Funeral Service: Friday, October 10, 2014 2:00 p.m. Margo Hall Margo, Saskatchewan Interment to follow in the Margo Cemetery. Officiant: Pastor Chad Moir Organist: Elsie Peters Readers: Tracy Ziola Obituary: Dawn Wallin Memorial Book Attendants: Rose Palechka & Bev Mychan Special Music: Whispering Hope (One of the first songs mom taught us) Hymns: How Great Thou Art & Beyond The Sunset Honorary Pallbearers: All family and close friends who shared in Minnie's life Pallbearers: Warren Ziola, Todd Ziola, Scott Ziola, Michael Greco, Braiden Pelican & Jeremy Schroeder Minnie was born on June 13, 1931, in Kerrobert, SK., the first child of Mike and Mary Belcheff of Luceland. She grew up during difficult times. After a severe drought, she and her parents had to leave Luceland. They spent the winter South of Kuroki in a house which had a sod roof and a dirt floor. In the spring they moved to a farm north of Kuroki, into a two room house that boasted an upstairs with bedrooms. This became the home in which she grew up. When sister Lily (Lillian) was born three years later, Minnie hid under the kitchen table, peeking out to see what was going on. She finally crawled out to see her new baby sister and the two became close companions. Nine years later her brother Paul was born. Minnie became a wonderful nanny while Mary was busy gardening, milking cows or helping stook or haul hay. Minnie walked two and a half miles to Mckinley School for grades one to nine. She stayed with good friends, Matt and Olga Daviduk, while she took grade 10 in Kuroki. She worked for Ruth and Stanley Johnson, helping to look after their young family. When Minnie was seventeen, she and Anne Wasyluk went to Winnipeg to look for work. She stayed with her Aunt and Uncle, Paul & Katie Kowal, until she got a job as a clerk in a drugstore and she and Anne got their apartment. Minnie didn't like city life and returned to Kuroki in the spring. Minnie met Milan at a dance in Lintlaw. He was on the stage playing his clarinet when he spotted the pretty brunette. He proceeded to wink at her throughout the night. Although she claimed to be embarrassed by the attention, it obviously made a positive impact. Minnie and Milan were married on October 26, 1950. Minnie had a very busy life. She and Milan raised six children. Money wasn't plentiful, but Minnie made sure no one was lacking anything important. She grew a huge garden, raised 150 chickens every year, fed pigs, and milked the cows when Dad was on the field. She was a terrific cook and baker, no one (not even a sales person) left her house without being fed. If it came down to a choice between buying something for herself or her children, she would do without. Minnie was also very involved in her community. When there was a sports day at the Czech Hall or Margo Sports Ground, or other community function, Minnie would usually be found working a long shift in the food booth or the kitchen. She took an active role in the Legion Ladies Auxiliary which often cooked for, served and cleaned up after meals for large crowds. After the children were grown, Minnie and Milan sold their farm and moved to Margo. Minnie spent several years of enjoyment with her friends at the Silver Threads Senior Centre in Margo. Later she moved to the Spruce Manor Senior Housing until her health deteriorated and she moved to Weneeda Park Lodge where she resided until her death. Minnie was predeceased by her husband Milan, daughter Connie, her parents Mike and Mary, her Uncle Peter, her Uncle Paul & Aunt Katie Kowal, and her cousin Paul Kowal JR. She will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by her sister Lillian (Orval) Ziola, brother Paul (Elsie) Belcheff siblings children Terri (Murray) Bottcher, Vicki (Garnet) Ziola, Calvin (Linda) Pelican, Elaine (Art) Greco, Dale (Cathy) Pelican, Shelley (Bill) Davis, 10 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and all her family and friends.