Emma DELMAGE

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DELMAGE: Emma Ruth (Kirby) Delmage, September 6th, 1923-December 15th, 2017. In the small village of Sedgeford Kings Lynn County, Norflok, England, Emma Ruth Kirby was born on the 6th day of September, 1923. Ruth was the third child of seven, born to Alfred and Edith Kirby (nee Framingham). Ruth’s two older brothers: John (May) and William, her three younger sisters: Edna (Albert), Pamela (Cecil) and Phyllis (Ray) and one younger brother, Fred (Jennifer). Ruth’s childhood was filled with lots of love and laughter but also lots of hard work. One of her favourite times was going with her mother to the lavender fields. Going to church was a very important part of her family’s life. Some of the special outings for the family was going to the beach at Heacham or going to the seaside with Aunt Ethel. Ruth started school at the age of five years and completed her schooling at the age of fourteen, with an equivalency of a Canadian Grade 12. She worked at a guest house in Huntstanton, however, in 1939 a number of those guest houses were being commandeered for the troops which were coming into Britain for training. Out of a job, Ruth then went working on farms around the area. In the autumn of 1939, Britain was immediately plunged into preparing for war. At the age of seventeen years, as the young men were sent to war, the young women were asked to work in the factories or on the farms. Ruth chose to work on the farm. At the age of eighteen, she enlisted in the Women’s Land Army where she worked on the farms, in greenhouses and in the hay fields. While working at a greenhouse in Epping Forest, she witnessed the bombing on London. In September of 1943, Ruth was working at a dairy farm in the Hunstanton area. It was Saturday, September 26th, 1943, a day, unknown to Ruth that would change her life forever. On this day, as she rode her bicycle around the corner, she accidentally (and literally) ran into Staff Sergeant, Ernest Charles Delmage. That evening they met at a dance in the local hall and ten days later they decided to marry. I guess you could say it was “love at first sight”. Ruth and Ernie were married January 8th, 1944 in St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church in the village of her birth. That same year, Ruth resigned her commission in the Women’s Land Army because on October 24th, 1944, their son, Raymond Keith was born. Keith was four and a half months old when Ernie first saw him on leave after D-Day. Ernie was repatriated in January 1946 and on May 15th of the same year, Ruth and Keith followed embarking on their journey to Canada on the ocean liner, the Aquitania, used as a troop ship. Six days later, Ruth and Keith arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia at Pier 21. The next day they boarded the train for the three day journey to Winnipeg. She was met by Ernie and his family at the train station in Winnipeg. Later on that day, the young family left Winnipeg on a Greyhound bus for Minnedosa. Ruth was welcomed with open arms by the people of the Cameron District and her soon-to-be second Mom, Alice Delmage. She did not return to her England home and family until 1964 after an 18 year absence. In 1947 Janis Elaine was born, followed by Pamela Lynn in 1951 and Valerie Ruth in 1952. Ruth became very active in her adopted home in Canada, working on the farm alongside Ernie. Families like the Gugins, the Abels and the Flecks from the Cameron community helped to make the transition to farm and Canadian life much easier. Ruth became involved in the Cameron Community Club (CCC), was a 4-H leader of the Gardening Club and a leader of the Sewing Club. She was a member of the Wandah Rebecca Lodge, the Eastern Star, the Cameron United Church and the Minnedosa United Church and was actively involved with the Fun Fest Committee. Ruth was chosen as the 2013 Honourary Parade Marshal, in recognition of her longtime community involvement. She was also a lifetime member of the Minnedosa Legion Ladies Auxiliary and a veteran of the Royal Canadian Legion – General Hugh Dyer Branch #138. Her greatest passion was as Treasurer for the Manitoba War Brides Association until its dissolution in 2006. Her working life included working in the militia in Minnedosa, in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (C.W.A.C.) in the administration office, driving the school van and in 1963 started working as a teller at the Minnedosa Credit Union, She retired as Office Manager in 1988 after 25 years. In 1965 Ernie, Ruth and family sold the family farm and moved to Minnedosa where they purchased a house on the northeast corner of town. They remained there until May of 2008 when they moved to the Sparrow’s apartment complex. Before and after retirement, Ernie and Ruth enjoyed summers at Ditch Lake, North of Erickson and spending their winter months in Victoria, BC. They travelled back to England several times as well as to other European countries. Ruth and Ernie enjoyed being a part of weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and family fun weekends. They celebrated their 65th Anniversary during Christmas so family members could attend. However, Ernie passed away on January 4th, 2009, four days shy of their actual wedding anniversary date of January 8th. In October of 2014 Ruth moved to the Minnedosa Personal Care Facility where she lived until her passing on Friday, December 15th, 2017 surrounded by family members. Ruth is predeceased by her parents, her husband, Ernie, three brothers: John, William, Fred, one sister, Phyllis and son-in-law, Norman. Left to survive are her two sisters, Edna (Albert) and Pamela (Cecil), and many nieces and nephews. Children: Son Keith (Joanne), daughters Janis, Pamela (Ken) and Valerie (Earl). Ruth is also survived by 8 grandchildren: Angela (Gary), Tracy (Kevin), David, Wendy (Greg), Coleen (Lesley), Koreen (Terrace), Jennifer, Whitney (Paul), eleven great grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Ryan Matthew, Myles, Dane, Connor, Brandon, Dylan, Erica, Maya and Ella and two great great grandchildren: Rylan and Jayden. Minnedosa Funeral Servicein care of arrangementsMessages of condolencemay be placed online at www.minnedosafs.ca

As published in Brandon Sun on Dec 23, 2017