Obituary of Lila Ruth Benner

Lila Ruth Benner was born March 13, 1924 in Provost, Alberta to Wallace and Maree Freestone. She passed away peacefully at the age of 87 years at the Provost Health Centre on August 16, 2011. Lila Ruth was born on March 13, 1924 at the Provost Hospital to Maree (nee Brooks) and Wallace Freestone. Lila was an outdoor girl and liked working outside better than doing housework - when she was six years old she began to help with chores, pumping water, bringing in wood and milking cows. In 1930, Lila's formal education began at Black Hill School, a one room school house just two & a half miles from their home. When Lila was older, she rode her Shetland pony, Sparky to school. Albert, Velma and Lila all had their turn as janitor at the school. One responsibility was to arrive before the teacher in winter to light the fire in the stove. Lila remembers that she was paid $4.00 per month and got to keep $1.00. On March 1, 1941 Lila married Rex Rasmussen and moved to his farm nearby. To this union were born three children, Judy, Brenda and Norma. On November 10, 1956 Lila married Clayton Benner and they made their home in Paradise Valley where they operated a coffee shop in 1958/59. Lila did short order cooking and was famous for her homemade pies and chocolate cake. The family moved to Saskatoon in 1960 and Deb was born there in 1961. In 1964 Lila, Clayton, Norma and Deb returned to the Freestone homestead. Lila and Clayton remained on the farm to help Maree and Albert with the farm work - this is where they would eventually call home. Lila milked cows and sold the cream, raised pail bunters on the milk, raised pigs and chickens and sold eggs. They enjoyed having Deb and her husband Tim and their two children Tyler and Jenelle farming with them. Grandchildren, Cindy, Michael, Steve, David, Paul and Tiffany all enjoyed spending time at the farm with their grandparents and have happy memories. One of grandmas many traditions was making pyjamas for each of the grandkids at Christmas. After Maree passed away in 1978 Lila nursed her brother Albert and prepared a daily meal which she would take to his home when he was unable to walk the distance to her house. Lila also nursed her husband Clayton until he passed away on April 12, 1998. When the family were grown and after her beloved Clayton entered into rest, Lila found a pastime that brought a lot of joy to her and also to her family and friends. She began making beautiful quilts for everyone in the family and made many as wedding and baby gifts. She was modest about her accomplishments and simply called them "sick and tired" quilts to be used when you felt "sick or tired". Lila's favourite color is yellow and her favourite flower is the lily. Lila loved animals and had two faithful pets on the farm, her cat, Garfield and her dog, Trixie. Lila said that the things that bring her happiness are her children, grandchildren and friends. Lila taught her children the same values that her parents taught her: kindness, hard work and honesty. When asked if she had any words of wisdom for future generations, Lila had this advice to offer: Be strong. Be honest. Be faithful. Lila has exemplified these qualities in her own life and passed this legacy on to all who have known her. Lila will be forever remembered by her daughters, Judy (Jeff) Bernard, Brenda Morgan, Norma (Robin) Ingram, Deb (Tim) Ruth; grandchildren, Michael (Megan), Steve, David, Paul, Tiffany (Kent), Cindy (Jason), Tyler (Jess), Jenelle (Kory); great-grandchildren, Claire, Simon, Kate, Hunter, Emma, Megan, Dixon, Dakota; special niece, Joan Froland; sisters in law, Alma Phillippe, Joyce Towndrow; and many extended family and friends. Lila was predeceased by her husband, Clayton; sister, Velma (Julian) Sather; brother, Albert Freestone.