Obituary for Elaine Howes
(Ellen) Elaine Howes was born to William and Ada (Day) Bixenman on February 6, 1924 at Tyvan, Saskatchewan. She grew up on a nearby farm with her parents, brother Fred, and sister Maryanne. She attended elementary school in Sillersville and later moved in with her grandparents in Tyvan to attend high school while working various part-time jobs. Elaine worked as a switchboard operator, baby-sat, and shampooed and styled pin curls for $0.10. She also worked at her grandparents’ restaurant where she learned to cook, bake, and make the best apple pies!
After completing grade 12, an uncommon achievement at the time, Elaine moved to Regina where she earned a certificate in secretarial, accounting, and shorthand at Balfour Collegiate’s technical school. She spent the war years in Regina working at the Co-op creamery and Simpsons (later Sears) mail order department. While in Regina, she met the love of her life, John (Jack) Howes. They lived in Vancouver for a short time before settling on a farm near Sylvania in 1950 where they raised 5 sons and 1 daughter. Their mixed farming operation started with one calf and the first crop froze. After decades of hard work, Jack and Elaine expanded their family farm. She also worked at Fibre Form once her children were grown until the age of 65. Jack and Elaine moved into Tisdale in 1984.
They both enjoyed listening to and playing music, and that passion was passed down to their family. The Howes family band was formed, with Elaine on piano, to play local dances and household jam sessions. Elaine learned to knit, crochet, and sew, creating beautiful items for the family. She enjoyed traveling and supporting her children and grandchildren in their activities. Community involvement was also important to Elaine; she volunteered and held several committee positions. Attending Folkfest, berry picking, blanket forts, canned tomatoes, card games, donuts shaken in icing sugar, gardening, hand knitted mittens, homemade pizza buns, and playing Skip-Bo were just a few of the ways Elaine made memories and shared her kind heart and gentle soul with those she loved. As her health declined, she moved into Newmarket Manor in 2018. Elaine passed away peacefully on January 14, 2021.
Left to cherish her memory are Barry (Phyllis) of Tisdale, Arlene (Albert) Adelman of Nipawin, Daryl (Ruth) of Tisdale, Greg (Brenda) of Tisdale, Dave (Lynn) of Saskatoon, and daughter-in-law Betty of Langley, BC; grandchildren Sheila (Dennis), Carleen (Ron), Amanda, Mark, Janelle, Jared, Tyler (Sylvia), Cody (Jessica), Benett, Jackson, Lindsay (Cory), Courtney (Jeff), and Kris (Jennifer); and great-grandchildren Dustin, Dominic, Treyten and Emmett, Hudson, Etta, and Gus. She was predeceased by Jack, son Gord, granddaughter Beverley, great-grandsons Jade and Zayne, her parents, brother, and sister.
After completing grade 12, an uncommon achievement at the time, Elaine moved to Regina where she earned a certificate in secretarial, accounting, and shorthand at Balfour Collegiate’s technical school. She spent the war years in Regina working at the Co-op creamery and Simpsons (later Sears) mail order department. While in Regina, she met the love of her life, John (Jack) Howes. They lived in Vancouver for a short time before settling on a farm near Sylvania in 1950 where they raised 5 sons and 1 daughter. Their mixed farming operation started with one calf and the first crop froze. After decades of hard work, Jack and Elaine expanded their family farm. She also worked at Fibre Form once her children were grown until the age of 65. Jack and Elaine moved into Tisdale in 1984.
They both enjoyed listening to and playing music, and that passion was passed down to their family. The Howes family band was formed, with Elaine on piano, to play local dances and household jam sessions. Elaine learned to knit, crochet, and sew, creating beautiful items for the family. She enjoyed traveling and supporting her children and grandchildren in their activities. Community involvement was also important to Elaine; she volunteered and held several committee positions. Attending Folkfest, berry picking, blanket forts, canned tomatoes, card games, donuts shaken in icing sugar, gardening, hand knitted mittens, homemade pizza buns, and playing Skip-Bo were just a few of the ways Elaine made memories and shared her kind heart and gentle soul with those she loved. As her health declined, she moved into Newmarket Manor in 2018. Elaine passed away peacefully on January 14, 2021.
Left to cherish her memory are Barry (Phyllis) of Tisdale, Arlene (Albert) Adelman of Nipawin, Daryl (Ruth) of Tisdale, Greg (Brenda) of Tisdale, Dave (Lynn) of Saskatoon, and daughter-in-law Betty of Langley, BC; grandchildren Sheila (Dennis), Carleen (Ron), Amanda, Mark, Janelle, Jared, Tyler (Sylvia), Cody (Jessica), Benett, Jackson, Lindsay (Cory), Courtney (Jeff), and Kris (Jennifer); and great-grandchildren Dustin, Dominic, Treyten and Emmett, Hudson, Etta, and Gus. She was predeceased by Jack, son Gord, granddaughter Beverley, great-grandsons Jade and Zayne, her parents, brother, and sister.