Lots of events set for Moosomin this week

Margaret Ruth Szmutko was born April 19, 1934 in Moosomin, Saskatchewan to George and Erma (Begg) Whelpton. She was the second of three children. As she was born on her mother’s birthday, Ruth was quite the present for Grandma.

Ruth, as she was called, grew up on the family farm just west of Moosomin. She received her education in Moosomin and graduated in 1952.

Mom would often tell us about going to school in the horse and buggy with uncle Gordon when he was old enough to drive the horse, and before that being driven by either Grandpa or Grandma. She also often told us of riding her bike the two miles with Uncle Ernest. Mom would often encourage us in our school work and sports days by telling us about what she had participated in and how she had done in the event.

As a teenager she attended Katepewa Baptist Camp and later on in life encouraged her children to attend, and then her grandchildren.

In 1952 Ruth attended Baptist Leadership Training School in Calgary, Alberta for a one-year course.

In 1953-54 she obtained her standard teaching certificate from Saskatchewan Teachers Institute in Moose Jaw, Sask. Upon completion, Ruth taught at Little Bluff School northeast of Moosomin.

In 1956 Ruth married the love of her life, John Szmutko, and they resided in Moosomin, until they moved out to the Gibby Whittington farm, south of Moosomin in 1958. Mom helped Dad with the farm. They raised cattle, pigs, chickens, and milked cows. She always grew a big garden and had lots of flowers to make things look nice. Dad did not feel Mom should help in the fields but she helped on the farm in so many other ways.

To this union they were blessed with three children: Gayleen born in 1957; Sharon born in 1958; and Bruce born in 1963.

Ruth was a member of the Moosomin Baptist Church accepting Jesus as her savior as a teenager. She held numerous positions in the church over the years. She was a Sunday school teacher, taught Vacation Bible School, was a member and president of the ladies group (first the Evening Mission Circle and the later the Baptist Ladies Mission Circle).

She also served as Executive Secretary for Saskatchewan Baptist Women. Her last position here was church librarian. She loved to read and I am sure at one time had read the most books in the church library. She believed she had to read them first to make sure they were suitable for others to read.

Her faith was strong and she and Dad made sure their children had a strong Christian upbringing, rarely ever missing a Sunday for Sunday school and church.
Ruth was a member of the Moosomin Agriculture Society. She started showing as a teenager in 1950 with her mother. Over the years she won most points in the canning section numerous times and won Grand Aggregate several times. She held numerous positions, for the group. She was very proud to be honored with a lifetime membership to the Saskatchewan Association of Ag Societies and Exhibitions in 2009.

Mom loved to crochet and made numerous baby outfits and doilies for family and friends. She finished a runner for Gayleen just shortly before her passing.

Mom always had a big garden as she believed you should be able to produce all you need for the winter. She knew the best patches for picking berries, whether it was wild raspberries, strawberries, chokecherries, saskatoons, pin cherries, or cranberries. She made her own jams and jellies. Just a couple of years ago she had Bruce bring up some of the jars of the juice she had saved from the chokecherries to make jelly. If you happened to stop in close to a meal time no one was ever sent away hungry. There was always an extra potato to throw in the pot and always a jar of canned chicken in the basement if there was not enough meat.

Ruth was involved in her community, whether it was with the Moosomin history book to make sure no one was forgotten to be mentioned in the district write ups, or the Spring Creek history book. She held positions of secretary and then president with the Spring Creek Historical Society. She loved genealogy and felt the past was important and should not be forgotten.

Family was important to Mom. Sundays were spent going to church; then coming home and getting together with family at either Moosomin Lake or Kenosee Lake. The day usually ended up with a picnic and Mom was always known to bring homemade potato salad. Ruth was proud of her children’s accomplishments, whether it was their graduations, weddings, starting a business or the birth of one of her grandchildren. Mom and Dad were blessed with five beautiful grandchildren: Kyle in 1988; Kristen in 1992; Clayton in 1999; Dayna in 2006 and Erika in 2011. They never missed a Christmas concert, school concert, 4-H show and awards, track and field or Scouting events. Family events like Christmas and birthdays were very important and were spent together as much as possible.

In December 2006 Mom was diagnosed with kidney failure and started dialysis in May 2007. In January 2008, Mom and Dad had to move to Regina to be closer to the dialysis unit. Despite the distance, she was able to attend Kristen’s graduation, Kyle and Alyssa’s wedding in 2012, which happened to be on the same day as her own wedding anniversary and the family Christmas celebrations. We were able to be together in April to help celebrate Mom’s 80th birthday with her and have uncle Ernest and auntie Elsie with us for this special time.

Ruth passed away peacefully on June 27, 2014 at her apartment in Regina. She will be deeply missed by her family; her children: Gayleen (Bert), Sharon (Brad), and Bruce (Melissa); her grandchildren: Kyle (Alyssa), Kristen, Clayton, Dayna, and Erika; her brother Ernest (Elsie) Whelpton; her sisters-in-law: Doris Whelpton, Margaret Szondi, Marion Szmutko, and Josie Szmutko; her brothers-in-law: Mike Szmutko, Elais (Elsie) Szmutko, and Edward (Diane) Szmutko; her aunt Ina Dixon; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Ruth was predeceased by her loving husband John, her parents George and Erma Whelpton; brother Gordon Whelpton; nephew Kevin Whelpton; father- and mother-in-law Nicholas and Julianna Szmutko; and brothers-in-law Frank Szmutko, Nick Szmutko Jr., and Gust Szondi.

Mom we love you and never will forget you. You are free from pain and are now in heaven with Dad.

Margaret Ruth Szmutko

Annual Fleming Pie Auction raises $8,700

Mayors weigh in on fall election

Age Friendly partnering with Moosomin & District Seniors Club on transportation project

Alex Bruce leaves $170,000 in bequests to local charities

Pharmasave donates $100,000 to Moosomin Airport Expansion

Family that helped many Ukrainians settle in Canada now needs help themselves

Out of $2,650,000 to be raised: fourth stage of airport fundraising at $ 1,746,514

RCMP take questions on recruitment, amalgamation, drugs and missing people

Megan Kelly pursuing her love of music

Saskatchewan growing at fastest rate ever

Teachers working to rule starting today

Rocanville pool refurbishment on track for summer construction

I’ve never been more proud of our little corner of the world

Skout Brewing ready to open this week

Town paving plan includes arena parking lot

IJACK gives $500,000 to airport project

Elkhorn rallies for Filipino family in need

Ty Cutler wins Rookie Buckle at Man-Sask auctioneering competition

Fundraising strong at Chamber meeting

Firefighter curling championships a huge success

Esterhazy receives more funding for new hospital

Wawota’s Suzanne Eisler to receive Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal

Play Fair Daycare updates on second building

“The government of Saskatchewan is committed to making sure that there’s a CT scanner in Moosomin”

Update #1 – RCMP Major Crimes investigating deaths near Neudorf, Saskatchewan

Yorkton RCMP investigating rollover

Amaranth RCMP respond to fatal collision

Construction grows in Saskatchewan

Moosomin starts planning for Communities in Bloom

Moosomin MLA Steven Bonk: ‘Our government is committed to having a CT Scanner in Moosomin’

Maybe one day this job will feel like actual work . . .

Fleming Pie Auction on April 5

Moosomin Visual Arts Centre launches after-school art program

Rural and Remote Health Minister Tim McLeod: ‘We’ve identified a path forward to have a CT Scanner in Moosomin’

Saskatchewan's 2024-25 Provincial Budget makes record new investments in classrooms, care and communities

Birtail Sioux funded for unique trades program

Fourth stage of airport fundraising at $1,746,514.00

April 15, 2024