Milton Oxenrider

Memorial Service

Saturday, January 31st

2:00 p.m.

Kelvington Community Hall

It is with great sadness and yet with a feeling of peace we announce the end of Milton's life here on earth. On January 22, 2015, surrounded by family and friends, he peacefully left this world to meet his Lord and Savior. Milton is now free of pain and suffering after a valiant year long fight with cancer.

Milton Carl Oxenrider was born on October 6, 1937, in Smeaton, SK to Edith (Breckenridge) and Paul Oxenrider. Due to a family illness, Milton and his older sister Fern were separated and placed in foster care. Milton resided in many foster homes until Fern found him and took him to live with her. Then at the age of 13, Eric and Myrtle Grant along with their children Gladys, Clarence, Ken, Alec, Lenard and Leslie welcomed him into their family. It was during this time with the Grants that Milton accepted Christ as his Savior.

Milton met a lovely girl named May Lock and on October 16, 1965, they were married in Calgary. Milton and May were blessed with three daughters - Karen, Lorraine and Marlee. In 1975, the family moved to Kelvington where Milton opened a welding shop. After a few years, they moved 15 miles northeast of Kelvington in order to try their hands at pig farming. Milton, however, continued to supplement his income working as a welder. Many happy years were spent on the farm - this was the family home where the girls were raised. In 1991, Milton and May sold the farm and moved to town. For 10 years, in order to complement their income, they cleaned the Legion Hall. On February 1, 2009, Milton mourned the passing of May.

Milton was always a farmer at heart. He continued to work for many farmers until November of 2013. He was always ready and willing to help anyone in need. Milton regularly volunteered to drive the local bus - picking up people and taking them from their homes or the lodge to the hospital or other clinics. Milton did not shy away from hard work. He gave his all to everything he did. He loved the Lord and he loved his family. In his spare time, he enjoyed singing, hunting, snowmobiling, golfing, bowling, curling, camping, logging, and fishing. He was an active participant in many sports and a fan of the outdoors. In 2010, Milton represented Saskatchewan in the Canadian Seniors Golf Tournament in Brockville, Ontario, where he tied for 4th place. Milton was very creative. He was always up for a new project. He loved travelling and visiting with family and friends. Milton did not find wealth in money or in material goods but rather in his family and friends whom he cherished.

In 2010, Milton started to correspond with Lila on the Internet. This correspondence led to a meeting. This meeting led to more meetings. They found love in their autumn years and were married on June 18, 2011. Milton gained not only a new wife but also a large family, which he treated as his own. Lila's family became his. Together, Milton and Lila built their dream home in Kelvington. They also found time to travel. Montreal, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Alberta, British Columbia, and several trips to Texas were some of the places they enjoyed in their travels together. Highlights of Milton's Texas trips were the 175th anniversary celebration of the Alamo in San Antonio, the Johnson Memorial Library in Austin, and going deep sea fishing .

Milton was predeceased by his parents and his foster parents; his first wife, May; his niece Kathy Lock; his foster siblings, Gladys, Clarence and Leslie.

Left to treasure his memory are his loving wife, Lila; daughters, Karen (Tim) Gillespie, Lorraine (Ed) Heatherington, and Marlee (Glenn) Sherwood. Milton did not have step-children, as he treated each of them as his own. He is also survived by Lila's children who loved him dearly: Wyona (Tom Zahn) Freysteinson, Brad (Diane) Freysteinson, Ted Freysteinson, Trevor (Jackie) Freysteinson; sister Fern Underwood, brother-in-law Ken (Margie) Bernath, sisters-in-law, Judi (Brian) Glenn and Sandra (Dave) Gorchuk; grandchildren, Bryanna, Timothy and Christina Gillespie, Stephanie Oxenrider, and great-granddaughter Destiny Oxenrider; and many nieces and nephews. Milton had a total of 41 grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Canada and Texas who loved him dearly and mourn his loss.

Rest in peace our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend. You have earned your rest.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. in the Kelvington-Legion Community Centre, Kelvington, Saskatchewan, with Pastor William Dyck and Pastor Rob Lagrove officiating

Eulogists are Mike Lock and Ted Freysteinson. Beverly Hendren and Rosemarie Burnett are memorial book attendants. Pianist Connie Prouse will accompany hymns "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder" and "In the Sweet By and By."

Lunch will be served in the hall following the service.

Interment will be held at a later date.

Donations in Milton's memory may be made to: Kelvington & District Health Care Facility Foundation Inc., Box 10, Kelvington SK S0A 1W0 or Brighter Horizons Ministries, Box 181, Rose Valley SK S0E 1M0, or a charity of choice.