Eva Laura Hoiland

HOILAND, Eva Laura (nee Kruger)
December 21, 1931- Unity, Saskatchewan
June 4, 2026 - Brandon, Manitoba

Eva Hoiland of Brandon, MB, passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the age of 94 years.

Eva was born on December 21, 1931, to Otto and Mabel Kruger in Unity, SK, where she grew up on the family farm. Eva attended Bluebell school until grade 8, graduated high school in Unity, and attended Normal School in Saskatoon to become a teacher. From 1950 - 1952, Eva taught grades 1 - 8 in one room schools at Happyland and Wasteena. She was responsible for teaching all subjects, as well as chopping wood and getting the fire started.

Eva met Olaf "Scotty" Hoiland at a community dance. They began their long and happy marriage in 1952 in Saskatoon, SK. Following their wedding, they lived in a trailer on the Hoiland farm in Brock, SK for a short time. They relocated to Saskatoon and their oldest son Randy and only daughter Sharilyn were born. Eva and Scotty then bought their family home in the Caswell Hill neighbourhood. Several years later, their sons Alan and Eric were born. While raising her family, Eva was like a second mom to many children in Caswell Hill; she always said she would "send 4 kids to school each morning, but didn't know how many more would return". A fond memory of Alan's from childhood is his Mom baking bread, buns and cookies on Mondays.

Throughout the years, Eva and Scotty enjoyed travelling in their converted van in both Canada and the US. Their trips included the Black Hills in South Dakota, the Okanagan Valley, BC and Alberta. Eva's favourite trip was up the Alaska Highway to Fairbanks, Alaska.

Eva and Scotty lived in the home where they raised their family until Scotty's death in 2015. In 2016, Eva moved to Brandon to be near her youngest son Eric. Randy lovingly remembers the heart shaped valentine's cookies with pink icing that his Mom baked every year for him until she moved to Brandon. Once in Brandon, Eva loved to walk the neighbourhoods around her apartment.

Eva retained a strong connection to her home community of Unity. She never missed a high school reunion and continued to subscribe to the Unity newspaper when she was in Brandon.

Eva enjoyed writing letters, watching movies, reading, travelling, walking, dancing, cooking and baking. A cherished memory of Sharilyn's is her Mom reading stories to the kids every night while they enjoyed a piece of toast and a glass of Quik, a tradition carried on by both Randy and Sharilyn with their kids. Eric recalls his Mom singing to herself while working in her flower garden. Eva loved cats and was a cat-mom to Tommy and Lady. She especially enjoyed rewatching the "Star Trek" and "MASH" series and sharing her many stories of growing up on the farm and her experiences.

Eva is survived by her four children, Randy (Judy) Hoiland, Sharilyn Lee, of Saskatoon, SK, Alan (Sharon) Hoiland, of Calgary AB, Eric Hoiland of Brandon, MB; her five grandchildren, Janelle (Josh) Rasmussen, Virginia (Ken Delathouwer) Lane, Scott (Kayla McCutcheon) Hoiland, Kathryn (Lucky Singh) Lee, Jenna (Brian) Karwacki of Saskatoon, SK; her nine great-grandchildren, Ada Delathouwer, Charlotte Lane, James Delathouwer, Clara Lane, Thoen Karwacki, Jude Rasmussen, Lyla Karwacki, Gianna Singh and Otis Hoiland of Saskatoon, SK.

She is also survived by her brother Nelson (Karen) Kruger of Forestburg, AB and extended family and friends.

She was predeceased by her parents, Otto Kruger and Mabel (Akerlund) Kruger; her husband, Olaf "Scotty" Hoiland; her sisters, Evelyn Kruger and Barbara Kruger; and her son-in-law, Rick Lee.

The family would like to thank the nurses and support staff at the Brandon Regional Health Centre, Palliative Care Unit for their wonderful care of Eva.

Eva's private graveside service will be held at the Woodlawn Cemetery Saskatoon, SK, on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 10 AM.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Eva's family here.