NORMA LYDIA MARIE BERGSTRESSER (LAUTTAMUS) -

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NORMA LYDIA MARIE BERGSTRESSER (nee LAUTTAMUS) 1936 - 2011 At home after a brief illness with cancer, with her daughters by her side, our precious, beautiful mom went to be with her Lord and Saviour on February 9, 2011 at the age of 74. Mom is predeceased by her parents Leonard and Vera Lauttamus; husband Leo; infant son Bruce; her brother Reynold Lauttamus, brothers-in-law Arnie Sippola, Jim Birt, and John Braun, and sister-in-law Cynthia Bergstresser. Mom is survived by her daughter Lynmarie Neufeld (Terry) of Grande Prairie, AB, their sons Jaron, Evan, Joshua, and Alex; son Howard (Rhonda) of Morris, their sons Mitchell (in Thailand), Kyle, and Mackenzie; daughter Coleen Groening (Stacy) of Winnipeg, their children Tyler and Hannah. She is also survived by sisters Effie Sippola and Hazel Birt, both of Winnipeg; brothers-in-law Mel (Hilda) Bergstresser and Ed (Hilda) Bergstresser; sisters-in-law Arelene Lauttamus, Margaret Braun, Doris (Louis) Vann, and Doreen Bergstresser; and many cousins, nieces and nephews all of whom were very special to her. Mom was born at home July 26, 1936 in New Finland, SK in the Qu'Appelle Valley. Finnish was her first language. When mom was 16 she moved to Winnipeg to become a teacher in a one room school. She then worked for Reimer Express Lines where she met Leo, the love of her life. They married and soon moved to Morris where they farmed and eventually built their home that mom lived in until her passing. She worked hard doing chores on the family farm and was also a rodeo wife when dad was racing chuck wagons. Mom was an avid reader, loved baseball, and was a member and actively involved in the Emmanuel Baptist Church, was a volunteer for Palliative Care, and a member of the Red Hat Society. She also devoted her time to her children, her sisters, and especially her precious grandchildren who were her world. Mom had a lot of heart aches in her life; two major fires, one in which she suffered serious smoke inhalation, multiple floods, the death of a baby, and the death of her husband in her 40s. Then, in November diagnosed with terminal cancer. She never complained, wasn't angry, she never faltered, was always thankful and said she was truly blessed right to the very end. She was a wonderful, radiant, unselfish human being and we are all blessed and better people for having had her in our lives. We love you so, our dear sweet Mom, Grandma, Sister, Auntie, and friend. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Railroad and Lucinda, in Morris. Donations may be made to Red River Valley Palliative Care, payable to RRVHDF, Box 8, Morris, MB R0G 1K0. Morris Funeral Home 204-746-2451 Toll Free 1-866-746-2451 www.morrisfuneralhome.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 12, 2011