Margaret Ruth Clark

MARGARET RUTH CLARK

(née Preston)

Margaret Ruth Clark (nee Preston) passed away peacefully on April 29, 2017 at Foyer Notre Dame in Notre Dame de Lourdes, MB. She was born on May 7, 1929 in Kelso, SK.　Mom was the youngest of seven children born to Alf and Kate Preston (nee Hiscock).

She leaves to cherish her memory her children,Lorene (Merv) Peters, Donna (Brooks) Husband, Stan (Lorraine) Clark, Ken (Claire) Clark and Garry (Nicole) Clark; her grandchildren, Kristen (Colin), Kurt (TJ), Evan (Shantel), Evan (Christie), Karl (Raena), Brendan (Amy), Naomi, Clark (Nicole), Jennifer (Marc), Janelle (Cliff), Megan (Chris), Ryan, Andrea (Marty), Steve, Jeff (Danielle), Kayla (Kevin) and Melissa; her great-grandchildren, Tacie, Addison, Benji, Tucker, Nixon, Lennon, Ellis, Flora, Wyatt, Oakleigh, Nora, Logan, Nicholas, Aiden, Kyla, Mia, Lexie, and Lily. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Merna Lackhoff and Margaret Preston, as well as extended family and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband, Harold Clark on August 19, 1993. She was also predeceased by her siblings – Robert Preston, Arthur Preston, Edith Boehmer (John Boehmer), Agnes Smith, Thomas Preston (Ariel Preston), Albert Preston and by Harold’s siblings – Florence Budd (George Budd), Audrey Budd (Stan Budd), Paul Lackhoff, Edgar Clark (Norma Clark).

Mom was born when her mother was 47 and lived with her family on the farm in Kelso, SK. When Mom was 8 her mother had a stroke. Her mother eventually walked again but her left foot always dragged. Mom and her brother, Albert, took turns staying home from school to do the laundry. Her mother’s illness brought out the care and compassion which was so much a part of Mom’s character.

A story she related from her childhood was that in the summer when she and her siblings were asked to pick the potato bugs, her siblings would grumble and complain about the task at hand.　 Mom said she just said, “Oh well, pick ‘tato bugs!” Like, let’s just get it done! That mentality, has governed her life. Whatever situation or task Mom found herself in, she just dug in and got it done. She always adapted to and accepted her lot.

She graduated when she was 16 from Greenbank School District and worked a couple of years at Wilson’s Red & White grocery store until she was 18 and able to go into nurses training. In January of 1948, Mom left by train to Winnipeg and the Winnipeg General Hospital to become an RN. While Mom was in nurses training her mother died suddenly. That was a very difficult time for Mom. A group of six young women in the nursing class began a friendship which has lasted for their lifetime. It’s been 69 years now! One of them, Merna, introduced Mom to her brother, Harold Clark. Mom graduated in 1951 and began working back home at the Wawota General Hospital in Wawota, SK, until she married Harold on July 3, 1952. She then moved to the Clark family farm at Somerset, MB.

Margaret and Harold had five children in 7 ½ years! Now that’s production! Two girls first, Lorene and Donna, then 3 boys, Stanley, Kenneth and Garry. Margaret and Harold had a mixed farming operation. They also sold milk and cream to some of the townspeople. People often stopped in for cream. Mom was industrious and organized. She grew a large garden and did lots of preserving. The aroma of freshly baked bread and other goodies often welcomed us. She assisted Dad with farm work as well. At one point, a new sewing machine was in order, so Mom bought a Singer. She figured that because she had a new sewing machine, she could start teaching 4-H. She taught sewing for many years. I know that my brothers enjoyed it because of all the girls that would come around!

Mom also served on the 4-H Council as secretary for quite a few years. She enjoyed that.

Mom sewed a lot for us girls and herself. She was an excellent seamstress. I quote her as saying: “Sewing was such fun. I had my corner in the living room and could watch TV too.　 Sure miss that!” She’d made this remark just last November. Music was another interest which Mom enjoyed. This led her to participate in the local community choir. She also taught Sunday School. Mom rarely ever got angry. She was fun as a mother but was also firm, and commanded our respect. We knew we were loved. She was approachable and easy to talk to – especially when we needed to confess something! It was easy being sick or injured with Mom around – we were recipients of that wonderful, loving nursing care of hers. Every night at bedtime, she would make her rounds to all five of us kids.　 We each had our own beds so she would sit with us individually, listen to our concerns or comments and then pray with us. That was love in action.

Mom had a green thumb and had lots of house plants. African Violets were her specialty. She grew many of them and gave them away as gifts to people who were ill or who needed cheering up. A sense of humor and friendliness were some more of her strengths.

Mom and Dad’s home often became grand central station as the grandchildren loved to congregate there and play in the farm house and in the big yard. Grandma loved to be involved in their pranks and tricks on each other – sometimes being the instigator! Mom loved her family so deeply. She was so proud of each of them. Near the end, she would often remark with a proud smile on her face, “I have such a wonderful family and they’re so good to me. I love them so much!” How she remembered all the names of her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren plus most birthdates has always amazed us. And, she’d comment that she had a poor memory!

If you knew Mom, you’ll associate her with back issues. She began to have pain in her early marriage and began frequent trips to the chiropractor. It progressively worsened to the point that when she was 50, she had surgery for a herniated disk that she said went mushy. The surgery had not helped her. Scoliosis was also discovered.

Over the following years, Mom continued to have to deal with chronic pain and increasing mobility issues. She was a beautiful, tall, stately lady who would get after us to stand tall and put our shoulders back. It was so sad, then, to see her become very stooped and unable to stand straight anymore.

A strong faith was also evident in Mom. She knew the powerful love of God in a personal way. That growing faith was how she coped with her disability and pain. In spite of her circumstances, peace, joy and contentment radiated from her. She had numerous falls and fractures. So many times we thought that was it, especially after her pelvic fracture. Then she’d rally and bounce back, to our astonishment. She had a strong will. She was very diligent and disciplined in her self-care.　 Things changed the last few years. She started saying she wanted to go Home. After her 99 year-old sister, Edith, the last of her siblings, died on Christmas day, she commented that now that Edith was gone, she could go too. Her family would all be together then.

Early in January she began to experience shortness of breath and to have some swelling. A silent heart attack and congestive heart failure were diagnosed.　 She was too weak to return to her Manor suite and thus transferred from the hospital to the personal care home in Notre Dame de Lourdes. She gradually deteriorated and passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 29th. Mom has left all of us with a tremendous legacy.　 As one of my cousins put it, “She had a calm, humble and gentle goodness about her.”　 Her strong faith was alive and vibrant.　 She possessed tremendous fortitude.

Mom, we are so honored and proud to be your family. You’ve placed the bar really high. We will do our very best to follow your example and “pick tato bugs” until we meet again!

Adam’s Funeral Home of Notre Dame de Lourdes, Manitoba in care of arrangements.　 Phone 204-248-2201 or 1-888-400-2326.　 For more information and condolences, please visit www.afh.ca