Klaasje’s Obituary
It is with heavy hearts that the family of Nicki Soiseth announces her passing. She died February 17, 2020 at the Chateau Providence in St. Brieux. She was 96.
Mom was born Klaasje Kooistra on August 27, 1923 in Leeuwarden, Friesland, in The Netherlands to parents Romke and Jacoba. She had a younger brother Jan. Mom was a brave and spunky Dutch girl who secretly worked for the Dutch Resistance during WWII, changing identity papers for young Dutch men to help them avoid being conscripted by the Nazis into labour camps. When the war finally ended, she
joined the throngs of exhausted but jubilant citizens celebrating with the Canadian soldiers who had liberated them. It was at one of the dances that she met a handsome soldier named Nels Soiseth, a farm boy from Mayfair, Saskatchewan. Love blossomed and young Klaasje agreed to leave her family and homeland to start a new life in rural Canada.
Nicki (she chose her own Canadian name) led a very busy life. As well as raising six active children, she immersed herself in small town prairie life. On her arrival in Melfort in 1946, she was amazed it was only a few decades old as her home city was 1000 years old. She felt like a pioneer! She learned to grow a garden, can and freeze her produce, make jams and jellies and bake bread. She also sewed our clothes, knit our sweaters, darned our socks, crocheted and did beautiful petite point. She was a prodigious reader. She curled, golfed and belonged to the Legion Auxiliary, Kinettes and Rebecca Lodge. When the family moved to North Battleford in 1973 she again joined the United Church choir. She often expressed her love for Canada and, in particular, Saskatchewan. Her only regret was the sorrow she had caused her parents and brother by leaving them.
Mom was a highly intelligent, well-informed, hardworking and practical woman who had a lifelong love of politics and world events. But she reserved her greatest passion for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We were her life and joy.
Mom was predeceased by her husband in 2000 and returned to Melfort to be closer
to two of her daughters. She missed Dad a lot, especially in the last few years. She was also predeceased by three Canadian sisters-in-law, four brothers-in-law and all of her generation Dutch family.
She leaves to mourn her children: Janette (Perth, Australia), Bob/ Thanarack(Thailand),Judy /Don(Star City), Mona/ Jim(St. Brieux), Terri/Brent(Tsawwassen), Neil/Brenda(Ottawa); grandchildren: Nicole/Orien(Perth), Suzanne/James(Perth), Joy(Calgary), John/Joslyn(Didsbury), Ian/Karissa(Saskatoon), Leslie/Liv(Leeds,UK), Mark/Madeleine(Quito,Ecuador), David/Jen(St. Paul), Karyn/Kris(St. Albert), Jill(Vancouver),Michael(Vancouver); 20 great grandchildren, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.
There will be a memorial service in North Battleford in July.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Klaasje Soiseth August 27 1923 February 17 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Melfort, Province: Saskatchewan