Obituary of Berthold Huber

B I O G R A P HY HUBER: Berthold Huber passed away in the Lloydminster Hospital, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at the age of 88 years. Bert is survived by seven children: Noreen Huber of Medicine Hat, Myrna Huber of Calgary, Arlene and her husband Dwight Cole of Melfort, Jeanette Huber of Melfort, Larry Huber and his wife Peggy of Lloydminster, Shirley Huber of Regina and Vicki Huber of Lloydminster; eleven grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, four sisters: Hilda Fauser, Helen Helmer, Maggie and her husband Leonard Winkler, Alice and her husband Gerrald Eichorst as well as numerous other relatives. Bert was predeceased by his wife Esther, his son Kevin, his parents, one sister Lydia and two brothers Richard and Edwin. The funeral service for Bert was conducted from the Lloydminster Gospel Fellowship on Monday, September 17, 2007 at 10:30 A.M. with Pastor Lyle Berg officiating. A eulogy was given by Dorothy Lavender. Hymns sung were “How Great Thou Art,” and “It Is Well With My Soul,” accompanied by the LGF Worship Team. A Legion Honorguard was held. Active pallbearers were grandchildren: Aaron Huber, Michael Cole, Orry Huber, Micheal Huber, Brian Verigan and Jenelle Huber. Interment followed in the Wycollar Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Goodmorning One behalf of the family, I would like to Thank You for coming out this morning. I also want to Thank the family for bestowing on me the priviledge of saying a few words about their Dad. Berthold Huber was born Dec. 9, l918 to August and Marie Huber at Golden Prairie, Sask. He was the 4th of 9 children. He always worked along side his Dad on the farm. Back in those days, education wasn’t important, so Uncle Bert only completed his Grade 6. He worked for various farmers until the age of 23 when on Feb. 19, 1942, he enlisted in the army. During this time in the army, he served overseas in England. He was discharged 4 years later. Upon returning home to Golden Prairie, he worked on the farm with his Dad. During this time, he began to correspond with a young lady from the Waseca District by the name of Esther Schock. This penpal friendship continued until June of 1947 when Bert sent Esther a bus ticket. She arrived, Sat. June 11, 1947. She came prepared and they were married the next day, June 12. They worked side by side with Uncle Bert’s Dad on his farm until 1953 when they felt the need to move on. They came to work in the Lashburn area for Henry Lawrence. During their time in Golden Prairie, their home was blessed with arrival of their first daughter, Noreen Mary. Two years later Myrna Minnie arrived on the scene. One of my first memories of Uncle bert was when our family went to Golden Prairie to visit Uncle Bert and Auntie Esther. Uncle Bert tried so hard to get me to sit on his knee but me – I was scared. Uncle went to town, bought my favorite chocolate bar and came home. He would come into the sitting room with his hand behind his back, sit in his chair and put the bar in his shirt pocket so I could see it. He would pat his knee and smile. I would run up, sit on his knee longenough to get my bar and run back to my parents. I blame Uncle for my taste for chocolate bars. Shortly after their arrival in Lashburn, Arlene Faye arrived. They worked for the Lawrences until l959. During this time Jeanette Marie was born and then in l957, Larry Bert was born. The family told me Uncle Bert and Auntie Esther were so sure the Dr. was teasing them when he told them they had a boy that he had to show them so they would believe him. After the Lawrences sold their farm, the family moved to the Neilburg district where they worked for varius farmers. In May l959, Shirley May was born, then Vicki Lynne in l962. On Dec. 25, 1963, Kevin Mark was born. This completed their family. I remember so well the day Kevin was born. Being Christmas morning, our family was all around the kitchen table when the phone rang. I answered it with a cheery,”Merry Christmas” only to have an excited voice say”It’s a boy!” That was Uncle Bert. On July 12, 1966 a car accident claimed the life of Kevin. The continued to work for several farmers in the area until November 1973 when they moved into Lloydminster. Uncle Bert worked for 10 years for Nelson Lumber and Auntie Esther at the Dr. Cooke in the kitchen. The kids by this time were leaving one by one for various jobs and destinations. One thing we often laughed about was when he applied for his pension, he found out his birth date was Dec. 9 not the 8 like it had always been celebrated. In June of 1990 they moved to Hallsholme. There they enjoyed their apartment until March 24, 1995 when Auntie suffered a massive stroke and passed away. Uncle’s life was never the same. He was often seen walking to the old Co-op or Lloyd Mall. Often Wes would give him a ride home. We often chuckle how deaf he was and how loud one had to speak to have him hear. Uncle loved to putter around making all kinds of things with wood. After Aunties’s passing, he began collecting china Dolls. Upon opening one such gift, he was heard to make the comment, “I would rather have me a real doll.” Uncle Bert remained in Hallsholme until Feb of 2006 when poor health forced him to move to Pioneer Lodge where he resided for the next 1 ½ years. During this time he suffered several small strokes which robbed him of the joy of his walks. Every Sunday he expected Larry to pick him up for Sunday Supper and “There had better be dessert. His last 2 months were spent in the Jubilee Home until the Lord took him home in the early morning hours of Sept. 12. Memories of Dad. Peg remembers packing up his things when he moved to Pioneer Lodge and finding a box in which were several smaller boxes. She continued to go through each box until she got down to one small box – the prize – a paper bag, tied with string and about 250 bread bag clips. Arlene remembers making plans for her wedding and when they would ask for his input, he would say “Why don’t you elope.?” Then one day in frustration, she said. “I am going to just elope!”, to which her Dad replied, “Over my dead body.” He was really looking forward to walking her down the aisle. Jeanette remembers thinking her Dad didn’t have a real sense of humor until she was home on vacation and her dad came home for lunch from work. She had made fish sticks and chips. He began singing “I’ve eaten fish all my life and I still can’t swim a stroke.” They would tease him and he wouldn’t say a thing, just give them his crooked smile. I am going to miss that grin so much. Vicki remembers how musical her Dad was. When he came home from work every night, he would eat supper, then go downstairs and sing and play his guital or violin for hours. Sometimes she would go downstairs and sing with him. Larry remembers – one day when he was 6, outside doing chores with his dad. This particular cow decided it was going to go over Larry, not around him. His dad rescued him and put him safely on the fence. His dad grabbed a fence post and started wrestling with this cow. They pushed each other back and forth for awhile. His Dad won because he went into the house, grabbed the gun and shot the cow. A week later the family was eating it. Myrna remembers a story her mother told her about Bert’s sense of humor. While living on the Lawrence farm, their anniversary was coming up and Esther wanted to go out for the evening but Bert said,”No.”, and made some excuses, making her angry. When he came up from doing chores, he partly opened the door, threw his hat into the kitchen singing, “Hey, Hey. Momma can your Daddy come home?” that cheered her up. That evening her brother Henry and his family came over with supper. Bert Huber leaves to mourn his passing, 7 children: Noreen of Medicine Hat Myrna of Calgary Arlene and her husband Dwight Cole of Melfort, Sk. Jeanette of Melfort Larry and his wife Peg of, Lloydminster Shirley of Regins, Sk. And Vicki of Lloydminster 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren as well as 4 siblings and various nephews and nieces. We will miss your smile and dry sense of humor, Uncle Bert but we draw comfort in knowing that”To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Psalm 116;15 Card of Thanks The family of Bert Huber would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff of Jubilee Home, Dr. Endemann, the Lloydminster Hospital, and the nurse who held Dad's hand at the end. We also wish to thank McCaw Funeral Home for going far beyond our expectations in the care of the family during our time of grief. God bless all who had a part in Dad's life. A very special thank you to the Legion for the honor guard. Donations may be made to the Diabetes Association or to a Charity of the Donor's Choice.