Obituary of Elizabeth Koban

Elizabeth (Beth) Koban (née Benjamin)

A celebration of life is being planned for a later date by the Benjamin family. Details will be sent to family and friends of Beth.

KOBAN – It is with great sadness that the family of Elizabeth Agnes Koban, known to her loved ones as Beth, announces her passing on July 22nd, 2024, at Gateway Lodge in Canora, Saskatchewan. She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, auntie, and friend to many. Beth was born on October 7th, 1952, in Yorkton, Saskatchewan to her late mother, Marion Benjamin (née Trowell), and late father, John James "Jim" Benjamin. The family lived on a farm in the Springside District and were blessed with five children: Evelyn, Beth, Stan, Debbie and Gwen. The family enjoyed farming until Jim's untimely passing in 1965. In 1966, Marion and her young children moved into the town of Springside. Beth went to school and graduated from Yorkton Regional High School in 1970 and soon moved to Saskatoon where she started working for CanFarm. She met her first husband Frank Whitley and moved to Calgary before relocating to Simpson, Saskatchewan to take over the operations of the Whitley family farm in 1973. There, Beth worked at the Simpson Credit Union until her daughter Carly was born in the summer of 1977. Beth’s second daughter, Corinne, was born in the winter of 1979. They all lived on the farm until Beth and her girls moved to Springside in 1986. A few years later, Beth married Bill Koban in July of 1989. They built a home together with her girls in the town of Springside. Beth worked at the Springside Credit Union for over 25 years. Her friendly face and gentle voice were something the clients always looked forward to. She worked there until she was diagnosed with a frontal lobe category 2 meningioma brain tumour in March of 2013. Two weeks after the diagnosis, she had brain surgery in Regina and immediately began to have her life and her sense of self back.  Doctors said that the tumour had been growing for 10 to 15 years. It was a shocking diagnosis for her that she courageously bore with the resilience that her mother had always instilled in her. The year leading up to the diagnosis was hardest for Beth, because her personality had changed due to the location of the tumour and she didn’t know what was happening to her. After the successful surgery, her vibrant personality returned in full force, and she braved a new life as a brain tumour survivor. With great positivity and immense strength, she faced every obstacle she was subsequently given; 33 radiation treatments, hair loss, fatigue and most of all living in her “new normal”. On September 6th, 2013, she had her final radiation treatment and, of course, celebrated with a sweet treat with her sister Debbie—blizzards of course. Some of her other favourites included strawberry shortcake, elephant ears/Beavertails, and anything her daughter Corinne baked for her. Beth was a loving mother to her daughters Carly and Corinne, and proud grandmother to their children. Her heart grew even bigger with the welcoming of her first two grandchildren, Cole and Cali {Corinne}.  Beth treasured her visits with Cole and Cali in Calgary because they were her entire world. She loved cheering on Cole at his many baseball games. Cali has always called her “Grammie”—her best friend. Her youngest grandchild, Cadence {Carly}, visited “Grammie” often at the care home and loved to give her hand massages and eat popcorn twists together. Even though Beth had lost most of the ability to communicate orally and in the written form, she sweetly wrote out “I love you Cadence” on a piece of paper a few days after Cadence was born in 2016. Her eyes always sparkled when she saw her grandchildren and she was able to communicate her love on a whole other level even in her last years. Her sons-in-law, Rob and Zev, have always said how fortunate they were to have such a loving mother-in-law in their life. They always enjoyed spending time with her like the sons that she never had. Beth leaves siblings Evelyn Heshka, Stan Benjamin (Patty), Debbie O’Byrne (Brendan), and Gwen Telencoe (Jim), as well as numerous cousins. Family was precious to her. She loved to spend time in Winnipeg, Regina, and Melville with her siblings and their families. She always held a special place in her heart for her nieces and nephews—Trevor (Colleen) & Brent (Lana), Jessica (Joel) & Erin, David (Katie) & Sarah, and Lauren (Pip) & Susan (Matt). She loved to make special treats for them like almond crescents, lemon bars, and the best popcorn cake and scuffles you’ve ever had. When Pip and Matt joined the Benjamin family, they were always held in highest esteem by Auntie Beth. You always knew she loved you if she baked you something. To add to her many roles, she was delighted to take on the title of “Auntie Grammie” to Lauren’s children Benjamin and Chloe. Beth was an active member of the Springside United Church. She served in many capacities during her time in the congregation. She served as a close companion and loving caregiver to her mom, Marion. Beth took the greatest care of her mother until her passing in 2012. She loved being a season ticket holder of the Sask Stars concert series and always enjoyed her special dates with her mom. Beth was an avid cross-stitcher and could often be found sitting at her kitchen table stitching in quiet solitude; sometimes playing music like Michael Bublé, Kenny Rogers, or requesting her daughter Carly to play piano for her while she stitched. Many of her family and friends have cherished pieces of Beth’s art hanging on their walls. They have become family treasures. She always liked her quiet time, reading a Hello Magazine as a devoted watcher of the British Royal Family and completing the crossword puzzles. She was often found working on a large-scale puzzle, filling photo albums, and adding to her Beanie Baby and Dickens Houses collections. Beth never forgot to send a birthday card and she always gave the most thoughtful gifts. She always looked forward to her special girls’ trips with her best friends Shirley, Yvette, and Judy. She also greatly enjoyed watching curling, The Briar and especially the Scott Tournament of Hearts with her husband Bill. The time Beth had after her surgery and radiation was a treasure. Her family and friends cherished what seemed like borrowed time with her and she treated every day with such joy and excitement to be alive. Sadly, necrosis from the radiation slowly spread across her brain and she lost many independent and cognitive abilities, so went under the care of Gateway Lodge Care Home in the Spring of 2016. Beth is survived by her husband Bill, who sat with her daily at Gateway and made sure that she never spent a day without company. He devoted himself to the last years and final days of her life. The family would like to thank the nurses and care staff at Gateway Lodge Care Home in Canora for being so kind and caring towards Beth. The Funeral Service was held on July 30, 2024, from Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Crystal Bailey officiating. Bill Koban delivered the eulogy. The interment followed in the Springside Town Cemetery with Larry Liebrech, Ken Effa, Dale Carter, Scott Robertson, Lorelie Robertson, and Carmel Tobin serving as casket bearers. Memorial donations may be made to the Canora Gateway Lodge as gifts of remembrance. Messages of condolence may be shared at baileysfuneralhome.com.

Beth’s Favourite Hymn

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness

Blow through the wilderness

Calling and free

Spirit, Spirit of restlessness

Stir me from placidness, wind

Wind on the sea

You moved on the waters

You called to the deep

Then you coaxed up the mountains

From the valleys of sleep

And over the eons

You called to each thing

Awake from your slumbers

And rise on your wings