Obituary
Gertrude Eleanor Baikie (nee Hebson) – Feb 8, 1915 – August 11, 2022
We are sorry to announce that after 107 years of dignified living Gertrude Baikie succumbed to the effects of a stroke and passed away peacefully in Rosetown Hospital August 11, 2022. Gertrude was born on the family farm near Rockhaven in the Cutknife district on Feb 8, 1915. After completing grade 12 she worked for a neighbor with 3 children where she honed her extraordinary culinary skills.
In 1938 Gertrude trained as a hairdresser at LaBelle Beauty in Saskatoon and worked at Nujene Salon until she was swept off her feet by a young school teacher named Jim Baikie at a dance at Attons lake.
After their marriage in August 1942 they moved to Hoosier where Jim became school principal, then to Wilkie and Radville where their daughter Beverley was born in 1949.
Gertrude and Jim moved to Rosetown in 1954 where Jim was the school superintendent. Gertrude was active as an Explorer Group leader, IODE treasurer and on the Hospital Auxiliary for many years and her and Jim enjoyed their years in Dance Club.
With Beverley in university, in 1969 they moved to Saskatoon for Jim’s work. In the same year they made the defining decision to purchase a cabin at Cochin where they spent many enjoyable summers. The people they had met in Wilkie became their lifelong friends and Gertrude maintained those relationships though decades with each having cabins at Cochin. After Jim’s passing, Gertrude maintained the cabin and built a new one with the help of Bev, Bob and Bob’s dad Gordon. Gertrude moved to the lake every year as early in the spring as possible and never closed it up until Thanksgiving. She managed most of the work herself with the help of copious amounts of duct tape. She was always ready for Scott and Dave to come for summer holidays. Her relationship with her grandkids grew stronger at the lake. Unlike at home, one word from Gramma was enough to sort out the shenanigans. This time at the cabin gave the boys the opportunity to mature and develop other close friends.
Gertrude’s cooking abilities were legendary and ginger snaps were always ready when the kids arrived. Her ability to blacken the roast and serve tender rare slices is unfortunately still a mystery. At the lake, she maintained the tradition of cooking a whole fall turkey on the charcoal fired BBQ spit until into her 90’s.
She lost Jim in 1974 and kept her house in Saskatoon until 1983 when she decided to return to Rosetown to be close to her family Bev and Bob and her beloved grandchildren Scott and David. She was quickly adopted by the entire Gardner family being a part of every family function and becoming Gramma Trudy to all. Her temporary residence in the Rosetown town houses, only a block from the kids, soon turned into 24 years and she loved her place there until her first hip operation in 2007 at age 92. She credited the two-storey townhouse for being part of her great physical condition.
Gertrude was happy to welcome Scott’s wife Avril into the family in 2003 and enjoyed their splendid wedding at Emerald Lake. Avril and Scott made her proud with the addition of great-granddaughter Andie in 2005 and great-grandson Jensen in 2010. She loved the visits from Andie and Jensen in Rosetown keeping a drawer of toys to keep them busy.
Still being very independent, in 2007 she moved into her own apartment in McNab Place where she set up a wonderful suite for the next 11 years. She really enjoyed the shared common area and being close to friends. With her eyesight fading a little she decided to give up being the McNab librarian at age 100.
With a second hip operation in 2018, she was fortunate to find a new home in Orange Memories care home. In her lovely space there, she enjoyed her privacy in the afternoons while “resting her eyes”, always being alert and welcoming anyone dropping in for a chat. She was healthy her whole life, and while slowing down still enjoyed some independence.
Jim’s nephew Ken Bird’s family and the Haddock family were a great source of joy for her and they all maintained a close contact through the years. Gertrude was predeceased by her husband Jim, parents Bertram and Eleanor Hebson and brother Ernest Hebson. She will be greatly missed by Bev and Bob; grandson David; Grandson Scott and Avril and their children Andie and Jensen; nephews Howie, Gerard and Gary and families; many friends, and all the extended Gardner families.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Gertrude Eleanor Hebson BAIKIE February 8 1915 August 11 2022 (age 107)..
Death notice for the town of: Rosetown, Province: Saskatchewan