Obituary of Laura Victoria Martin

A memorial folder from the funeral service may be printed under the "Memories" tab, then choose "Memorial Program". MARTIN - It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Laura Victoria Martin of Ituna, and formerly Fort Qu'Appelle on August 31st, 2015 at the age of 91 years. She was predeceased by her parents Bertha and Joseph Thompson (nee Ditch). Her husband Cob passed away in 2005. Laura was the last remaining child from a family of ten. She is survived by: sister-in-laws Grace (Charlie) Thompson, Fort Qu'Appelle; Diane (Fred) Thompson, Whitehorse, YK; Rose (Sam) Martin, Medicine Hat, AB; Rachel (Harry) Thompson, Ituna; Elsie (Jack) Eyre, Regina; brother-in-laws Ike (Verna) Martin, Morinville, AB; Jim (Thelma) Martin, Calgary, AB. Left to mourn her passing are her sons and families: Lawrence (Jane) Martin, Stony Plain, AB; Ralph (Sharon) Martin, Fort Qu'Appelle; Ira (Pat) Martin, Ituna. Grandchildren: Dawn (Paul) Dyck; Ryan (Natasha) Martin; Toby (Sharri) Martin; Josh (Dana) Martin; Chelsea (Kyle) Boyko; Linden (Amber) Martin; Mackenzie (Trevor) Martin Proskie; and her seventeen great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Laura was born on the Thompson Homestead at SE 20-24-11 W2nd, at the location of the File Hills Post office. She was the sixth child in a family of ten. She was raised on the farm and had her share of chores to do, such as hauling wood, and ashes, cleaning lamps and milking cows and tending to the livestock. Laura attended File Hills School. Following that Laura enlisted in the Canadian Women's Army Corps and headed to Vermillion, AB. She worked as a Nurse's Aide in the Regina Military Hospital. As well she was sent for training at Chorley Park hospital in Toronto, learning to tend to the sick Japanese and German prisoners of war. Then it was back to Regina, when the wounded soldiers started returning home. Following her discharge in March 1946, Laura worked at R.H. Williams Dept. Store (later Simpsons) in Regina. In November of 1947, Laura and Cob were married in the home she was born in. Laura was a hard working woman. Their first home had no electricity or running water, except through the kitchen roof! More farm work followed. They had three sons, Robert Lawrence was born in 1950, Ralph in 1952 and Ira in 1955. As the rural farm schools closed, Cob and Laura moved to Fort Qu'Appelle, where Cob worked at Scenic Service with his brother Sam. To help make ends meet, Laura went to work at Fort San and later Echo Lodge in Fort Qu'Appelle, where she worked from 1967-1985. They continued to farm in Ituna. Laura loved to cook for her family-she loved nothing better than an evening meal in the field at harvest time. This got even better when all of her grandchildren came home to join in the harvest. She always loved to do crafts, sewing dolls, crocheting, and became a very good artist. She shared her love of crafts with all of her daughter-in-laws. She had a live well lived... a life to celebrate! The funeral service was held on Saturday, September 5th 2015 from St. Stanislaus RC Church in Ituna with Rev. Paul Dyck officiating. The lay-reader was son Lawrence, and the eulogists were sons Ira & Ralph. Organist, Paulette van der Helm led the congregation in the singing of the hymns 'The Old Rugged Cross' and 'How Great Thou Art'. Members of St. Stanislaus Church Choir sang 'On Eagles Wings'. Honorary bearers were Chelsea Boyko, Dawn Dyck, Trevor Proskie, Norman Martin, Racey Thomspon and Duane Martin. The interment followed in the Ituna Town Cemetery with Ryan, Toby, Josh & Linden Martin, MacKenzie Martin Proskie and Kyle Boyko serving as the casketbearers. Condolences may be left at baileysfuneralhome.com. Memorials were to one's charity of choice. Service Information Saturday, September 5th, 2015 2:00pm, St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church Interment Details Ituna Town Cemetery