Obituary of Margaret Barber

BARBER - The family of Margaret Barber announces her passing peacefully, at home, at the age of 97, on September 23, 2010. With her death, a light went out in the world and there is another star in the sky. Predeceased by her husband, Charles, in 1967, she is survived by her daughter Lynne Barber of Regina; her son Rick (Audrey) Barber of Prince Albert; four grandsons: Wayne Tressel (Lars) of Regina; David (Kimberly) Barber of Sherwood Park; Allan (Estelle) Barber of Calgary; Doug Barber of Vancouver; three great grandchildren: Charlie and Emma Barber of Sherwood Park; Evelyne Barber of Calgary; sister-in-law Phyllis Barber of Brooks, AB; nieces and nephews in Canada and the United States, as well as many friends. Margaret was the middle child of nine children born to Samuel and Regina Thompson at home near Young, SK. She was predeceased by her parents and all her siblings, Thomas, Alvilda, Hilmar, Arne, Jenny, Amanda, Edith, and Rangwald; as well as three nieces and three nephews in the United States: Regina, Carolyn & Lorraine, and David, Charlie & Arnold. Margaret attended Normal School in Saskatoon where she studied to become a teacher. She was one of the few young women of her day to be educated beyond high school. She started teaching in 1933 at Providence School - three miles from her home near Young. She taught at that school and others in the district for some years. She also taught at Zealandia, SK, then moved to Beaver School near Springside. She taught for several years in Springside, and was the principal for a period of time. She then moved to Yorkton to teach at the Yorkton Composite High School. She retired in 1974, after 37 years of teaching. After retirement, she worked at the front desk at the Holiday Inn in Yorkton for more than five years and worked as a part time clerk in a ladies dress shop for a couple of years. Margaret was well known for her fashion sense. It was while she was teaching at Beaver School near Springside that Margaret met her future husband, Charles Barber. Charlie was a farmer, but he enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1942. They were married on June 19, 1943 in Saskatoon when Charlie was on leave. He was posted in Chilliwack, so after their wedding they went back to his station for two weeks before he was sent overseas for the next two and a half years. Margaret returned to Young where she continued teaching. When Charlie returned home from the war, they bought a farm a few miles outside of Springside and Margaret continued teaching at Beaver School. Lynne was born July 25th, 1946 and Rick on March 2nd, 1949. The family moved into Springside in the early 1950's - Charlie continued farming and Margaret began teaching at the Springside School. Margaret was very involved with community, church, school and family life. She curled for many years until a broken hip kept her off the ice. Margaret and Charlie moved into Yorkton in 1967. After Charlie died suddenly in October 1967, Margaret continued to live in her apartment and taught at the Composite High School for another seven years. She was a very active, busy and independent lady and it wasn't long before she immersed herself in her family, her community and church life in Yorkton. Instead of curling, she took up bowling, which she continued to do until she was 88 years old. Her most cherished activities of all where when she was with her grandsons. Each of them was very special to her and she spent many hours dividing her time between Regina and Nipawin/Prince Albert visiting her two families. Margaret was a "wanderlust'. Her travelling days began at age 13 when she, along with her mother, brother and two younger sisters travelled to New York City by train to join her father and older siblings who were working there. They stayed there for a year - Margaret attended school there- until their visitor's visa ran out. Her father and older siblings stayed in New York while she and her mother and younger siblings came back to Young to the family homestead. Her mother returned with the younger two sisters to New York where they lived the rest of their lives. Margaret stayed in Canada from the age of fourteen as did her two brothers, Hilmar and Rangwald and her sister Alvilda. Her travelling involved many trips back to New York to see her family. She travelled all over Europe, Hawaii, the United States, and the Carribean. She attended approximately 10 World Curling Cups (Silver Brooms). She was an avid sports fan and watched all of the football, hockey and baseball games on TV. While she watched the games she would do her handiwork - crocheting and knitting afghans, rugs, dish cloths, and dolls, etc. A highlight in her life was a trip to Toronto for her 80th birthday to watch the Blue Jays play two games in the Rogers Centre with Lynne and Wayne. Margaret's health began to decline in 2001. After more than thirty years of living in her apartment, she moved to the Bentley and lived there for three years. As her health further declined, she moved to Westhill Manor in Regina in 2004, where she was very lovingly cared for by Lorna and Jerome and their staff. We, the family, are very thankful for all the care and love that they have given her for the past six years. Margaret had a good life. She worked hard and loved unconditionally. She was well- loved in return. The funeral service was held on Monday, September 27, 2010 from Westview United Church with Rev. Ken Buchan officiating. Son Rick gave the eulogy, and grandchildren Kimberly and David Barber read scripture. The organist, Laurene Jemieff led members of the church choir and the congregation in the singing of the hymns Beyond the Sunset, In the Garden, and How Great Thou Artt. The interment took place in the Springside Cemetery with Lynne, Rick, David, Allan and Doug Barber, and Wayne Tressel serving as the casket bearers. Arrangements were entrusted to Bailey's Funeral Home. Service Information Monday, September 27th, 2010 10:00am, Westview United Church Interment Details Springside Town Cemetery