Obituary of Ella Rundberg

RUNDBERG ~ Ella Rundberg passed away at the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre, Lloydminster, Alberta Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at the age of 101 years. Ella leaves to mourn: two sons: Russell and Maxine of Moose Jaw and Lionel of Nakusp, British Columbia; two daughters: Dale of Calgary and Joan and Edward of Turtleford; fourteen grandchildren; twenty-five great grandchildren; fourteen great great grandchildren; and two daughters-in-law, Myrtle Rundberg and Beryl "Cookie" Rundberg. She was predeceased by her husband, Godfrey; two sons: Clarence and Kenneth Rundberg, one daughter Eileen Hardy, one grandson, two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law and one granddaughter-in-law. The Funeral Service for Ella Rundberg was conducted from McCaw Funeral Chapel, Lloydminster, Alberta Monday, April 29, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. with Reverend Bob Aldrich officiating. Tyson Mitchell gave the eulogy. The hymn "Amazing Grace" was accompanied by organist Irene Knowlson. Special music "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and "I Will Remember You" by Sarah Mclachlan were played during the service. The pallbearers were Jason Mitchell, Billie Jo Byrne, Becky Newman, Tyson Mitchell, Lindsey Mitchell, Tara Ferguson, Shinnel Diachinsky, Jesse Vanneste and Johanna Vanneste. They held the reception in the Knox Presbyterian - Andrew Walker Wing, Lloydminster, Alberta directly following the service. Interment was held in the Maidstone Cemetery, Maidstone, Saskatchewan. Donations in memory of Ella may be made to the Dr. Cooke Patient Comfort Fund. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy Ella Johanna was born August 30, 1911 at Strasbourg, Saskatchewan to William and Emilie Schwandt. She was predeceased by all her siblings; her husband Godfrey in 1960; two sons, Clarence in 1959 and Kenneth in 1999; a daughter Eileen in 2009; grandson Duane Hardy in 1975; two sons-in-law, Ron in 2001 and Dave in 2008; a daughter-in-law Lettie in 2006; and one granddaughter-in-law Hazel in 2009. Ella is survived by two sons, Russell and Maxine in Moose Jaw and Lionel in Nakusp; and two daughters, Dale in Calgary and Joan and Edward in Turtleford. In 1917 along with her family of three brothers: Gus, Fred and John; and sister Nora, moved to the Warnock District, west of Turtleford, Saskatchewan. She attended Warnock School and took some high school in Turtleford. She met Godfrey Rundberg and they were married in 1928, and they moved to the Milleton District, just south of the North Saskatchewan River. There they raised a family of seven children, Clarence, Russell, Eileen, Dale, Kenneth, Lionel and Joan. Clarence lived with Grandma and Grandpa Schwandt, went to public school at Warnock and high school at Paradise Hill. They raised the rest of the children in a small house about 16 x 18 in the Milleton District. She washed clothes by hand until after Joan was born when she got a gas washing machine. This washing machine ran on purple gas and had a foot pedal to start it. Her kids can all remember frozen clothes hanging to dry on a line the length of the house. She raised a large garden; it was always the kids' job to help her plant potatoes on the 24th of May weekend. When she wasn't cooking or washing clothes, her pastimes were sewing, knitting and weaving rugs. We believe there were many people in the area that had a siwash sweater knit by Gramma. She would sew a new dress for the girls every Christmas and likely shirts and pants for the boys. Marilyn and Cheryl can remember her sewing purple velvet dresses for them to wear to the Blackfoot Christmas concert. In 1956, Grandpa and Grandma moved to a house along highway 21, which was more convenient as they didn't have a car. Grandpa died in 1960. In the fall of 1961 or 1962, Ella moved to Turtleford, stayed with Grandma Elvina Schwandt and looked after an older gentleman, Al Taves, whose wife was a teacher; she possibly stayed there two years. Joan says she was there in 1963 as they went to Lea Park Rodeo, she kept Ken, he was just over a year at that time. Later that year she moved o Lloydminster where she stayed with Bob and Faye Tyler and looked after their son Murray, who was six weeks old. When the Tyler's moved to a different house, she lived in a suite in the basement. After Murray started school, she started a housekeeping job for Dave and Noni Wilkinson. She walked six blocks everyday, rain or shine, always back home to care for Murray after school. About 1981 she moved into Knox Manor where she made many new friends. She and Grace Dilts did many bus trips with D and D Tours. Del and Glen spoiled them rotten by bringing them each a shot of whiskey every night before bed. I guess that's why they kept booking more holidays. In November 2001, she moved to Pioneer Lodge and in 2002, due to health reasons, she was moved to Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre where she remained until her death. Grandma loved sports: hockey, football, curling and baseball. She had her favorites, but there were a few on her blacklist: Colleen Jones, Kevin Martin and Craig McTavish. Often the nursing home staff would drop in to her room to find out the scores of the certain game on TV. In her 101 years, can you imagine the changes grandma must have seen, from crank phones to cell phones, horse and buggy to jet planes, mud trails to super highways, and kerosene to electricity. Like Becky said, not only was she a good Grandma, she was a great great Grandma. She had fifteen grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren and fourteen great-great grandchildren. Rest in Peace, Grandma. Card of Thanks The family of Ella Rundberg would like to thank the staff of the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre for the exceptional care she received. We would also like to thank Reverend Bob Aldrich for his beautiful service and Irene Knowlson for being the organist. Special thanks to Brett and the rest of the staff at McCaw Funeral Service Ltd. for their care and compassion shown to our family. Finally, thanks to the Knox Presbyterian ladies for the lovely lunch and to everyone who made donations or sent cards and flowers.