Obituary of Linda Schopfer
Linda Schopfer passed away at Battlefords Union Hospital, North Battleford, SK on August 28, 2024 at the age of 78 years.
Linda is lovingly remembered by: her sister, Ellen Wells; nieces and nephews, Mel (Della) Wells, Dawn (Dave) Veltikold and family, Dean Flicek and family, Joanne Scott and family and Marty (Sue) Flicek and family; special cousin, Neil Schopfer (Candi) and family, Craig (Tammy) and family and Colin (Tracy) and family; as well as numerous cousins in the Schopfer, MacKenzie and Smith families. Also sharing in the loss are, Tim (Sandy) Weinkauf; Dustin (Ashley) Weinkauf and family and Colin (Ricki) Weinkauf and family.
Linda is predeceased by: her loving husband, Glen; parents, Tom and Evelyn MacKenzie; parents-in-law, Walter and Barbara Schopfer; brothers, Donald MacKenzie, Jim MacKenzie and Murray MacKenzie; sister, Gloria Paziuk; brother-in-laws, Don Paziuk and Ray Wells; niece, Janet Flicek; as well as two special felines, Bear and Buzz.
She will be missed by many special friends in the Marsden/Artland/Neilburg community.
We will be remembering Glen and Linda over afternoon coffee from 3:00 - 4:30 PM on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at Marsden Community Hall located at 106 Centre St, Marsden SK.
Donations in memory of Linda may be made to STARS, Border Paws Animal Shelter Society or donor's charity of choice.
EULOGY OF LINDA SCHOPFER
Private Graveside Service, 1:30 p.m., September 21, 2024.
(Prepared and presented by Dawn Veltikold & Suzie Berg-Flicek, nieces of Linda)
Bonny Linda MacKenzie was born on February 23, 1946 to Tom & Evelyn MacKenzie, the youngest of six children. Aunty Ellen recalls Grandpa getting a neighbor (Doug Landreth) to pick them up to take her to the midwife’s home as grandpa didn’t own a vehicle at that time. The neighbor thought he was just taking them to a curling dance. A bit of a shocker. Doug actually had his mother pick out a little dress to give to the newborn baby. Linda grew up in Neilburg and took all of her schooling there. Linda was a beautiful figure skater, and taught figure skating for many years in Neilburg. She was crowned as Neilburg’s Carnival Queen one year. She also taught figure skating in Chauvin after she was married.
Linda married Glen Schopfer on November 20, 1965. As Glen’s mother had passed away just shortly before their wedding, Linda took on the responsibility of “woman of the household”. A discussion took place when the arrangements were being made at McCaw’s, and the question was raised as to how many meals Linda would have cooked for Walter. Colin summed it up pretty well by saying it would probably be easier to count how many meals Linda DIDN’T cook for Walter.
Linda was Glen’s rock. She was by his side to support him in any decisions he made. She was very involved with the farm details, tracking the grain, the crop rotations, the cattle records. He would have been lost without her. She was an integral part of their farming success.
The coffee pot was always on. Neighbors would drop in and visit, and Linda always welcomed you. She must have bought coffee by the caseload. I’m thinking that Linda probably could have went into competition with the Prairie Diner for the number of cups of coffee served over the years.
They were such a special couple. As a child I would spend time at Linda & Glen’s place. She would take one of us nieces & nephews (only one at a time which was wonderful because you then got her undivided attention), and would play card games and entertain us by the hours. But not until you had vacuumed the living room. That was done EVERY day without miss. They had no children, but that is really not a true statement. Linda probably had more children & grandchildren than anyone standing here. All of us were so special to her. Her list of birthdays and the number of children (and adults) on her Christmas list was huge. She was included in all the birthday parties, and special events of all of our families. Everyone was special to her. Don’t kid yourself --- she had lots of children and grandchildren.
I don’t think I knew of anyone so caring as Linda. She worried about everyone, was sincerely thrilled with any new additions to your family, or any new jobs, or trips people would be taking. She was very upset with any news of accidents, ailments, or mishaps in any of our lives.
Linda and Glen travelled to many places by car and by motorbike Their tent trailer could tell many stories I’m sure. They took longer trips with other couples down East, and into the States. Glen loved to drive, and enjoyed long days on the road. They had many fishing and camping trips, and also enjoyed skidoo trips to Candle Lake. Linda also enjoyed cross country skiing, downhill skiing, and was an excellent curler. Linda would often cross-country ski to the special spot south of their house that she always said she would put a house if they ever got a new one.
Glen’s biking accident in Canora ended with him in Winnipeg for surgery. I spent the week with them awaiting Glen’s surgery. That week showed me the love and worry they shared for each other. We shared many stories and laughs throughout that week and I treasure our time spent together.
She was also “the cat lady”,and the “bird lady”. I would laugh when she told me how much she spent on Fancy Feast cat food and kitty litter, and the looks the clerks would give her at the till. Also the many jars of grape jelly for the Orioles, the peanut butter to make the woodpecker blocks,the huge bags of certain birdseed (not any brand would do), and all of her hummingbird feeders that she kept filled. She could tell you to the day when those hummingbirds arrived back at her window in the Spring and knew when they left to go south. She also loved mud puddles. Sometimes when there was a warm rain and mud puddles in her yard, Linda would tell me she had gone out in her bare feet and jumped in the mud puddles.
Linda was a wonderful baker. Her special treat for me was what she called “Funeral cake” which was the peanut butter/butterscotch/marshmallow square and it’s always at Funerals. When Linda was in the hospital not able to communicate verbally, I mentioned this cake she always made me and she gave my hand the biggest squeeze. She also baked bread. Now I’m a little jealous of the neighbors and family that lived close by, because I think she must have given lots of loaves away. I think this because her “Small” batch was 18 loaves – her large batch was 24 loaves. How anyone could mix up that large of a batch of bread is beyond my comprehension.
Linda had a bit of a stubborn streak. If she made up her mind she wasn’t doing something, you didn’t change her mind. A couple of specific areas come to mind. The new house …. We all wish Linda would have had a new house. Glen offered many times for Linda to just pick out a house and he would have gotten it for her. He told me, if she wants a house with a pool I’ll get it for her. But there was no budging Linda to get that new home. Unfortunate, but it was her decision. And Linda was very stubborn if you even suggested a doctor visit. But she lived to be 78 years old with no doctors, surgeries, or prescriptions, and that was how she wanted it.
Linda & Glen celebrated 55 years of marriage before Glen’s passing in 2021. Fortunately Glen & Linda had rented out their farm prior to his passing so Linda didn’t have to deal with the disposal of the farm equipment. Even though the farm was rented, Linda still had a lot of responsibility with maintaining the farmsite and managing the farm business.
Linda was a very private person. She did not want to be the center of attention on any occasion. Well, Aunty Linda, today is an exception. All of us are here because you deserve the center of attention and you are so loved by each and everyone of us.
I know everyone will have special stories and memories of Linda. I thought I would share a few that always brought a smile or a laugh when remembered.
Glen and Linda had just gotten an oilwell drilled on their property. I was staying there for a few days, and Glen wanted us to go to the site and see this new well. He went to turn on the valve so we could see the oil come out and Linda, being Linda, bent down right in front to get a really good look. Well, there was an air bubble, and the thick black oil burst out and went straight into her eyes and her mouth. Glen & I laughed so hard, and she was able to clean herself up a bit with an old cloth. But then …. Glen had to stop at Gordon and Rose Wright’s place so they could see how Linda looked.
I have one final story that Mom remembers. Glen and Linda and mom and dad were camping at Loon Lake in one of the cabins. They heard rustling under the cabin and Glen said “Rats”!! Linda started stomping on the floor all throughout the cabin thinking she could scare them away. Then all of a sudden the cabin filled with the pleasant odor of “SKUNK”!!
Linda had a severe stroke in her home, and was taken to hospital on the morning of August 24th. She passed away peacefully in the early hours on August 28th.
In closing, I would just like to say what I think Linda would want to tell us. She loves us all very deeply. She will miss us, but she is where she wants to be. Her life was becoming very stressful with many decisions needing to be made that were tearing her apart. Her worries are now behind her. She’s with Glen again, the love of her life.
A special palliative care nurse in the Union Battleford Hospital told me, Linda’s not saying good-bye, …. She’s just saying “I will see you later”.
God’s peace be with you Aunty Linda. We all love you and will miss you dearly.
