Obituary of Edith Beek

Edith Alberta Beek passed away at the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre, Lloydminster, Alberta on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at the age of 90 years.

Edith is survived by: her loving husband, Fred; her children, Raymond (Marie) and their son Kevin (Erin); Alvin (Linda Hope); Eldon (Terra) and their children Shandra (Derek), Amanda (Kyle), Kendra (Brady); Myron; Lorne (Linda) and their children Krystie, Jami (Kyle), and Ryan; Nada and her children Colby and Landon; and her 7 great grandchildren.

Edith was predeceased by: her parents, Robert & Mary Jamison; her brother, Stuart Jamison; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fred & Marie Beek.

The Funeral Service for Edith will be conducted from Kitscoty Community Hall, Kitscoty, Alberta on Saturday, December 22, 2018 at 10:00 AM.

Donations in memory of Edith may be made to the Pioneer Lodge Auxiliary or Charity of Choice

Edith's funeral card can be viewed or downloaded from the link below. 

https://indd.adobe.com/view/f82eab33-0687-4c0b-b17f-7bee6d4a4d2f

Eulogy ~ 

Grandma was born on December 26, 1927, in Islay, AB to Robert and Mary Jamison.  She had one brother, Stuart who was born in January 1930.  She started attending Hollyrood School when she was 9 years old, as she had to wait until Stuart was 7 and old enough to attend and ride with her.  They travelled 4 miles on horseback one way to school, on a trail that lead across a field and along a road where the bush was cut and the slough graded enough to allow a horse to get through.  Grandma recalled adventures on their way to school where they would be riding the horse through pastures full of thick prairie wool, they couldn’t see the prairie chickens hiding beneath and as they rode through, the prairie chickens would fly out and spook the horse causing the two of them to fall off.  They would have to walk the remainder of the way to school and home again at the end of the day where they would find their horse waiting for them.

At the young age of 15, Grandma’s mom Mary passed away.  At this point she left school to tend to the household.  It was in these years taking care of her family, that Grandma first learned to cook.  Anyone who has had the pleasure of eating a meal in Grandma’s kitchen knew she was an amazing cook!

 

Grandma enjoyed socializing and dancing. She attended many of the country dances.  It was at one of these dances that she met a young man named Fred Beek.  They courted for a couple of years before being wed on October 16, 1953 at the Knox Presbyterian Church in Lloydminster on a beautiful fall day.

 

They lived south of Kitscoty when they started their family.  In the spring of 1956 Raymond was born, followed by Alvin in the summer of ’58 and Eldon in the winter of ’60.That same year they finished construction of their forever home.  Grandma always laughed when she talked about how they were busy painting the house with 3 young boys, and every time a vehicle went by all 3 would run to the window sticking their hands in the fresh paint.  In the spring of 1961, Myron was born, followed by Lorne in the fall of ’63.  Nada completed the family when she was born in the summer of ’67.  Her kids remember Grandma always awaiting their safe arrival home from school each day.  The house would be full with the wonderful smells of whatever she had on the stove for supper that night.  One thing is for sure, Grandma always made the house feel like a home.

 

Grandma was one of the hardest workers there was.  She spent her days milking cows, gardening, working in the field and raising her children.  She sold cream, eggs, chickens and turkeys as a source of income to help provide for her family.  Grandma churned her own butter well into the late 90’s and for anyone who had the pleasure of tasting one of Grandma’s homemade buns with some of her freshly churned butter, you surely tasted a small piece of heaven.  It was an extra special treat when she would add a healthy layer of brown sugar on top for the grandchildren.  Grandma also loved picking berries, and if it could be canned, Grandma canned it.  A trip into Grandma’s basement would reveal rows upon rows of canned fruit, jams, jellies, turkey, vegetables and the best pickles in the countryside.

 

Every year the family looked forward to attending the Vermilion fair and parade.  The kids were each given $5 that they had earned haying to spend as they pleased.  Grandma and Grandpa continued attending the Vermilion fair for years to come, well after the kids grew up and left home.  They also enjoyed taking in the Lea Park Rodeo, Dewberry Chuckwagons, Clandonald Fair and the St. Walburg Blueberry Festival as well.

 

Grandma joined the United Church Women group in the early 80’s.  A few ladies from the group offered rides to Grandma so she could attend their monthly gatherings.  She enjoyed socializing and making many new friends.  Later she would join the Forresters as well.

 

Her next blessing started in 1981 when her first grandchild was born, followed by 8 more over the years.  She loved being a grandma and spending time with her grandkids.  All of us grandkids remember fondly, visits and sleepovers at the farm with Grandma and Grandpa.  We remember Grandma’s often fruitless attempts at introducing some farm life to us town girls when she would try and convince us to help her collect the eggs from the chickens or teach us how to milk the cow.  Every night just before sunset, we would all bundle up, grandma would grab her walking stick and we would wander to the barn to put the dog and cat in for the night.  The next morning we did it all over again to let them out.  We all spent hours around her kitchen table playing board games and cards with her, or sorting through her impressive button collection.

 

Grandma would always welcome you in for a visit no matter what time of day or how busy she was. She was always happy to talk about the weather, something in the news, or even sports.  She always seemed to know something about the Oilers even if she didn’t follow them closely.  She was also really interested in talking about her flowers, the garden or how the crops were doing as she always wanted everyone to have a good year.

 

Grandma and Grandpa became quite the hockey fans and rarely missed one of our hockey games often rearranging their chore schedules so they could be sure to attend.  She rarely missed a Christmas or Band concert, and thoroughly enjoyed taking in the Kitscoty Dinner Theatre annually.

 

Her first great grandchild was born in 2007, followed by 6 more throughout her remaining years.  Seeing her great grandchildren always brought a beautiful smile to Grandma’s face.  This past spring when she welcomed her 2 latest additions, Grandma held and loved those babies for as long as the babies allowed.  Her arms must have been ready to give out, but nothing was going to make her let go of those babies as long as they laid quietly and sleeping soundly in her loving arms.

 

Grandma had a great sense of humor, she would always crack us up with a great one liner or witty remark.  Even into her final days she still kept her sense of humor and was sharp as a tack.

 

This past January, we surprised Grandma with a 90th birthday party with almost all of her family!  Being a Boxing Day baby, she was excited to have her first ‘actual’ birthday party of her own.

 

In the fall of 2014, Grandma moved to the Pioneer Lodge to join her brother Stuart, where she enjoyed activities, socializing, and making new friends. It was always a highlight when she won at bingo.  In the summer of 2018 her health began to deteriorate, at that point she moved to the Dr. Cooke where she spent her final days.

 

Though we can’t take credit for these beautiful words we have a poem that we would like to share…

 

Because you’re always thought about in such a special way,

Because you always did so much to brighten up each day,

And because you cared for others selflessly your whole life through,

We will say a little prayer each day especially for you,

That heaven will protect you and somehow let you know,

That Grandma you meant so much to us,

And that we will miss you so,

And that we’ll think about you as we travel on life’s way,

And keep you safe within our hearts forever and a day.

(Author Unknown)