Obituary of Walter Smith

B I O G R A P H Y SMITH: Walter Herbert Charter "Bert" Smith passed away in the Lloydminster Hospital, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Saturday, August 2, 2008 at the age of 84 years. Bert is survived by: one brother Tim Smith of Penticton, British Columbia; one sister-in-law Anne Smith of Radway, Alberta; his special friend Chris Robinson as well as numerous other relatives. A celebration of life for Bert was conducted from St. John's Anglican Church, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Harold Martin officiating. A poem was read by Chris Robinson. Special fiddle music was played by Chris Robinson. Hymns sung were "Abide With Me," and "The Old Rugged Cross," accompanied on the organ by Irene Knowlson. Interment followed in the Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy for Bert Smith ~ August 12, 2008 It is indeed an honour to take part in the celebration of Bert's life - our dear friend and neighbour. Bert is predeceased by: Tommy and May Smith (parents) Blanche (Smith) Wilkes (sister) Robert Smith (brother) Marg Smith (sister-in-law) He is survived by: Thomas (Tim) Smith (brother) Ann Smith (sister-in-law) Nieces and Nephews: Thomas Wilkes, Arthur Wilkes, Lois Dribnenky, Sherry Holtet, Merilee Buss, Kevin Smith, Trudy Smith, Joyce Fischer, Dwayne Smith, Donna Kuefler, Maurice Smith, Euadene Shipclark, Anna-May Woodley and numerous great nieces and nephews and other relatives. He is also survived by good friend Chris Robinson and friends and neighbours throughout the community. Bert moved to the Southminster District in 1927 with his parents, sister Blanche and brother Tim. His brother Bob was born 2 years later. Bert spent his entire life in the same yard, as an infant, juvenile and adult. He was the stay at home farmer's son and in later years was the dedicated caregiver of his mother until her death. He took all his schooling in Southminster School - grade one to eight. To our knowledge, other than pulling the municipal road grader with his own A.R. John Deere, working for the post office as the mail sorter at Christmas rush in the forties, and helping the neighbours when needed, his main focus was the farm. Bert always walked for necessity, and his health in latter years - he was a fast, steady walker - swinging his arms in military fashion, which he probably learned on the mile and 3/4 walk to school. He often went cross-country - being a ½ mile shorter. He said swinging your arms gives you momentum and also keeps you warmer when it is cold. One of his many sayings was "It's a lazy wind that goes right through you, instead of around you!" Bert was well read and very self-educated (as Mark Twain once said - don't let formal education get in the way of your learning). Bert knew the proper botanical names for most species of plant, etc. When Shannon was about 2 ½ years old he took us to see the Burgess home - she said "oh look a Brown-eyed Susan" - Bert's response was "Shannon that is a Gallardia!" He was always teaching the youth. Bert was very apologetic regarding his abilities - but Lorne said working beside him proved his knowledge and adaptability to many different tasks. After taking a wiring course through Lakeland College held at Southminster - he helped Lorne wire our new home in 1978. A testament to Bert's kindness to animals was in the care of his retired team when most farmers let them run out in the winter pawing for food and eating snow, Bert would pump water every day - usually by hand - when we got the call to help Bert that the "colt" was down - he was 27 years and the mare was 34 years - never thirsty or underfed. He has suet on the clothesline still for the winter visitors. Bert was not your typical stay at home bachelor - he had many varied interests. 1) Sask Wheat Pool - he became secretary in 1951 and this brings to mind one Sask Wheat Pool supper at Southminster he asked me to take minutes as he also had a Rock & Gem meeting that evening. Upon his return in a polite way he said "Beverly, you should have used abbreviations to save Wheat Pool paper!" - an environmentalist before his time. Fax machines, copiers, etc. would have challenged his frugal ways. Maybe there is a lesson to be learned here. Lois noted that some of his last wishes were hand written on an old envelope, placed in his wallet. 2) He was a very committed member of the Rock & Gem Club for many years. 3) Skating - his close neighbours Kari & Dave held a skating party one Boxing Day about 1997 - Bert drug out his old taped up skates and joined us in the fun. 4) Lois mentioned that though Bert was not always physically well - he would play soft ball with her family after BBQ's. He never missed playing ball at our school picnics. When we invited him to activities at the old school "What can I bring - I'm not a very good cook - beet pickles all right?" He also baked his own bread. 5) Bert was a director of Southminster Society up until his accident - He was always willing to help and hardly missed a function - when called to notify him his reply was "I'll be there God Willing" and if I said "Take care of yourself Bert", his reply was "That's good advice, follow it!" He was rigid in his routine; Friday being his day in town and he rarely deviated from that. 6) Music - Bert, with his Mom, listened to Hymns every Sunday evening. He played the organ and in his seventies took up the violin and his friend Chris travelled to the Kenderdine Campus at Emma Lake for several years for Violin Camp - this was the highlight of his summers. He told Kari that when he is feeling down, he plays the violin to keep his chin up! When asked to entertain at the Christmas concert at Southminster he would reply in his humble way that he wasn't very good "but if we expect the little ones to partake, we, as adults, should do our part also". We often discovered he had chosen his selections early in the fall to prepare for the concert. 7) Gardening; What a green thumb Bert had. I believe he was still using Potato seed from England; the glad bulbs he gave me were also from there as was the Holly Hock seed. His love of nature was so strong - he protected his wonderful crocus display in the spring - the original yellow clematis is still adorning the "wee house" that Bert has preserved. The Tuesday before his accident he was at a farewell party at Southminster and he told me he had picked a gallon of Saskatoons that day. He had mown little paths to the most productive bushes. 8) Mount Joy Ski Hill (Ruby Oster) Bert will always be remembered by his family (as he called us) at Mount Joy Ski Hill. For over 15 years anyone who rented boots and skis at the hill would remember Bert working in the rental building, helping them find the right boots and skis, and setting their bindings so they could get out on the hill. He was a very dedicated and dependable volunteer who could be counted on to open up the rental building and have it vacuumed up and ready for business. If Bert didn't let us know he wasn't coming and didn't show up, someone would go and check why. He even went with us on two bus trips to ski the mountains. One trip to Jasper and another to Banff, he really enjoyed the mountains with the exception of the day he tried to follow Gerry Duhaime down the mountain and met up with a tree on the way. Bert was okay but his glasses were not. All of us who worked with Bert at Mount Joy want to say "thank you Bert we will certainly miss you". Close friends of Bert mentioned that he had attended Co-op school and he gave a rope halter that he made to Bev Davies. Another keen interest of his was the Mid-west Archaeology club. Tradition Oriented Lois noted Bert still had a cookie tin jar that Grandma Smith used and it is still on the second shelf. When great nephew Joe longingly looked at the tin, Bert would say "Yes you may". Every Christmas when Mrs. Smith was still alive Bert would deliver a beautiful tin of cookies to us - a thank you for taking his Mother to the Ladies Teas. Several Christmas Eves, when our girls were young, we would take a box of baking to Bert's door (when he was on his own) we always imagined we saw Santa's sleigh in the star-lit sky - so we would hurry home to beat the "Jolly Elf". He loved visiting with family and friends and he always had a thought, proverb, etc. to share with you - never aimless chatter. My first visit to the Smith home was in February, 1967 - upon our entrance Mrs. Smith said that we were the first over her threshold in the New Year! We had a lovely visit over tea and Christmas cake. Bert's intelligence, integrity, loyalty, commitment, kindness to people and animals in my estimation are virtues that made him a unique personality and a man of good character. When Lorne and I checked Bert's home on Saturday afternoon while weeding his bountiful garden we found his twine row maker and wound it up for the last time. We hope Bert, that your garden in heaven has rows as straight and that your music will be heard throughout the realms - We will meet again "God Willing" CARD OF THANKS The family wishes to thank all the staff of the Lloydminster Hospital and E.H.S. for their care and kindness. Thanks also to all the families of Southminster who have watched over and helped Bert throughout his years in the community. A special thank you to Reverend Harold Martin, Bev Foote and Chris Robinson, you made the service very special. To all who sent well wishes, cards and gifts and to the ladies of the Anglican Church for the lunch following the service, a sincere thank you.