Ruth Enns

This obituary honours Alma Ruth Enns, 98, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan whose BIG, beautiful smile made us feel special and loved. Ruth died on Tuesday, July 2nd just weeks after settling into her new home in Warman Special Care Home in Warman, Saskatchewan. Four of her eight children were with her on Tuesday.

As the oldest daughter of Elizabeth and Jacob T. Giesbrecht, in a family of 8 children on a dairy farm in Myrtle, Manitoba, Ruth was born into the role of organizer and caregiver on February 13, 1927. In that busy family, Ruth became skilled at bossing her 5 brothers (George, Johnny, David (all deceased), Art and Len) and looking after her 2 sisters (Betty (deceased) and Adelaide), building the skills and personality that later underpinned her career as a teacher, and her life’s role as a mother. Just weeks ago, Adelaide, Ruth’s youngest sibling and a retired teacher herself, said emphatically that the 1 teacher she had in elementary school who knew what she was doing was her 18-year old sister Ruth!

Shortly after beginning her teaching career in Myrtle in the late 1940s, Ruth moved to Altona to teach children in Grade 5. Lifelong friendships grew from rooming with her fellow teachers, and it was not long before her big, beautiful smile attracted the attention of John Enns (who predeceased her 35 years ago in 1990). Ruth and John were married August 9th, 1952, the start of another chapter in Ruth’s life...motherhood.

“New babies” were an almost annual event in the first 10 or so years of the Ruth-John household on 6th Avenue NE in Altona. Ruth and John both loved babies, and Ruth was a “baby-whisperer” who had numerous ways and unique words - “Nanu-Nanu” - that comforted babies and grand-babies and great grand-babies for the next 70 years. Those Ruth-John babies are now mostly seniors, including David (Carolyn) and Carol (Terry) in Altona, Manitoba; Libby (Gord) in Victoria, BC; Cathy (Elmer) in Rosthern, Saskatchewan; Bruce (Katherine) in Castlegar, BC; Judy in Winnipeg, MB; Margo in Rosthern, SK, and Steve (Patty) in Saskatoon, SK. One baby, Lorraine, a twin to Judy, died in infancy. Ruth mothered and managed this busy household with her positive outlook and organizing skills. All the kids enjoyed and endured school, household chores, music lessons, sports teams, and summer camp. There was a Ruth-run home kindergarten since the school system didn’t offer it, and Ruth provided pastels and art paper along with “shading” and “shaping” lessons so the kids who wanted to could enter their artwork in the annual fall fair.

Ruth was a “foodie” long before it was popular to post plate pictures on Instagram. Daily meals were healthy and hardy, and the 10-member family sat down together for dinner every day. Cookies and cakes were part of the weekly routine, and special cakes were Mom’s signature pieces....chiffon cakes, angel food cakes, and chocolate cakes with caramel icing. Food and family came together for Ruth, and the family gatherings she hosted were huge...meaning there were MANY people there and MUCH food to be consumed!

In the midst of this busy family life, Ruth made time for volunteer work outside of her home. She was a key member of the local Women’s Institute in Altona, the Bergthaler Church Women’s Group, and then the many organizing committees around her kids’ activities (Altona Figure Skating Club, Home and School). In 1971, building on her commitment to both education and community, Ruth became the first woman to be elected to the local school board. Although to her children there was nothing particularly special about this event, other women leaders in the area took note and commented years later how that decision and that success contributed to their own leadership efforts in the ensuing years. That was the kind of role model Ruth provided.

Ruth moved from Altona to Saskatoon with her husband John and the schoolage children in 1975. She looked forward to life in a city, and embraced the many opportunities to become involved in the community there. Church became a pillar in Ruth’s life, and she thoroughly enjoyed the people and community at Nutana Park Mennonite Church. She took on the role of secretary for the Conference of Mennonites of Canada as part of her contribution to church life.

The house on Haultain Avenue in Saskatoon became a favorite for adult and at-home children. With its inground pool and big schoolyard across the street, there were many fun times for family get-togethers. As the first of the grandchildren arrived, summer holidays in Saskatoon were amazing – pool, Gramma’s cooking and baking, and cosy, snuggly beds at the end of the long days.

After John’s sad and too-early passing in 1990, with children all grown and gone, Ruth entered the senior phase of her life. Through her church connections, she found and enjoyed a wonderful companion in Menno Nickel, whom she married in May of 1992, adding 2 more step-children Jim (Joanna) and Trish (Marcel) (and their children) to the long family list. Ruth and Menno enjoyed 18 years together before health issues forced them to move out of their condo, and then Menno passed away (February 13, 2010) and Ruth was on her own once more. These times on her own were hard for Ruth, who thrived on busy-ness and running her household. A major stroke in 2009 had left Ruth unable to live independently, unable to be who she had always been. In many ways undaunted, and with the help of her children in Saskatchewan, Ruth rebuilt her life around what she was still able to do....visit with her children and grandchildren, read, listen to music, and (like her mother) watch sports on TV.

Ruth lived her life with charisma and style. Throughout her busy motherhood years and well into her senior years, she dressed and carried herself with aplomb. Her big, beautiful smile came with immaculate hairdo and make up, and a fashionable outfit, just right for whatever the occasion. When Ruth required help to get dressed these last few years, she remained quite particular. This last Christmas, a staff member at Bethany Manor (in Saskatoon, where she lived for 15 years), told some of us “children” at the Christmas party: “I had laid out some clothes, and your Mom looked at my choices and then at me and said kindly, but definitively: “I can’t wear black with brown.”

2024-25 was a difficult year for Ruth. With most of her hearing and short term memory gone, Ruth suffered a debilitating bout of COVID in November, and then another stroke in late February. After that, Ruth was moved out of Bethany Manor, her home for the last 15 years, and into the Warman Special Care Home. After a few weeks in Warman, Ruth experienced a final stroke in late June from which she did not recover. And so we say good-bye.

The family would like to thank the staff at Bethany Manor for their years of care for our Mom. As well, the care in these last 2 weeks at the home in Warman was exceptional, and we are so very grateful for that too. Our lovely mom Ruth was a special woman with a big, beautiful smile, whose big love for all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren made us all feel special and will forever be missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MCC.

With love from us all,

Children: David and Carolyn, their children Leah (Stuart) and Michael (Laura), and their grandchild, Leah and Stu’s son Xander;

Carol and Terry, their children Andrew (Laura) and Mark (Aimee) and their grandchildren Mark and Aimee’s sons Ivan, Oscar, and Louie;

Libby and Gord;

Cathy and Elmer, their children Matt (Katie), Christa (Nick), and Beth (Aaron) and their grandchildren Matt and Katie’s sons Harrison, Jack and Henrick; Christa and Nick’s family of Luke, Avery, Georgia, and Ivy; and Beth and Aaron’s family of Judah, Benjy, and Thea;

Bruce and Kat, their children Hilary and Jane (Justin); and their grandchildren Hilary’s children Afeni and Juwaan;

Judy and her children Chris (Jenn), Amy, and Tim (Katrine); and her grandchild Tim and Katrine’s daughter, Arabella;

Margo and her children Jon (Christine) and Stephanie (Luke); and her grandchildren Jon and Christine’s children Oliver and Violet; Stephanie and Luke’s boys Eli and Andy;

Steve and Patty

A celebration of Ruth's life will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. at the Neubergthal Commons Barn.  Interment will take place prior to the service at 1:30 p.m. at the Weidenfeld Cemetery.