Loyst – Mel Curle. 306.763.8488.

• Date : 2022-04-13
• Location : Prince Albert, SK