Obituary of Renate Swan

Swan- Mrs. Rena, age 86, late of Shellbrook, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 peacefully surrounded by family. Rena was born on Dec. 26, 1922 to Sophie and George Beckmyer in Harburg, Germany. In August of 1928 at the age of 5, she came to Canada with here parents and two sisters Alice and Edythe on C.P Ship Lines. They traveled by train to Shellbrook and lived there till 1929 when they moved to Wichikin Lake, for a short time before moving back to Shellbrook. When she turned fifteen she went to work for Floretta Swan as a hired girl for 5 years. Here she met Paul, the love of her life and they got married on Sept. 7, 1943. They lived on the farm 3 miles east of Parkside where they raised 7 children. Rena loved gardening and all the years she lived on the farm she had a huge vegetable garden interspersed with lots of flowers. She always had a beautiful flower garden even when she moved into Shellbrook. While on the farm she had a greenhouse and sold bedding plants to supplement their income. She became a member of the Walter Willoughby Horticultural Society and served as a director and vice president. Rena apprenticed and became a Provincial Horticultural Judge. Rena joined the seniors in Parkside and Shellbrook. She enjoyed going to the seniors exercise classes taught by Dorothy Gray as well as all the activities Marilyn Palko arranged for them. Rena loved to knit and over the years she knit many baby blankets, cushion covers, toques and scarves. Hundreds of toques and scarves were donated to the church to send up north and to the North Battleford Hospital for the residents there. Some of her toques also made their way to an orphanage in South Africa. While still on the farm Rena helped make quilts with the ladies from the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Parkside which were sent to people in need. Rena also was known for her delicious baked buns. Rena loved to travel; she went on a garden tour to England and a cruise to Mazatland. Rena had a very full life and met a lot of special people along her journey, like Nair from Saskatoon who brought the rare Holy Ghost Orchid as a tribute to mom at her funeral. We love you mom and we miss you a lot but we also know you are in a better place. Rena leaves to cherish her memory her children Betty Straf, Jim (Sandy) Swan, Ann (Richard) Porter, Barb (Glen) Bloom, Shirley (Don) Christianson, Beatrice (Maurice) Stieb, and Linda (Bob) Miller; her 20 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren and 5 honorary grand children - Scott, Cheryl, Sheldon, Chris, and Tyrel Moe; her sisters Alice Calloway, Edythe Thom, Rose Walker, Mabel Hodgson, and brother Doug (Lila) Beckmyer; numerous nieces and nephews; her sisters in law Agnes Klein, and Gwen Swan; and her two cousins Pauline law and Jeanette Titterton. Rena was predeceased by her husband Paul Swan in 1989, her parents George and Sophie Beckmyer and her son in law Ted Straf. The Memorial Service for Rena took place on Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Parkside, Officiant was Pastor Chris Dean, Eulogist was June Lougheed, and special music was done by the Ordale Singers and Pat Sonntag. The Urn Bearer was Marlin Swan, and interment was in the Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Prince Albert. Memorial Donations may be made to the Shellbrook & Districts Health Services Project, Immanuel Lutheran Church, any Nursing Home, or to choice of donor.