Grace West

It is with great sadness that the family of Grace West announce her passing Sept. 24, 2023.

Grace is predeceased by her husband Dan West, her son James Eric West; her mother and father Bergine & Ole Listoe; her brothers Carl, Bernard, Philip, Paul; and sisters Florence and Rosalyn; sister-in-law Doris; brothers-in-laws Mel, Paul, & Heinz.  Grace is survived by her daughters: Debra (Virgil) and their family: Jeanna, Kim (Kurtis), Keygen and Kreston, Alicia (Luke), Peyton and Colton, Jonathon (Tawn); Elaine and her family: Christy (Neil), Kail, Jaxton, Tayden & Everly, Jannelle (Chris), Logan, Louis and Lily; Megan (Steve) Audrey and Isla; Lori (Terry) and their family: Samantha, Dakota, Keinen and Mavryk, Jenifer (Levi), Asher, Eloise, Simon and Joel, Jesse (Jennifer), James, Emma and Axel.  Grace is also survived by brothers: Danny (Bessie), David (Sandra), John (Pam); sisters-in-law Emily, Joyce, Sheila & families; Donna and Noreen (Barry) and their families.

Grace was born March 24, 1936 in Torquay, SK to Bergine and Ole Listoe.  Mom was the 5th child of 10; the first daughter.  Grace grew up in a loving, Christian home.  The family lived in town and Grace went to school in Torquay, SK.  Following in her mother’s footsteps, Grace attended teacher’s college in Moosejaw.  After teacher’s training Grace started her first teaching position with brother Danny, who was also a teacher, at the Hazlet School in Hazlet, SK.  There is where she met Dad during a community function.  It was love at first sight.  The rest is History.  Mom and Dad were married March 30th of 1959.

Grace had a close relationship with Jesus all of her life.  Mom had such a strong faith and love for God.  God was the strength and peace that kept her going.  Mom loved the Lord and loved sharing him with her family through devotion and prayer.  She loved teaching her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren about her faith and her relationship with Jesus Christ.

Mom’s greatest joy was to open the world of imagination and the love of nature to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  We were encouraged to explore the world around us, to read anything and everything, and to never stop learning.  As we laughingly say: “There wasn’t a rock, a flower or a blade of grass that didn’t bear being looked at, studied or have its picture taken.”  Mom loved to hear all of our laughter and joyful play no matter how loud it got or what we were doing.  Our Sundays were a family day spent together.  First attending Sunday school and church, followed by a family activity, ending with Sunday dinner and our special treat: watching Walt Disney.

Mom loved her children but her grandchildren and great grandchildren had a very special place in her heart.  Mom’s joy in holding everyone as a baby was very evident even up to the very end of her life.  How she would light up when spotting her grandchildren and then had to hold them, bounce them, sing to them in English and Norwegian.  Her love for them radiated from her and encompassed all in the room.  Grace was a great cook, canner and baker (her cinnamon buns were the best).  She taught all her children to bake, cook and can.  We remember the many meals in the field during harvest, the mountain of food that was prepared everyday for her busy active family and the many holiday meals.  She filled our tummies and our hearts.

Grace loved photography.  Her camera was always in her possession.  She loved taking pictures of her travels, everyday life on the farm and of God’s creation.  Grace was the paparazzi who was always around taking pictures.  Our entire lives have been well documented.  She was the person behind the events, the encourager, the teacher, the listener.  Grace was one of the editor’s of the first Hazlet History Book and really enjoyed all the work that it took to bring the book to print.  Grace was a member of the Hazlet Bethany Lutheran Church, the ladies ELW and the Church of God.  Grace absolutely loved genealogy and had started the exploration of Dad’s family history. 

Mom was competitive when playing games with anyone, if you won you deserved it. She would encourage you as you were playing but you had to have skill to beat Mom.  We lovingly remember the many scrabble games, cards games and crokinole.  Mom played scrabble and word games right up to when she went into the Meadows.  Once she could not play scrabble anymore she turned her love of games to crokinole with many an aggressive removal of the opposition’s button causing it to fly across the room much to her delight and laughter.

Even in our sadness, we also feel great joy knowing that Mom is in heaven with Dad, Eric, and her family.  Heaven has gained another angel.  Mom was like her name – Grace - as she was gracious her entire life.  Smiling, loving, caring, gentle and kind right up to the end.  What a blessing!

Arrangements entrusted to Warren's Funeral Home.  For further information please call 1-306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606, or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members on the tribute wall.

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