Marlene Virtue

Marlene Fern Virtue (Halvorson) was born at Foam Lake, SK on October 26, 1944; the first born of Lee and Muriel Halvorson (nee Streeton). She grew up North of Sheho and attended school at New- born School and graduated at Foam Lake, SK. Growing up, Marlene enjoyed playing guitar and singing, helped her family show horses and raise cattle and was part in starting a gymkhana club. After high school, Marlene married Jack Rioch and they had 5 children, Sandra, Duane, Tracy, Jacquelyn and Desa. Marlene and her family lived in Invermay where she spent many years volunteering in various community events and organizations. Marlene enjoyed sewing, crocheting, cooking, gardening, hair dressing and having coffee with her friends. Many happy times were spent with Duane at his minor hockey games and with her daughters at their figure skating. During these years, Marlene played her guitar and sang in the fami- ly band and could be found on stage backing up her daughters at talent shows and on TV. Marlene loved horses and put her children in 4-H and enjoyed watching them on the track, in the show ring and doing gymkhana. She was able to keep her horses, chickens, milk cows and a few steers on the farm outside of town. Marlene moved to a farm at Weldon, SK in 1985 where she was able to return to the rural way of life that she so valued and enjoyed. She kept a large hog operation along with several laying hens and feeder chickens, selling the weanlings in Saskatoon and eggs in Prince Albert. Marlene helped with the Heritage Wagon Trek at North Battleford, SK and enjoyed being involved with the chuck wagon and chariot racing. In 1991 she moved to her Dad’s farm in Prince Albert where she took care of him, cutting wood and caring for his horses. She re-married in 1993 to Jim Virtue who shortly died of a heart attack. In 1994 Marlene moved back to the homestead where she kept her animals and could help with her Mother in Invermay. Marlene loved her friends and grandchildren’s visits to the farm. She loved hockey, football and the Riders, Calgary Stampede, winter olympics, and never missed the Triple Crown races on TV and followed Canadian and American thoroughbred racing on her IPhone. She kept her children and grandchildren in home- made wool mits, bread and jams and still sewed and altered wedding dresses and bridesmaids gowns for as long as she could. Marlene will be dearly missed by her loving family and friends. Marlene was predeceased by her parents, Lee and Muriel Halvorson and brother Earl; sons -in-law, Bill Gibson and Gary Kaminski; brothers-in-law Ray Smith and Don Amberson and infant niece Shayne Smith. Marlene is survived by her 5 children: Sandra Kaminski, Duane (Stephanie) Rioch, Tracy (Travis) Markowski, Jacquelyn (Bill) Prybylski and Desa (Dale) Fidek; sisters Cheryl Smith and Hazel Amberson; sister-in-law Betty Halvorson; 18 grandchildren Kimberlee (Tim) Newman, Bradley (Jamie) Kaminski, Terriann (Cory) Masse, Stephani Rioch, Gavin Rioch, Isaac Rioch, Clover Rioch, Ewan Rioch, Riley (Lyla) Markowski, Tylor (Jenn) Markowski, Mikayla Markowski, Nicole (Abe) Duff, Taylor Gibson, Shelby Gibson, Zachary Fidek, Julian Fidek, Kendall Fidek, Tyson Fidek;7 great-grandchildren Emily, Ethan and Ryan Kaminski, London and Aisha Masse and Brae Markowski, Connor Fidek; nieces and nephews Rod (Jo) Amberson, Jason Amberson, Tina Halvorson, Lee Halvorson, Crystal Smith, Chad Smith and many cousins & friends.