Obituary of Victor William Seigle Ricketts

Victor Ricketts May 10,1925 - June 29,2013 Vic Ricketts was born in 1925 at Meeting Lake District to Clyde and Kathleen Ricketts. The oldest of four children. Mary, Floyd and Ralph followed. The family moved to the Misterton District in 1938. It was while attending school that Vic first met Edith Skelton. Vic and Edith got married in November of 1948. They moved to the Moose Jaw area where Edith taught school and Vic worked part time for the Tuxford Rural Telephone Exchange and also for a local farmer. In 1952 they moved to the Prince area where Edith taught school and Vic worked for a local farmer. They moved back to the Meeting Lake area in 1954 with Edith teaching at the Meeting Lake School and Vic farming. In 1958 Vic and Edith moved into Rabbit Lake. Edith taught school and Vic worked for Miller Motors while also farming. While Vic and Edith didn’t have children of their own, they seemed to “adopt” not only many school classes but the entire community. Vic’s 18 years on the hospital board and 20 years on the village council were through some of the most trying times in Saskatchewan. Vic and Edith started “wintering” in the United States in 1984. They travelled all over the Western United States, Western Canada and even to Alaska. Most of their travelling was done with friends and family, but they also travelled a lot by themselves until Edith’s health failed. Edith passed away in 2006 and Vic's heart wasn’t into travelling without her. He remained in their house until just a few years ago when he moved into one of the housing units. Vic's family would like to give heartfelt thanks to Vic's neighbours Alan and Shelley Laughlin for looking in on him every day. He remained there until being admitted to the hospital in North Battleford last fall. He moved into the Spiritwood Nursing Home in January. Vic was very easy to like and love. He had endless time for friends and relatives. He made daily trips to the Rabbit Lake and Spiritwood coffee shops to visit with his friends. He talked every evening with his best friend and sister, Mary. Early in life Vic had much of his hand almost cut off while chopping firewood. Although the repair and healing took an extended time, he went on to play many musical instruments. Vic and Edith were in a car accident in 1961. Vic ended up with a significant physical disability in the prime of his life. Many people, would have backed away from hard physical work with the disability that Vic endured. Not Vic, in fact, he carried on so well that even those of us that worked with him often forgot that he was disabled. Vic and I worked side by side quite a bit on the farm. One of our favorite memories was of combining for 27 hours straight and finishing the last acre just as it began one of those Saskatchewan snowfalls that ends combining until next year. Cold, hungry, and exhausted but done! Stubbornness and determination winning out over Mother Nature but we could go home and rest. Vic’s last fight with Mother Nature ended June 29th. He fought hard and long. Vic is resting now but I hope that his spirit lives on in all of us. Vic leaves to mourn his sister Mary Dearborn of North Battleford, SK. His brother Ralph (Linda) Ricketts of Hay River, NWT. A sister in law Margaret Downs of Milton, ON. Numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Clyde and Kathleen Ricketts, his wife Edith Ricketts, brother Floyd Ricketts, brother in law Ron Dearborn , sisters in law, Jo Ricketts and Laura Ricketts. Memorial Service was held July 4th at Rabbit Lake with Don Unger officiating. Musical Tribute by Marion and Edwald Miller. Eulogy by nephew Ken Ricketts. Tribute by friend Cornie Martens. Readings by great-niece Lyneah Kuffert and friend Alice Grigor. Vic's family would like to thank all the staff at Battlefords Union Hospital and the Spiritwood Nursing Home. Lori Saam and Patty Heisler at Beaulac Funeral Home. Everyone that took part in the memorial service and served lunch. Donations in Vic's memory can be made to Rose Gill Lodge, Rabbit Lake.Sk. Email condolences will be forwarded to the family. Lori Saam entrusted by the family with arrangements.