Margaret Evelyn Holden (nee: Hjelte)

On Sunday May 30, 2010, Margaret Evely (Hjelte) Holden passed away at Tatagwa View Long Term Care Facility at the age of 96 years.  Margaret was predeceased by her parents, Johnnes and Marie (Olsson) Hjelte and her younger brothe, Elmer; her husband, Melvin and mother and father-in-law, John and Anna Holden of Swift Current, Sk; brothers and sisters-in-law, Peggy, Hilmer and Mabel Holden of Moose Jaw, Sk, Lloys and Eileen Holden of Swift Current, Sk, Len Halstrom and Dave Jacques; and son-in-law, Floyd Deal Jr.  Margaret will be lovingly remembered by her family, two daughters; Evelyn Deal of Ratcliffe, Sk and Eleanor (Larry) Skjerdal of Ratcliffe, Sk; four grandchildren: Byron (Donna nee: Voth) Skjerdal, Marilyn (Arlen) McCutcheon, Bill (Diane nee: Hamm) Deal and Jim (Sheryl nee: Evans) Deal; twelve great grandchildren: Ryan (Patty Pearson), Carson and Ashley Skjerdal; Gina (Garrett Kapustinsky), Andrea and Riley McCutcheon; Alyssa and Felicia Deal; and Christine, Megan, Jason and Caleb Deal; two sisters-in-law, Alma Halstrom of Vancouver, BC and Gladys (Tom) Birch of Chiliwack, BC; many nieces, nephews and friends.  She will be missed by all.

Margaret was born September 2nd, 1913 at Brownlee, Saskatchewan, the only daughter of Johnnes and Marie (Olsson) Hjelte, and an older sister for Elmer.  She grew up on the family farm south of Brownlee.  When she started school, she only spoke Swedish, but soon learned English and became the English teacher for her parents.  She finished her Grade 12 at Brownlee.  Margaret married Melvin Leander Holden in Moose Jaw, Sk. on September 28th, 1937.  The marriage was blessed with two daughters, Evelyn and Eleanor.  They began farming at Talmage east of Weyburn.  When farming proved financially impossible, a windy and cold spring day saw their auction sale.  They thought they would try their hand in business and bought a small store in Rosary, west of Swift Current, Sk.  Later they built a grocery store in Swift Current called the West End Grocery.  As they enjoyed being in business, they bought the hotel in lebret, and then the hotel in Lake Alma.  In 1957, they moved to Moose Jaw and in 1959 to Regina where they bought a house on MacKay Street.  Later they moved to their home on Portland Crescent.  Margaret had always wanted to teach school, so she went to Teacher's College in Regina.  She fulfilled her dream of teaching at Bryn Mar, near Southey, and then at Cottonwood, west of Regina, and at Big Beaver and Coronach.  In later years, they moved to Vancouver and enjoyed several years with Melvin's sisters, Alma and Gladys and families, and brother Hilmer and his wife Mabel.  They moved back to Regina to the Portland Crescent house until Melvin died in 1992.  Margaret then moved to Weyburn, and when Bill and Diane married, she moved in with Evelyn at Ratcliffe for ten years.  Margaret loved being with her family.  She enjoyed doing needle work, baking, and being in the fresh air outside.  She enjoyed pets.  She did travel, going to Sweden in 1964 with her mother and brother, then again in 1990 with Evelyn visiting relatives.  Some of the relatives had come for a visit to Canada.  She entered the Weyburn Special Care Home in January of 2009 and moved to Tatagwa View in February.  She remained there until her passing on May 30th, 2010.  Margaret's memory will live on with all her family whom she loved so dearly.

A Memorial Service was held on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 at 11:00 am from Zion Lutheran Church, Weyburn, Sk with Pastor Martin Olson and Wendy Caldwell officiating.  Her grandchildren gave their tributes to Margaret.  Following lunch, the Interment was held at Sunset Cemetery in Moose Jaw, Sk.  Donations in memory of Margaret may be made to the Canadian Bible Society.  Condolences may be given to: www.fletcherfuneralchapel.com .  Arrangements were entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Chapels Ltd., Weyburn, Sk. (306-842-5432)