MURIEL ROBERTA LEVANT (LOUTIT)

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MURIEL ROBERTA LEVANT (nee LOUTIT) Muriel Roberta Loutit was born in Selkirk, Manitoba, on January 15, 1916, daughter of Peter Robert and Margaretta Grant Loutit. She died in Washington, DC, on May 8,2000, leaving a daughter, Mary Ann; and five sisters, Anne, Isobel, and Ruth Loutit, all of Winnipeg, Patricia (Crookes) of Edmonton, Alberta, and Marvel (Sadler) of Calgary, Alberta, as well as many loving nieces and nephews. Roberta was predeceased by Milton, her husband of eighteen years, and by her brother John, who died in 1974. After her early childhood spent in Selkirk, with many enjoyable summers on Aunt Jennys farm, the family moved to Winnipeg, where she completed her schooling and attended Normal School, then taught in Cameron School near Minnedosa and Emesville near Winnipeg, taking active part in community activities. When war erupted she joined the war effort, working for the RAF in Dayton, Ohio, before joining the French Purchasing Mission in Washington DC, where she met Milton Levant. They were married on November 20, 1946, and the following year, on December 2, Mary Ann was born. They settled into a home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, where Berta happily spent the rest of her life with Milton (who died in 1964) and Mary Ann, who is married to Reg Hahne. Berta continued to work for a few years after Mary Ann was born, then spent some good years with her at home before obtaining her Masters degree in Library Science at Catholic University. One of the amusing and interesting events of this period is that when she made the Deans List, the information was sent to her father here in Winnipeg. From the time graduation until retirement she worked as a librarian in the Montgomery County, Maryland school system, enjoying her interaction with children from which she and they both gained much. Berta had a good life in spite of health problems. She enjoyed her home, her work, and her visits with family and friends near and far. She especially enjoyed her visits with her friend of 64 years, Gerry Thompson of High Bluff, Manitoba. A ceremony of remembrance will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, at Little Britain United Church, the old Presbyterian Church which great-grandfather and grandfather Loutit helped to build. Loutits, 943-9490 or 942-5904

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 13, 2000