Gertrude Dorothy Ann Gillespie was born December 8, 1932 in Esther, Alberta.  She was the third youngest of a family of eleven girls and two boys.  Her parents Ignace Oszust originated from Austria and mother Catherine (Kate) Beleski farmed.  Her youngest sister passed away in 1937.  In January 1947, her mom Kate passed away from pneumonia. They were a hard-working Catholic family.  In Gertie’s younger years, she wasn’t one to be cooking and looking after the house. They had to walk or ride horses to the one room school.  She would walk over the hill roll up leaves and smoke them.  She loved being outdoors. She enjoyed riding and looking after her horse.

On November 1, 1954, she married Allen Gillespie. Their witness was Allen’s brother and sister in law Stan and Edith Gillespie. They moved to Landis, Sk where Allen was the Canadian National Railway station agent. Their only child Susan was born in 1955 a day before their first wedding anniversary. Pretty nice gift. That day it was storming Allen drove Gertie to Wilkie but had to rush back to copy the train orders for the sectionmen. They lived at Landis for four years. They moved to a few Alberta railway CNR stations Warspite, Forestburg, Alliance. In 1961 at Forestburg, were Susan attended grade one. Allen was diagnosed with schizophrenia. In 1962 they moved to Alliance. Gertie worked in the hotel café as a waitress.  She always had her hair in curlers wore a skirt and owned a great many aprons for work. In 1965, the family moved to Loverna, Sk to a small hamlet with no running water. The train from Saskatoon would haul water to us then once a week. We were closer to Oyen so we were able to visit family.   In 1969, we moved back to Landis. She did house cleaning and drove school bus. In 1978, they purchased a house in North Battleford. In September 2013, she entered assisted living at River Heights Lodge. She entered long term care in the spring of 2014 at River Heights.

 Gertie enjoyed curling helping at the booth socializing with people. She played softball at sports days. The Christmas concerts and dances she enjoyed. Her love of animals continued throughout her life. A dog was her best friend as there were a few throughout the years.  In the late sixties, we’d go camping at the Battleford’s Provincial Park which continued until about five years ago.  When seasonal camping started by luck she always had the same site for a great many year’s site #91 in the north campground. There were baby trees planted years ago and many campers would tell you she was watering those trees looking after them. To this day they are growing from the tender loving care they received. She was a social butterfly visiting whoever having a beer with them. She’d be walking her dog with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth and a cap on her head searching for bottles. She believed in recycling. She enjoyed watching the North Stars play. She enjoyed watching all sports on tv plus rodeos. Heartland was a favorite show.

On September 7, 1980 she became a Baba to her first grandchild Kerry. On July 19, 1983,  Alaina arrived. On January 23, 1987, Kendra arrived and June 28, 1989, Michael arrived. She loved her grandchildren immensely. She would attend whatever school and sports they were involved in. Pick them up after school and stop and buy them a bag of candy each. She taught them the loved of camping also. When they got older, she’d have a beer with them. She attended her granddaughter’s Kendra wedding November 7, 2016.  We had her swirling around the dance floor in the wheelchair. 

She’s survived by her daughter Susan, grandchildren Kerry & his wife Edna, Alaina, Kendra & her husband Luke, Michael and his fiancée Haylee.  One precious great granddaughter. She has only two remaining sisters Julia and Theresa who live at Oyen, AB. She was predeceased by her husband Allen 2013, son in law Keith 2008 and a great many of her family.

Thank you to the staff at River Heights for their care especially week. The hugs while we had tears and they cried along with us.  From the bottom of our hearts to know and see how many people sent messages, calls have been appreciated immensely. Such love and devotion for our social butterfly. Memorial Donaltions can be sent to Battlefords Humane Society 751 114th Street PO Box 645 North Battleford, Sask. S9A 2Y7

A Service of Remembrance took place Thursday July 19th, 2018 ~ 2:00pm at the Battlefords Provincial Park, South campground in the Rec Hall

Condolences may be made to the family at www.SallowsandMcDonald.com.   Sallows & McDonald- Wilson & Zehner Funeral Home in care of arrangements. 306-445-2418.

• Date : 2018-07-14
• Location : North Battleford, Saskatchewan