Dempster, Myrtle Eleanor (Graham)(Dodds) -passed away peaceful at the Cypress Regional Hospital at the age of 94 following a stroke. She was born Myrtle Eleanor Graham on July 26, 1920 the fifth child of a total of eight in the William and Hughena Graham family of Bateman. The family moved to the Vanguard / Aneroid area in 1927 settling on the "McCallum" place. The Depression hit and times were hard but there was always joy to be found in the small things and many happy memories were made. In the words of the Graham Family song that we all learned at an early age "there was hockey, whist and pulling taffy. Water fights 'til you think we're daffy." She attended Douglas School, the local one room school house. The kids form of transportation to and from school was a horse named Net who was known to refuse to go if there was a dust storm. After school, she worked at home and for neighbours. Her parents quit farming in 1938 and her Dad became the caretaker of the school in Aneroid. She married Harold Dodds in 1939 and they lived just up the road on the Dodds family homestead, NE 17-10-10 W3. They were blessed with two sons, Clifford (1941) and Gary (1943). Myrtle actively farmed, driving combine, tractor and grain truck. She raised chicken, sold cream and grew a large garden. They wintered in Aneroid so the boys could attend school. She lost Harold to cancer in 1970 but continued to live on the farm.
In 1971 she married neighbour John Dempster who had lost his wife, Marian to cancer as well. They farmed together for many years, finally having a farm auction in 1996, but they continue to hold land to this day. Johnny was a wonderful addition to the family and he was not just her husband, he chose to be a Grandpa to a growing group of grandchildren. They bought a house in Swift Current and continued to keep two households and gardens, city and farm, for many years. They enjoyed a beautiful yard and garden produce (especially raspberries). They moved to Riverview Estates in 2009 but continue to live independently.
Grandma was a wonderful cook and the grandchildren always had their fill of cookies, pies, buns, cakes and tarts. She was a great crochetter and knitter, making countless mitts, toques, scarves, beanies and afghans and these have become our treasures. She was the keeper of the family stories and remembered the birthdays of each grandchild and extended family member. She was an avid bowler up to her late eighties. Myrtle loved a good game of cards, good food and a good joke. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
She is predeceased by her first husband, Harold Dodds, her grandson, Graham Dodds, her sibling, Cecil (Net) Graham, Archie (Marg) Graham, Louella (Warren) Neimeyer, Welly (Ruby) Graham, Minnie (Lloyd) Rogers, Jim Graham and Bill (Alice) Graham and her brothers and sisters-in-law Joe (Alice) Dempster, Sadie (Neil) Kehler, Ellen Dodds, Merrille Dodds, Blanche (Jean)Beasse,Olive (Marvin) Hansen, Charles (Dorothy) Dodds, Erma (Bill) Myer, Peter Dodds and Roland Dodds.
She is survived by her loving second husband of 43 years, John Dempster of Swift Current, her sons, Cliff and Ilene Dodds of Aneroid and Gary and Jean Dodds of Red Deer, her granddaughters, Sheryn (Terence) Flynn of Beechy, Sandra (Darrell) Senicar of Glen Bain, Shelly (Jason) Puckett of Yorkton and Heather (Trevor) Roth of Calgary, her great grandchildren, Kimberly (Lance) Locken, Ryan Hornung, Skylar Flynn, Aaron Senicar (Jen), Mitchel Senicar (Michelle), Sawyer Senicar, Ainsly and Jack Puckett, her great-great grandsons, Kylan and Cameron Locken , Jean's son Dallas (Mandy)Kroetsch, her sister-in-law Joan Graham and many nieces and nephews from the Graham, Dodds and Dempster families.
A memorial service was held Dec. 1, 2014 at the Chapel of Warren's Funeral Home with great-granddaughter Kim Locken and granddaughter Sandra Senicar presenting. Myrtle will be laid to rest in Memory Gardens Cemetery, Swift Current. Donations in her memory may be made to the Jason Puckett Family Benefit c/o Cornerstone Credit Union Box 1210 Yorkton, Sask. S3N 2X3. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Warren's Funeral Home.
Please do not stand by my grave and weep for I am not there...
I am in the wind blowing and making the crop sway.
I am in the smell of freshly baked bread.
I am in the taste of a red garden strawberry warmed from the sun.
I am in the snap of the cards during a shuffle.
I am in the magnetic numbers on the fridge like the 2560 that was on the fridge so Shelly could call Grandma whenever she wanted.
I am in the clack of your knitting needles.
I am in the curl of your hair and the beautiful silver white colour.
I am in the chords of a favourite hymn.
I am the chocolate brown in your eyes.
I am the taste of perfection in an apple pie.
I am the tinkle of the ice in a freshly mixed drink.
I am in your love of a good game of cards or a rousing board game.
You do not have to look far...
Just look in the eyes of my children and grandchildren... For I am there.