Obituary of Ethel Kreklewetz
Ethel Eliza Kreklewetz (nee Burton) made her heavenly journey on September 6, 2024 at Sherbrooke Community Centre, Saskatoon, SK at the age of 102 years, nine months and 11 days.
She is missed by her daughters, Victoria (Vicki) Fannon of Edmonton, Lynne ( Kaspar) Bawolin of Saskatoon, son Bill (Gaye) Kreklewetz of Point Clair, QC and grandchildren, Justin (Nicole) Bawolin, Cerese (Chris) Brown, Nahshon Bawolin, Christopher Kreklewetz, Robin Kreklewetz, great grandchildren, Makayla, Annora and Jaspar, sisters, Annette and Lydia as well as Sister-in-law, Sylvia Gay and many nieces and nephews. Ethel was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Bill Kreklewetz and son-in-law, Terry Fannon of Edmonton, AB, her two brothers and two of her four sisters.
An interment service will be held for immediate family at Yorkton city cemetery with a going away celebration to be held at a date to be determined. Baileys Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers please make donations to your charity of choice.
Ethel was born on November 26, 1921 on her father Ernie Burton’s homestead in the Lady Hubble District which is now Big Woody, Manitoba. She was the second of seven children, an older and younger brother, Wesley and Frank Burton followed by four sisters, Annette, Rosamae, Lydia and Connie. Her father was a steam engineer from the US who had emigrated from Norway. He worked on farms keeping steam powered tractors and combines running as well as running his own farm. After a few years he started his own trucking company and the family moved to Willowbunch, Saskatchewan on the Montana Border. They lived there until the depression hit when the entire family had to move back to the homestead of Ethel’s grandfather, Joseph Potter-Oliver.
Being the oldest girl, Ethel adjusted to farm life in a rural setting and was tasked with caring for her younger siblings and taking them to and from the nearest school with a horse and buggy in the summer and a sleigh in winter. Her grandfather was a market gardener in England before he was duped into moving to a Canadian homestead in the middle of winter. As a result Ethel could always count on having herbs and spice for her stews and baking and became a fabulous cook. Having a love of books and learning, Ethel reached the highest level she could in the country school and then obtained employment with various farm families as a cook and maid to pay for high school. She obtained grade 10 by correspondence and was as well-educated as her country school teachers by that point.
In the fall of 1940 at the age of 19 Ethel moved to Flin Flon, MB where she worked at Milt’s pharmacy and lunch counter. Later she worked at the Hudson’s Bay Store as a clerk and at Ostry’s department store where she trained staff. Ethel had excellent math skills and was promoted during this time. When she was 21 she contracted diphtheria and was hospitalized with this disease for many months. Since there was no medicare in those days she had a huge hospital bill that was paid off in increments as she returned to work.
Ethel met her husband, Bill Kreklewetz in Flin Flon and they were married in 1947. They later moved to Yorkton, Saskatchewan where Bill’s mother and family lived. Bill and Ethel had two daughters born in Flin Flon, Vicki and Lynne and son, Bill born in Yorkton. Bill senior ran a painting and decorating company in Yorkton and Ethel was a homemaker until the children entered high school. Ethel was very active in the First Baptist Church ladies aid and other charities. She did pie and cake baking, jam and fruit canning, and sewing of all kinds of children’s stuffed toys and clothes for church and club fundraisers. She also became known in family circles as the pie lady because of her delicious apple, rhubarb, and peach pies.
In the late 1960’s Ethel returned to the work force as a clerk at a local drycleaners and then worked as a clerk and assistant floor lady for the Metropolitan Store in Yorkton for many years. She retired to travel with her husband to visit her son and daughter-in-law in the Bahamas and later Montreal, her daughter and son-in-law in Edmonton and her daughter and son-in-law in Saskatoon as well as some beloved nieces in Alberta and Manitoba. Ethel’s husband of 60 years (Bill) passed away in December of 2007. After Bill passed she lived in Yorkton for almost six years and then moved to Saskatoon and resided with her grandson. Ethel started attending the Sherbrooke Community Day Program in Saskatoon three days a week where she connected with many attendees and staff. She always had a love of art and enjoyed the art program at Sherbrooke as well as the great library service. She always had a book somewhere close by and enjoyed reading and learning until her final days.
Ethel’s favourite scriptures: John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Matthew 25:21 “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
