Obituary of Mary Tetland-Smith
Mary was born the 3rd of 6 children in Eston, SK to Tom and Edith Healey. She attended Prouse School to grade 10. At 16 years of age, her dad drove her to Delisle to apply for a job at the hospital, which they discovered was already filled, so they continued on to Saskatoon where he enrolled her in the Saskatoon Business College.
She was employed at The Bay in the credit department and met Morris Tetland at a dance in the Mayfair Hall. They were married April 20, 1955 and farmed for the next 35 years near Delisle. They had five children Murray, Linda, Joan, Joyce, Beverley.
Over those 35 years they entertained many friends and family. She loved playing cards, volunteering, and visiting with many neighbors. Morris and Mary retired to Saskatoon where she worked for 15 years at Canadian Tire. Morris passed away in 1990.
Mary wasn’t finished farming, and moved to Bowden Alberta with her new husband and sweetheart Ian Smith. She joined Ian’s loving family which consisted of children Lyle and Diane, Warren and Brenda, and Linda. Hand in hand, Mary and Ian bought a farm, built a house, travelled, and dreamed of becoming oil barons until his passing in 1995.
Mary continued her solo farming career, and built a herd of cattle and a flock of chickens. She loved her cattle, tractor, and garden which was much more fertile than in Saskatchewan.
She returned to Saskatoon in 2007 and continued travelling with her friend Ted Farrant. She was very involved with the Fairfield Senior Citizens Association where she played crib and bridge, and enrolled in art classes.
She was predeceased by her parents Edith and Tom, brothers Bob, Art, Alfred, Ken, sister in law, Ellen, brother in law, Stan Wajnarski.
Mary is survived by her children, sister Nellie, sister in laws Jean, Karyn, Donna, 9 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
She was a great example of unpretentious self-sufficiency. She will be remembered for her fun-loving light-heartedness. Everyone knew Mary as an independent person who would take anything on, and who farmed alone for 12 years between the ages of 60 and 72. Whether she was collecting antiques, butchering chickens, refinishing furniture, raising cattle, or driving grain trucks, she had a fierce independence.
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that you donate to the Circle Drive Special Care Home, where the staff showed compassion and friendship to Mary.
The Funeral Service will be at 11:00 am Monday, December 19, 2022 at Saskatoon Funeral Home.
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mary
Tetland-Smith 1935 2022 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
Death notice for the town of: Saskatoon, Province: Saskatchewan