Obituary of Olga Hopkinson

With deep sorrow we announce the passing of Olga Hopkinson of Raymore, Saskatchewan, on Thursday, July 2, 2015, at the Silver Heights Special Care Home in Raymore. Mom was predeceased by her husband Connie; her grandson Cpl. David Braun; parents, Emelia and Jacob Schmalenberg of Raymore; her infant twin brother and brothers, George, Henry, Adolph, Albert, Walter; an infant sister and sisters Ida and Minnie. She leaves to mourn daughter Valerie Hopkinson, daughter Patty Braun, granddaughter Daina Braun, grandsons, Christopher and Michael Braun, great-granddaughter Aidin Lysyshin (David’s daughter), sister Edna Kramer, as well as numerous nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. Mom was born on March 13, 1929, on the family farm near Serath, but Raymore was considered her hometown. She attended Serath School. After leaving school, she helped at home before moving to Regina and working at Dad’s Cookies. On June 28, 1952, she married David (Connie) Hopkinson and to this union two girls were born. Nothing was more important to mom than her love for and care of her girls. When Patty married Blaine Braun, the love and care extended to her grandchildren. Mom was active in her church, Serath Elbourne Lutheran Church, as a member of the ladies group, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School and vacation Bible School and later at Trinity Lutheran in Quinton. She readily helped us girls with our 4-H projects, sewed our costumes for figure skating and listened to countless hours of music practice. She didn’t get her driver’s license until she was in her thirties and was never fond of driving. She loved being outside in summer doing yard work which is why the farm yard always looked so good and she always had a large garden. As a farmer’s wife, she pitched in during harvest hauling grain and in later years even did the summer fallowing whenever possible. She was a great cook and no one went hungry that shared her table. She was the sister whose specialty was embroidery. Mom loved spending time with her own family as well as her sisters, brothers and their families and a few close friends. She enjoyed playing cards and visiting. Mom and dad began travelling south for the winter in 1975. One of her favourite places in the province was the Qu’Appelle Valley so they purchased a cabin near Fort Qu’Appelle in 1976. Dad retired from farming in 1984 and they built a new home in Raymore where they resided until February, 2013. A quiet gentle soul, she had great internal strength and faith. She taught us by example what was important in life – faith, family, good friends, patience, kindness, caring, hard work. Her struggle is over and she has gone home to her heavenly rest. The Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Quinton, SK at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Dale Gillman officiating. Interment at the Semans Cemetery will be a private family affair. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Olga to the Touchwood Hills Mobility Bus c/o Silver Heights Special Care Home, Box 549, Raymore, SK, S0A 3J0.