Obituary Overview
In Loving Memory
Rosalene May Ritchie died peacefully at Regina General Hospital on March 9, 2018, after a
brief illness. She was 90 years old.
She was predeceased by her husband Larry in 2000; her son Daryl in 1997; her parents William and Ethel Balkwill; five brothers Bob, Stan, Roy, Ron and Jesse; and three sisters Calla, Myva and Grace.
She is survived by two daughters Linda (James) Gunningham and their children Christopher (Sarah), Regan and Andrew; Leesa (John) Skipper and their sons Raab and Leighton; four sons Leslie; Alan (Debbie) and their children, Jennifer, Austin, Alan Jr, Emil and Tracy; Ronald (Julie) and their daughters Andrea and Shona; Laird (Carol) and their children Rebecca, Cliff, Tuscany and Lauren; Daryl’s daughters Candice (Ingo) Gottstein and Megan (Max) Torrance and his widow Brenda (Mark Haldane) Goettel; she leaves six great-grandchildren Abby and Callie Gottstein, Freyja and Callum Gunningham, Irene and Dylan Torrance; two sisters Isabelle Kerr and Margaret Turner; and two brothers Neil Balkwill and Don Balkwill; Larry’s sister Lyda Friedt; and brother Vernon (Mary) Ritchie. She will also be greatly missed by a very large extended family and many friends, particularly her “third daughter”, Heather Price.
May was born in her grandmother’s house in Wolseley, SK on July 16, 1927, the ninth of thirteen children. She grew up on the farm in south-eastern Saskatchewan and moved to Weyburn in her teens. It was there she saw a good-looking young construction worker walking past the Co-Op where she worked, and declared, “I’m going to marry him.” Soon after, she married her first and only love, Larry, on September 1, 1947, in Moose Jaw. She was, above all, a devoted wife and loving mother. Their first six children she raised mostly on her own, as Larry’s construction career meant that he was usually out of town and just home on weekends. In later years, mostly after they moved to Caron in 1958, Larry was able to be home most evenings and share their busy family’s life. Larry’s job took them from Moose Jaw to Estevan, to Caron, back to Moose Jaw, Medicine Hat, Calgary and finally Regina. In each place, May made long-lasting friendships. For more than 30 years, they spent most of the winter in Sebring, Florida, near Leesa’s home, and May continued this for several years after Larry’s death. Lately, she spent fourteen happy years at Rainbow Towers and most recently she lived a pleasant life at Marion Chateau.
May was a very social person and loved spending time with family and friends, playing cards, watching golf on TV, though she’d never golfed in her life, or just chatting. She was an avid Rider fan; she and Larry were season ticket holders for many years and after that she never missed a game on TV. She enjoyed knitting and cross-stitch and her family’s homes are graced by her work. May had a long and happy life, doing exactly what she wanted – raising a large and loving family of which she was very proud and enjoyed good health till near the end. She leaves an empty place in many lives, but we are comforted by memories of a wonderful mother and friend.
Cremation has taken place. In keeping with May’s wish of “no winter funerals”, a service will take place in May or June.
Arrangements entrusted to Regina Funeral Home and Cemetery (306) 789-8850.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Rosalene May Ritchie 2018.source
Décès pour la Ville: Regina, Province: Saskatchewan