Obituary of Clara Rathgeber

RATHGEBER - Mrs. Clara Rathgeber, resident of the Yorkton and District Nursing Home, passed away on Friday, April 4, 2008. She was 86 years of age. Clara was born on September 28, 1921 to Michael and Olga (Teskey) Lang on the Lang homestead southwest of Goodeve. She was the eldest of three children. Clara attended Robert School. After leaving school, she worked on the farm along side her family. Clara loved to work with horses, whether it was a team pulling an implement or riding to round up cattle. On October 10, 1943 Clara married Carl Rathgeber at the Baptist Church in Fenwood, while Carl was on a 96-hour pass from his military service. In their first year of marriage, Clara traveled with Carl to various places on the west coast where he was stationed. In 1944, Carl and Clara returned home to their two-room log house until 1946, when they built their 5 bedroom house and farm buildings on section 16. The family grew quickly. Besides raising her 5 children, Clara was busy gathering eggs, milking cows, tending to a very large garden, cooking and cleaning. As the children grew older, Clara had time to become actively involved in the Goodeve 4-H Homecraft Club, the Goodeve Ladies' Community Club and later in the Blue Bonnet Seniors' Club. Clara's hobbies included crocheting, embroidering and sewing. She enjoyed watching curling, baseball, and was a dedicated fan of the Goodeve Fastball team. Clara's greatest joy was her grandchildren. She attended many of their sports and musical activities. She anxiously awaited their visits to the farm and always had lots of delicious baking on hand. Clara was predeceased by her husband Carl in 2002, and her daughter Charlotte in 1966. Clara leaves to cherish her memory her children Lorraine (Clayton) Gording of East St. Paul, Manitoba, Joan (Dave) Dobson of Yorkton, Doug (Linda) Rathgeber of Goodeve, and Clare (Garry) Soltys of Yorkton. Her precious grandchildren Trevor (Cheryl) Gording, Troy Gording, Kyle and Kirby Dobson, Aaron Rathgeber, Kelsey (Dave) Shields, Garett, Graham and Jordan Soltys and great grandchildren Ashtyn and Kiah Shields; her sister Norma Jacobi of Goodeve and her brother Harold (Imgard) Lang of Melville, and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. The funeral service was held on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 from Westview United Church in Yorkton with Faye Greer officiating. Son Doug gave the eulogy, and granddaughter Kelsey was the lay-reader. Organist, Carla Laycock led the church choir and the congregation in the singing of the hymns 'In the Bulb There is a Flower', and 'How Great Thou Art'. The choir anthem was 'A Place in the Valley'. The interment took place at the Yorkton Memorial Gardens with grandsons Trevor, Troy, Aaron, Kyle, Kirby, Garett, Graham and Jordan serving as the casketbearers. Arrangements were entrusted to Bailey's Funeral Home. Service Information Tuesday, April 8th, 2008 2:00pm, Westview United Church Interment Details Yorkton Memorial Gardens