Mamie Smale

In Loving Memory of

Mamie Smale

Memorial Service

Thursday, September 2, 2021

2:00 p.m.

Chapel of Tompkins Funeral Home

Wadena, SK

Mamie Agnes Smale was born on November 9, 1922, in Wadena, SK and was the fourth child to Iver and Christina Larson. She passed away at the Wadena Hospital on Saturday, August 28, 2021, with family by her side all day.

Mamie took her Grades 1 through 11 at Sunderland School and three additional years of correspondence afterwards.  She married Frank Smale on November 5, 1941 and they had a dance at Rosebud Hall following the ceremony.  They were fortunate to also celebrate their 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries at Rosebud Hall. They were married for 52 years before Frank passed.  To this union, five boys were born: Terry, Kelly, Randy, Greg, and D’Arcy. Mamie and Frank farmed in the Rosebud District on the family farm established in 1904.  The boys were actively involved in all aspects of the grain farm as well as raising cattle, chickens, and laying hens.  A great deal of time was spent jointly picking the eggs, washing them, and selling hundreds of dozens of eggs to many neighbors.   Mamie could often be found in her huge gardens at the farm, providing the meals for everyone. Their door was always welcome to any visitors, and you could be sure they were fed.  She was well known for her perfect buns and cinnamon buns.  Even at age 98, Mamie still wanted to plant tomatoes and cucumbers at Weneeda park lodge with the help of D’Arcy, Leona, Kel and Dorothy.

Over the years, Mamie was involved with numerous clubs such as the Kylemore Homemakers, the Royal Canadian Legion in Wadena, the Rosebud Community Club, the Wadena Senior Drop-in Centre and the Spruce Manor Resident Committee.

Mamie enjoyed playing ball in her younger years on the Rosebud Thorns ladies ball team.  She was also an avid curler and won many trophies throughout her career.  At the annual Rosebud picnic, you could be sure that Mamie would be the winner at the competitive horseshoe tournament.  She enjoyed the family reunions held at the hall and also enjoyed bowling in Wadena when the new bowling alley arrived.

Mamie was never idle. She was an expert at her leather moccasins and mitts that she was well known for.  She was also talented at knitting, crocheting, flower arranging and decorating  shower and wedding cakes.  Her greatest joys were watching her children and grandchildren in their sports and accomplishments.  She rarely missed a game of ball of the Rosebud Royals and could always be found with a little notepad keeping the score, players names and numbers and RBI's.  She would keep those notes for many years after a game.  The Wadena Wildcats was another pleasure of hers to watch, and she was so proud of D’Arcy and his fellow teammates in their championships over many years.  When her grandchildren arrived, she focused on attending their many sports that she could attend.  She was so proud of them all.  In the last few years meeting all of her great grandchildren was so much pleasure to her, including meeting her newest great grandchild Sawyer just a few days before her passing.

Mamie lived on the family farm until 2004 when she moved to the Wadena Housing Authority units and then to Spruce Manor for a short time.  She then moved to Weneeda Park Lodge in December of 2015 and remained at her suite prior to her passing.

Left to mourn her passing are her three sons: Kelly (Dorothy) Smale of Lanigan, SK Randy (Sandra) Smale of Calgary, AB, and D'Arcy (Leona) Smale of Wadena, SK; her eight grandchildren: Angie (Chad) Pighin of Water Valley, AB, Justin (Jacque) of Calgary, AB, Chris (Rick) Blyth of Wynyard, SK, Ben (Fran) of Gibsons, BC, Katie Smale (Derek Marcoux) of Saskatoon, SK, Corissa (Taylor) German of Wadena, SK, Morgan Smale (Taylor Ermel) of Wadena, SK, and Tomas Smale of Wadena, SK; eleven great grandchildren: Dylan and Porter Pighin, Charlie and Louis Smale, Evan, Jake, and Bryce Blyth, Madeline Smale, Holden and Easton German, and Sawyer Ermel; life long friend Merle Coates as well as several nieces, nephews, and friends.

Mamie was predeceased by her parents Iver and Christina Larson, in-laws Thomas and Lilly Smale, husband Frank Smale, sons Greg and Terry Smale, sisters Mildred Peterson, Myrtle Hillestead, and Madeline Skjonsby, brother Bud Larson and numerous nieces and nephews.