Eldeen Jean Smith age 92 years of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan passed away Saturday, March 28, 2015 at the Shaunavon Hospital & Care Centre following a brief illness.
Our precious Mom has gone home to her Lord. Eldeen was born March 15, 1923 on the family farm in the Maryfield, Saskatchewan district to her parents Bill and Mary Honey. She had two sisters Doreen and Norma. They moved west to Canuck in 1936 where Bill’s brothers Jim and George were already farming. To this day there is a Honey daughter at the Bill Honey Farm south of Bracken, Saskatchewan. Eldeen attended Canuck School where she excelled and began a lifelong passion of learning. Eldeen married Oren McMartin of Climax. They had three daughters Olive, Barbara and Elaine. They divorced after the war. As a single mom with her parents and sisters in the background to help, she attended Normal School at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and received a Standard A Teaching Certificate. While raising a family and teaching she continued taking university classes and additional teaching method classes. She always excelled. She loved to teach. She loved her students and remembered them fondly. Her first position was at Farwell Creek, Ravenscrag, Saskatchewan. She lived in a little log house with her daughters on Bill and Anne Saville’s ranch. Next, she taught at Consul. She married Buster (Albert) McConwell at Consul. They had two children Kathryn and William (Bill). They farmed and raised their family at Consul until a teacher shortage in the 1960’s drew Eldeen back teaching again as Principal at Robsart School. She taught at Frontier, Eastend, Bracken and Climax and substituted in Swift Current. She tutored Vietnamese families in both Swift Current and Shaunavon to learn English. She tutored at Shaunavon School. We remember Mom’s delicious bread, amazing piecrust and “rosettes;” the beautiful clothes that she sewed for us all, most often from “recycled” previously owned clothes and the crokinole and cribbage games. She wouldn’t miss Hockey Night in Canada. After Buster passed away she moved to Shaunavon. She loved to dance – Round, Square, and Old Time in Eastend, Shaunavon, Gull Lake, Swift Current and even further away. She married Frank Smith of Shaunavon. They enjoyed dancing and playing Old Time Music together as well as country drives for eighteen years. She avidly studied the Bible and participated in many Bible Studies, either as student or teacher wherever she lived. She is also remembered as enjoying a friendly, heated discussion about religion or politics over coffee.
She was predeceased by her parents William (Bill) and Mary (nee Ruddick) Honey, her husband Buster (Albert) McConwell, her husband Frank Smith, her daughter Olive Poliquin, her son-in-law Bruce Palmer, her infant granddaughter Debbie Palmer, her grandsons Nelson Poliquin and Dwaine Palmer, her great grandson Brucey Palmer, her sister Doreen Hanson, and brother-in-law Mike Hanson.
Eldeen is survived by her daughters Barb Palmer of Lloydminster, Alberta, Elaine Beach (Dan) of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Kathy Jensen (Jerry) of Climax, Saskatchewan and her son Bill McConwell (Judy) of Craik, Saskatchewan; twelve grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, their spouses, three great great grandchildren, her sister Norma Kaliciak (Tony) of Bracken, four nieces, one nephew and their children.
Funeral Services were held Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. from the Bracken United Church in Bracken, Saskatchewan with Funeral Celebrant Bernadette Schneider officiating. The eulogy was presented by Michelle McConwell and Kathy Jensen. The organist was Carol East, special music by Renee Havervold and the usher was Vincent Petrie. Interment took place at Bracken Cemetery. Binkley’s Funeral Service of Shaunavon (www.Binkleys.com) was in charge of the arrangements.
Pallbearers were Wade McConwell, Darren Beach, Darrel Beach, Kristin Jensen, Clintin Jensen and Vern Kaliciak.