Nellie Whitford Nellie Frances Whitford (nee Bugara) was born on August 18, 1929 to Albert and Frances Bugara in Quill Lake, SK. She was the 6th of 7 children born to this family. She took all of her schooling in Quill Lake. In 1947 she entered Normal School in Saskatoon where she received a certificate that allowed her to teach. Her first teaching position was in the Sasmin School with 8 grades and 8 students! In 1949 when the school closed, she started teaching at Robbinsdale #2 in the Ponass Lake District. She often commented to us about having a few students who only spoke Polish or Ukrainian, so was very happy to be able to understand and help them because of her Polish parents. While teaching there she had room & board with Ivor and Winnie Skogstad who happened to have a nephew named Marvin Whitford. A romance developed and on July 25, 1951 she married Marvin. They resided on the original Whitford homestead where Marvin’s parents also lived. Even though Nellie was raised in a town, she soon learned how to run equipment on the farm. Her job was to run the trip rake while Marvin cut and raked hay. She also worked with Marvin’s mom Kjerlaug to raise a huge garden and grow many flowers. Nellie put her career on hold to help Marvin on the farm and raise 3 children (Lynda, Dale, and Debora) who were all born in the Rose Valley Hospital. Nellie returned to full-time teaching in September 1965 in the Rose Valley School where she taught until June 1988. During this time she spent 3 summers at University of Saskatchewan to complete her Standard A Teaching Certificate in 1967. The majority of her career was spent teaching Grade 2 and to this day a number of her students remember her fondly. Nellie and Marvin both loved curling, music, dancing, and visiting with friends and neighbours. Nellie also enjoyed doing word puzzles, reading, phone calls with old friends who had moved away, and visits of any kind. After retirement, life slowed down and Nellie and Marvin started gardening together. Having free time to spend with their first grandchild was the best part. In February 1996 Marvin passed away. Nellie remained on the farm until she moved into town in February 2011. Nellie passed away peacefully in her own home at the age of 91 on June 21, 2021. She is survived by her children Lynda (Keith) Braaten of Archerwill, Dale (Colleen) Whitford of Rose Valley, and Debora (Lyle) Harley of Lloydminster; grandchildren Blair (Lyndon), Riley, Brandee, Brianne, Kreg, Mackenzie, Jillian, and Jennifer; great-grandchildren Kasen, Kwade, and Koy; brother Henryk (Myrna) Bugara; sister- in-law Esther Whitford. Virtual Funeral Service 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 29, 2021 Please join the Livestream (Click Here) Narfason’s Funeral Chapel & Crematorium’s Facebook Page Donations in memory of Nellie may be made to Christ the King Church Box 316, Rose Valley, SK S0E 1M0 Or Jim Pattison Children Hospital Foundation 1-345 Third Ave S, Saskatoon, SK S7K 1M6 Cards of sympathy and caring may be sent to The Whitford Family PO Box 83 Rose Valley, SK S0E 1M0