Celebrating The Life Of Velma Johnson

Velma Irene Hedges was born in the Beaverdale District, south of Theo- dore, Saskatchewan on Au- gust 27, 1930, the second daughter of Cecil and Edith Hedges. She died, with her family beside her, at the Foam Lake Jubilee Home on April 20, 2024.

Velma went to school at Rocky Dell School near Beaverdale until Grade Eleven and then went to Yorkton to Secretarial School. Following her schooling she came to Foam Lake to work in the lawyers office for “one year” in 1948. She met Carl Johnson and the rest is history. They were married on November 22, 1950 and continued to live in Foam Lake where they raised their family of five chil- dren. She was a stay home

mom until 1967 when she and Carl took over the Western Review from his father. They ran the news- paper for over thirty years until Carl’s death in 1998. Velma continued to work with her son Bob until she retired in 2010.

She then went to work part time for Paulson Fer- raton Law Office in Foam Lake until 2018. She con- tinued to live in her own home until 2018 when she moved to the Foam Lake Jubliee Home into respite care. Velma then spent two months in the Invermay Seniors Home before mov- ing permanently to the Ju- bilee Home.

During her lifetime, Velma was active in many aspects of the community including the Foam Lake United Church, Minor Hockey, Figure Skating, School of Dance, Foam Lake Rec Board, Rebekah Lodge, Foam Lake Hous- ing Authority, Active Liv- ing Committee and many other groups through the years.

She was a founding member of the Hall Com- mittee who were instru- mental in the building and fundraising for the Com- munity Hall. She was a member of Foam Lake

Town Council; first as councilor and later she was elected Foam Lake’s first female Mayor, a position she held for one term.

Velma was a dedicated volunteer for whatever group needed help and in 2004 she was awarded the Sask. Parks and Recreation Associations ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Award.

She was an avid sports fan. For decades she loved watching the Foam Lake Flyers and all the Minor Hockey teams. She enjoyed ‘bonspielling’ with her teams and in later years she loved to watch her grand- children play ball, ringette, hockey, volleyball, bas- ketball and football. She attended numerous dance recitals, competitions and exams with ‘her girls’.

Velma was very con- scious of her physical health and enjoyed going for long walks and riding her bike which she con- tinued to do until her late 70’s. She joined the Fitness Centre in her 80’s and went to work out every day.

She enjoyed a trip to England where she vis- ited her cousins Mary and Sheila and other relatives. She was also able to take a trip to Australia where she visited Lorri and her family

who lived there for a year. Both of those trips were highlights of her life.

Velma enjoyed knitting, reading and baking, to name a few of her hobbies and she was famous for her buns, crunch cake and homemade soup.

Velma was many things in her life but she was, first and foremost, a dedicated Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. She loved her family uncondi- tionally and would do any- thing for them.

Velma was predeceased by her husband Carl in 1998, her daugher Dianne in 2021, her father in 1984, her mother in 1991, her sister, Mary in 2003, her sister Vera in 2023, an in- fant daughter, her in-laws Ernst and Bjorg Johnson, two sisters-in-law, Lor- raine Johnson and Ellinor Johnson, four brothers- in-law, Robert Boucher, Jack Finn, Ted Johnson, Ernest Johnson and one niece Judy Langseth and nephews Keith Young and Grant Young.

Left to celebrate her life, her family: son Bob and Jean, Tatum and Brad Luey, Charlotte and Sam, Melissa and Greg Beau- doin, Grace, Vivian and Nathan, Tayler and Kruze

Halyk, Ben, Nora and Madeline, daughter Lorri, Jillian Moore and Robb Penkala, Campbell Moore, Carter and Tatum Penkala, Alex Burko and Emma Werezak, Drew Burko, son Brent, daughter Heather and Kent McMann, Bret and Danielle McMann and Jenyr, Katy and Pat Simpson, Zoey, Hannah and Leo, Sarah McMann, son-in-law Dennis Fisher and Jeff Fisher and Erin Hosaluk, Carson and Evan Fisher, Hannah and Leah Hosaluk, Jody and Jamie Baker, Gavin and Emery, Justin and Chris Fisher, Declan, Landon, and Sut- ton and Jenna and Cam Weese, Griffin, Berkley and Lachlan, and numer- ous nieces and nephews, cousin Mary Greggains from Romsey, Hants, Unit- ed Kingdom, special friend Shelley Thoen-Chaykos- ki, and many other close friends.

Celebration of Life

2:00 p.m.

Monday, May 6, 2024

Foam Lake

Community Hall

Foam Lake, SK

Donations in memory of Velma

may be made to:

Town of Foam Lake

Memo: Foam Lake Community Hall

or

Foam Lake Recreation Centre

P.O. Box 57

Foam Lake, SK S0A 1A0

Those wishing

to send cards of caring & sympathy

may send them to

The Family of Velma Johnson

P.O. Box 568

Foam Lake, SK S0A 1A0