1921 – 2016

Ellen Mae Reithaug (Nan) passed away peacefully, with family at her side, on December 27th, 2016 at Whispering Pine Place in Canwood, SK., at the age of 95 years.  She was born, an identical twin to Helen, on February 4th, 1921, in Langham, SK. to Magnus and Bella Anderson.

The family moved to the Parkside area in 1932, because of the drought in southern SK. Although they lived in Parkside, Ellen and Helen spent much of their summers (1932-1936) with Aunt Mary and Uncle Bob in Holbein.  The times they spent in Holbein were some of their fondest childhood memories.  As Ellen’s children and grandchildren, we often sat for hours listening to stories of their mischievous past while in Holbein. When Ellen was 15 she returned to the Langham area and cooked as a hired girl for her Aunt Ruth and Uncle Ernie for 7 years. After that she ventured out to Vancouver where her sister, Helen, and brother-in-law resided. She became employed at a soft drink factory where she spent approximately two years. In July of 1945 her mother passed away suddenly so Ellen came home to SK. again. That is when she met the love of her life, John Reithaug. They were married on December 23, 1947 and lived in the Ordale district where they farmed. On October 14th, 1949 their first born arrived, Barbara Joan. Five years later, on September 17th, 1954, Debra Joy was born. The family moved to Parkside in the fall of 1963.  Ellen and John continued farming until the fall of 1965. At that time they moved to Saskatoon so that John could pursue a career in health care, becoming an orderly. He worked in the University Hospital for one year and then moved to Prince Albert where he worked at the Victoria Union Hospital for 15 more years. In 1980 they moved to Parkside where they lived out their retirement years.  When John’s health declined, Ellen refused to entrust the care of her beloved husband to anyone else.  She took care of him at home, until his passing in October of 2004.  She lived alone in Parkside for the next ten years. When she could no longer live on her own, she moved in with Debbie in Holbein. In the summer of 2016 it became apparent that Ellen needed more care, so she went into respite in Canwood, and was then placed in the Herb Bassett nursing home in P.A. In September she went back to Canwood to become a permanent resident of Whispering Pine Place, where she could once again be with her twin sister, Helen Tang. 

The twins had always been close their entire lives, getting into much mischief as youngsters.  In their time together in Canwood, this mischievous determination resurfaced.  Together again, they stoked each other’s fires and daily plotted their escape to Parkside.  The twins’ plans to “break out” sometimes involved walking, taking the bus or just finding a ride?  Frequent visitors to the nursing home knew better than to say the word “Parkside” anywhere near them, as they would instantly ask to hitch a ride. 

Throughout her years Ellen was an incredibly devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  Family was so important to her.  In her later years she would often say, “I thank God for each and every day that I can be with my family.”

Though Ellen never did manage to “break out” of Whispering Pine Place and get back to Parkside, she did manage to break into Heaven on Dec. 27th, 2016 and now resides in her eternal home. She will forever be loved and missed by all her family and friends. Her family include; her daughters, Barbara Schultz of Christopher Lake, SK. and Debbie (Lloyd) Helm of Holbein, SK., her grandchildren, Kevin (Jill) Schultz of Prince Albert, SK., Trevor (Kerri) Schultz of Big River, SK., Pam (Trevor) Boettcher of Shellbrook, SK., Kim (Keith) Zawislak of Prince Albert, SK., her great grandchildren; Jonathon, Drew and James Schultz of P.A., SK., Zachary, Joshua, and Jake Boettcher of Shellbrook, SK., Brooke , Emma and Luke Zawislak of P.A., SK., her twin sister, Helen Ruth Tang of Canwood, SK.,  her sister, Agnes Brown of Prince Albert, SK. and numerous other relatives. Ellen was predeceased by; her husband, John Reithaug, her parents, Magnus and Bella Anderson, her sisters, Camilla Prosser, Mary Agrey, and Alice Coates, her brothers; Andrew, Alvin, Milton and Ole Anderson, a son-in-law, Ralph Schultz.

The Celebration of Life Service was held on Monday, January 2, 2017 at 2:00 pm in Immanuel Lutheran Church in Parkside, SK. with Pastor Chris Dean officiating. The Pallbearers were Kevin Schultz, Trevor Schultz, Trevor Boettcher, Keith Zawislak, Zachary Boettcher, Joshua Boettcher. The musicians are Macy Tang and Deidre Tang, special music by Immanuel Lutheran Choir, Men’s choir and the family singers. Memorial donations in Ellen’s memory may be directed to the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Parkside, SK. The Interment was in Parkside Cemetery. Family and friends wishing to send messages of condolence are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com  Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home, Shellbrook, SK- Fred Pomrenk & Tammy Smart, Funeral Directors. 

 

• Date : 2016-12-27