Elizabeth Ritchie

To watch the video of the service click this link: https://video.ibm.com/embed/recorded/134345168

We are deeply saddened to announce that Elizabeth Elaine Ritchie, born January 21,1934 to Hiram and Beth Thompson, passed away quietly on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2024, at 91 years of age, in Saskatoon.

She was born near Kelliher and grew up on the dusty farm homestead with five strong and determined siblings. She went to boarding school in Regina at Luther College, where she displayed her many athletic abilities and lost her teeth playing hockey, but loved playing ball best. From there, she attended Teacher's College in Moose Jaw in 1954, then taught in a one room eight grade schoolhouse (McCoy School) near Milestone, where she met the very handsome Robert Ritchie.

When she and Robert married in 1955, they homesteaded near Wilcox where they raised four delightful free-range children, Kevin, Cathy, Laura and Jan. After Robert passed away suddenly near Easter in 1971, 'Elaine' (or 'Tinny', or 'Tommy', depending on how you knew her) continued with the Wilcox acreage as home base while she made her way independently in the world, furthering the lifelong education she so valued, while teaching, shouldering the labour of the land, and raising smart independent kids. She enjoyed woodworking, creative arts, and special family events, and was a social worker for a time. Her last teacher training was in Montessori Method at 57 years of age, after which she taught until she retired. She lived in Saskatoon from then on, to be near her family.

With all the careers and caring, Elizabeth has touched the lives of many souls. She was sincere and warm and authentic. Her smile and sense of humour were captivating and iconic to the very last day of her life, despite the many difficult times she endured. Young children were her greatest passion, as attested by her ongoing pursuit of early childhood education, and by her grandchildren and great grandchildren, whom she adored with every fibre of her being, and who have loved her back the same.

Elizabeth was predeceased by her husband Robert, great granddaughter Aurora, son Kevin (Tammy), and her brothers Robbie (Bev), and David (Carole). She has surviving siblings Joan (Jack), Kathleen (Peter), and Ron (Birdie), and sisters-in-law, Priscilla (Joe) and Elaine (Ron), as well as her lifelong friend Jean (Leonard).

Cathy, Jan (Gerry), Laura (Reg), and her beautiful grandchildren, Dane (Sasha), Sarah, Chris, Caitlin, Emalie (Michael), Kyle, Gage, Isaac, Sam, and great grandson Grayer are missing her fiercely now. During her final months she talked often about going home. There are so many of her special folks for her to visit there now; she is most certainly being welcomed home with open arms.

Elizabeth's Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Saskatoon Funeral Home.

The interment will be in Regina at Robert’s side in July.

Donations can be made to the following:

• thepinkwarriorsfoundation.org, supporting breast cancer research,

• alzheimer.ca, supporting research and programming for those living with Alzheimer's and dementia, or

• circledrivespecialcarehome.ca, the wonderful care home that brought her peace and rest in the last two and a half years of her life.