Obituary of Elnora Ruth BLAKIE (nee Jahnke)

February 18, 1924 – Herbert, Saskatchewan
February 20, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Ruth Blakie, formerly of Coaldale, AB, peacefully left this world to join her husband Al and daughter Lori on Saturday, February 20, 2021, at the age of 97.

Born on a farm in Saskatchewan on February 18, 1924, Ruth grew up in the Depression. She was the oldest girl of twelve siblings and at an early age had many family and farm responsibilities. To give a sense of how it was in those times, when her brother was once asked in town how many were in his family, he said “Seven… well, twelve if you count the girls”. But these weren’t ordinary girls and Ruth, like her sisters, stood tall, strong, courageous, adventurous, talented, bold and beautiful!

Ruth graduated from an all-girls university, Bethel College, in the U.S., earning a Bachelor’s degree in Education, Home Economics.  She worked her way through university as a pastry chef, baking pies.  While teaching home economics at a rural school in Milestone, SK, she met and married fellow teacher, Al Blakie on December 23, 1951.The newlyweds moved to various teaching positions in Saskatchewan (including Verwood and Watrous), before realizing the grass was greener on the other side of the boundary. Settling in Coaldale, AB, Ruth would fulfill a thirty-plus year career teaching Home Economics, mainly at Kate Andrews High School.

She could best be described as the original Martha Stewart. A most talented seamstress and cook – her true passion was sewing, baking, entertaining and hosting dinners and parties for family and friends. Ruth loved her many other interests that included virtually every type of craft, knitting, needlepoint, calligraphy, gardening, and playing cards - Bridge and Cribbage were her favourites.  She was active and deeply enjoyed dancing, golfing, curling, swimming, walking and watching tennis.  She also loved travelling and motor home vacations with friends (including the inevitable bocce ball tournament), and especially spending quality time at the lake with family.

Ruth was generous of soul and loved nothing more than giving.  This was never more evident than with her family - especially her grandchildren, where her greatest joy came from sharing these interests with them.

A long-time member of the Coaldale United Church and choir, she was also an active volunteer in the community, including Toastmasters, the Royal Purple and Meals on Wheels. Ruth devoted many hours to the Alberta Home Economics Teachers Association and was also very involved in the various organizations of her children’s activities.

She took great pride in her Mennonite heritage and the farming and homesteading background of her parents. Another source of pride was her very accomplished husband, and the couple formed a great team for over fifty-seven years until his passing in 2008.

She will be greatly missed by her surviving children: Marilyn (Wes), Earl (Karen), and Karen (Richard), her surviving son-in-law Bruce; her much adored grandchildren, Robyn (Aaron), Ian (Leah), Darren (Janis), Scott (Virginia), Alix (Sascha), Eric (Victoria), Andrew (Penelope) and Adam; and precious great-grandchildren Lilianne, Aubrie, Connor, Andrew, Ethan, Ava, Emmeline, Paul, Adam, Maria, Monica, William, Eva, Natalie, and Lauren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved.

Ruth was one of twelve children and is also survived by her siblings, Curtis (Tillie), Lorene (Robert), Virgil (Phyllis), and Genevieve (Barry). She was predeceased by her parents, Gustav and Sadie Jahnke; as well as siblings, Harvey, Albert, Art, Lawrence, Gordon, Irma and Lois.

A Private Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. Condolences, memories and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

To continue her daughter Lori’s wishes, in lieu of flowers and if friends so desire, memorial tributes can be made directly to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada, Telephone: 1-800-567-8767, www.bcsc.ca

In living memory of Ruth Blakie, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th STREET SE, CALGARY, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.