June 5, 1920 – August 2, 2019
Minnie Trithart of Neudorf, Sask., passed away Friday, Aug. 2, 2019 at the age of 99 years.
Minnie, who was the oldest of four girls, was born June 5, 1920, to Andrew and Katherina (nee Schick) Kraushaar on the family homestead four miles south of Neudorf. She was baptized June 6,1920 at Zion Lutheran Church and confirmed April 14,1935 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Neudorf.
Minnie attended Baber School but only until Grade 6 when her mom got sick, and she had to stay home and help her dad on the farm. She worked at Rev. Miller’s as a nanny for a few years before meeting her husband, Adam, at a barn dance. On Feb. 16, 1941, Minnie married Adam Trithart at Trinity Lutheran, Neudorf, and they had the supper and dance at Minnie’s parents’ house. They bought their own farm eight miles southwest of Neudorf, where they were blessed with three children.
Mom was a hard worker and never had idle hands. She milked cows, fed chickens, pigs, ducks and geese and always had a huge garden, preserving all her own vegetables, fruit and meats. She enjoyed baking, cooking, making perogies, cabbage rolls and especially looked forward to holidays and special family gatherings in which she always insisted that she host at her house and provided all the food.
Mom and Dad always instilled in us the value of hard work and rewarding us by taking annual trips by train to visit their sisters and relatives in B.C. and Kitchener, along with many trips to Regina and Moose Jaw to visit family. In 1976 they built a new house in Neudorf and retired, leaving Mervin to take over the family farm. In 1986, after Dad passed away, Mom continued travelling to Kitchener each year and took her granddaughters on their first train trip to visit relatives. She also took casino bus trips with friends to various destinations in the U.S., and she never passed up an opportunity to travel with us whenever we mentioned a “trip to visit relatives or friends”. We think she always had her bag packed and ready to go.
Mom and Dad were actively involved in the senior citizens’ group, which they attended weekly.
After Dad’s passing, Mom continued her involvement which led her to a love of bingo – every Monday at Neudorf Hall, at the senior’s centre and later at the nursing home she would never miss bingo! She also became an avid card player with a group of friends which involved playing cards one or two nights a week and hosting card parties. No matter how many social events were happening, she always managed to make one or two quilts each winter, supplying all the family with warm blankets. At the end of each busy week, Sunday was always her favourite day, attending church faithfully and having a day of rest.
In August of 2013, Mom became a resident of Balcarres Personal Care Home until Nov. 8, when she moved to Grenfell Pioneer Nursing Home until her transfer back to Balcarres nursing home on June 2, 2014, where she remained a resident until her passing.
Minnie was predeceased by her husband, Adam, in 1986; her parents, Andrew and Katharina (nee Schick) Kraushaar; sisters, Margaret (in infancy), Ella Wirth, Katie Lang and June Romanchych.
She leaves to mourn her passing: three children, nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; son, Mervin (Mary) Trithart, granddaughter Donna Johnson, great-grandchild Jackie (Tyler) Noyes, great-great-grandchildren Bryce and James, and great-grandchild Kelsey; granddaughter Darlene (Ken) Hodson, great-grandchildren Hayley and Reece; daughter, Alice (Dennis) Hastings, granddaughter Nadine Hastings, great-grandchildren Nathan (Kendra) and Rhett; granddaughter Sharon (Jasen) Markwart; granddaughter Denise Hastings (George); daughter, Delores (Rodney) Wirth, grandson Jay (Carrie) Wirth, great-grandchildren Mikayla and Alyssa, grandson Jordon (Cristal) Wirth, great-grandchildren Carter, Sierra and Caleb, granddaughter Tina (Curtis) Krupski, great-grandchildren Chase, Payton and Brooklyn, grandson Jared (Calyssa) Wirth,
great-grandchildren Brynn and Calder; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Minnie’s funeral service was held Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Neudorf, with the Rev. John Nieminen officiating. The organist, Sherry Hoehn, led in the hymns, “Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me”, “Have Thine Own Way” and “How Great Thou Art”. The eulogy was presented by Donna Johnson and Tina Krupski, and as a special tribute, Calyssa, Cristal and Sierra Wirth sang “Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord”. All of Minnie’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren were considered honorary pallbearers, and the active pallbearers were Jay Wirth, Jordon Wirth, Jared Wirth, Denise Hastings, Nathan Hastings and Reece Hodson. Interment took place in the Neudorf Village Cemetery.
Arrangements were entrusted to Matthews Funeral Home, Melville.
