Leta Elizabeth Pederson, age 99, passed away on Saturday, October 31, 2015 at the Prairie Health Care Centre in Cabri, SK. Leta was born on September 9, 1916 in Abbey, SK to Charlie and Sarah Stedwell, the youngest of six children. Her parents moved to Abbey from Iowa in the early 1900’s, where a sod house was their first prairie home before buying the ranch were Leta grew up. Leta had a lifelong love of horses, rodeos, and western novels. On June 14, 1952 Leta married Emil Pederson. Together, they built their Abbey home in 1957 and were involved in every aspect of community life. If a neighbour needed help, they were among the first to lend a hand. Leta worked as a switchboard operator and later at Hale’s General store. Emil & Leta loved to garden, although she left the vegetables to his attention in favour of growing flowers — especially geraniums and petunias. They loved to travel, often going overseas to visit former Abbey residents, and saw much of Europe — with special stops in Adagem, Belgium, where Emil’s brother, Gordon, was buried in the military cemetery. Leta loved camping at Lac Pelletier, fishing, visiting family and friends, and family reunions. While they never had children of their own, Emil and Leta loved Elsie Foy and her children, David and Pam like their own and they took many family trips together. Leta also loved her dog, Boots, like a child. Emil & Leta enjoyed baking and sharing Norwegian specialties like lefse, flatbread, and potato dumplings — Leta especially loved making and eating crumb cake. In 2003, Emil and Leta moved from their house to Abbey Villa and later to the Prairie Health Care Centre. When Emil passed away in May 2006, they had been married for 53 years. Partners in life, they did everything and went everywhere together. Though Leta’s memory began to fail in the last few years, she maintained the sense of humour she was known for. The care aides noticed that her mind had traveled back to her days as a switchboard operator when she was observed going through the motions of connecting telephone calls. Leta was also overheard telling residents they should go to Hale’s store for men’s and women’s undergarments, as they had the best selection of colours and styles. Leta celebrated her 99th birthday with family and friends, as a gift before her passing Leta remembered everyone and was able to have a good visit. Leta seemed to have been born with longevity in her bones. Her parents lived well into their 90’s, sister Dorothy lived to be over 100, and sister Merle was the oldest woman in Canada — passing away in 2014 a month and one day shy of her 114th birthday. Leta is predeceased by her husband, Emil Pederson; and by her siblings, Gertrude Armstrong, Esther Stedwell, Merle Barwis, Hubert Stedwell, and Dorothy Andreas. Leta is survived by many nieces and nephews; her extended family, Elsie Foy, David Foy, and Pam (Foy) Nairn; and her many friends. The Graveside Service was held on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 2:00 pm at the Abbey Community Cemetery, Abbey, SK with Reverend Celici Takau officiating. David Foy and Pam Nairn served as Urn Bearers, with Elsie Foy as Honorary Urn Bearer. In memory of Leta Pederson, donations may be made to the Abbey United Church or the Abbey Community Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK. For further information or to leave a personal message of condolence on the family’s obituary page, please go to swiftcurrentfuneralhome.com