Evelyn Vanda Orthner

Please click here to watch the Livestream Funeral Service for Evelyn Orthner- https://vimeo.com/event/3788067

Mom went to be with her Lord and Saviour on October 3, 2023 at Silver Heights Special Care Home in Raymore.  She is predeceased by her husband, Louis in 1984, sons, Jerry, Roger, Bruce Orthner, and Bruce Haberstock. She is survived by her sister, Freda Sauer, and children, Barbara (Brian) Boudignon, Janet (Don) Love, Dale (Bonnie), Terry (Cindi), Earl (Gladys), Pearl (Donavon) Block, Murry (Gail), daughters-in-law, Darlene Haberstock and Susan Orthner, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren who loved her dearly.

Evelyn grew up on the farm near Edenwold, Saskatchewan, and later worked in Regina at Sears before she married the love of her life, Louis Orthner. They married on October 20, 1950 and raised their family on the farm south of Raymore.  Having a large family, she was busy with her gigantic garden that had rows and rows of potatoes, peas, carrots, corn etc and then she preserved them all for the winter eating.  The children learned to help with all the chores, gardening, and caring for the animals.  In spite of all this work, she willingly entertained anyone who stopped to visit.

In 1976, they moved into Raymore when Jerry and Susan took over the farm. Mom continued to live in her house until November 2020. Once all the children graduated, Mom was very involved with many community activities:  Ladies Prayer group at the Raymore Baptist church, Silver Heights Auxiliary, an active member of the Raymore Golden Hours Seniors Club, and the Senior’s Choir. Mom and Dad enjoyed visiting in BC and Washington with family, Bertha, Mary, Alf and Eleanor.  After dad passed away, mom enjoyed several trips west to see family members. Mom continued to be busy and creative doing ceramics, quilting, and crocheting.  She was also an avid reader her whole life.  The Saskatchewan Roughriders and  Regina Pats  were two teams she enthusiastically followed and loved watching curling and figure skating on TV.  She also was devoted to her grandchildren by looking after them when their parents needed her.  Mom’s grandchildren remember her playing hours of UNO, Skip-Bo, crokinole, and other card and board games with them.  She collected jokes and funny stories to share with anyone who came to visit right until she couldn’t speak.  Attending the grandchildren’s and even great-grandchildren’s hockey games gave her much joy. Mom’s older nieces and nephews were special friends and birthday cards and phone calls always cheered her.

In the later years, mom was always interested to hear how the great grandchildren were doing.  Some special memories of multi-generational pictures fill her family’s phones and her photo albums.  She loved seeing their pictures and hearing about their activities and accomplishments.

Mom’s hospitality was legendary.  She baked pails of scuffles, cookies and squares for her children and grandchildren.  She would get after those who didn’t return her containers in a timely manner.  Hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas gatherings as long as she could, she encouraged the family to continue this tradition as the family grew.

Once she could no longer be in her own home, the move to Silver Heights was such a good change.  There she was able to participate in activities and she even tried new foods, like broccoli that she hadn’t eaten before.  The family would like to thank the staff at Silver Heights for their loving care for our mother and grandmother.  They went above and beyond!

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate any donations to be made to the Silver Heights Auxiliary Inc.   

Memorial Donations in Evelyn’s memory may be made to:

Silver Heights Auxiliary     

Box 276, Raymore, SK S0A 3J0