MARGARET BERENICE JOHNSTON

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MARGARET BERENICE JOHNSTON Margaret Berenice Johnston (Scott) passed away at Riverview Health Center in Winnipeg after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Berenice is survived by her sons, Dennis (Dawn Marie) Johnston and Dale (Wendy) Johnston; and her daughters, Darlene Wilkinson and Dawn Johnston. Also left to mourn are her grandchildren, Jeremy (Stacey) Wilkinson, Krista Wilkinson (Mitch Dion), Carmen Wilkinson (Trent Galvin), Renee Wilkinson, Scott Johnston, Cristin (Justin) Chudyk, Michelle (Ryan) French, Keith Kreutzer, Tara Kreutzer, Brendan Johnston, Laura Johnston; as well as six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters, Eleanor Redfern, Carol (Howard) Harris; and brothers, Ord (Florence) Scott and Telfer (Dorothy) Scott; sisters-in-law, Lorraine Holland and Audrey Johnston and brother-in-law Barry (Erva) Johnston. There are many nieces and nephews. Berenice was predeceased by her husband Norris Johnston; parents, Ad and Juanita Scott; half-brother Albert Gordon and his wife Emily; brothers-in-law, Henry Redfern, Bill Holland and Ross Johnston; and sons-in-law, Lynn Wilkinson and Keith Kreutzer. Mom was born at Maple Hill Farm in the Sandhurst district, south of Oak Lake on August 18, 1921. After attending Normal School in Brandon, she married Norris Johnston on December 25, 1943. Following the war, Berenice and Norris began farming on the southwest corner of 16-10-24. Berenice returned to the teaching world she loved so much in 1957 and taught at Hagyard, Ryerson, Assiniboine and Oak Lake Junior High. She moved to Brandon following retirement and to Winnipeg in 1995. Though she battled cancer through all her retirement years, she continued to live life fully. Family occasions were highlights for her and her family have special memories associated with those celebrations. Needlepoint was a hobby she took up when confined by her illness and she managed to complete a tablecloth for Cristin and Justins wedding this past August. Her final weeks were spent at Riverview Health Center, where staff described her as a caring, loving and unselfish Bar-on-ess. Their devotion to our mother and the special care they provided to her during the most difficult of times helped us stay strong for her. The funeral service will be held at the Oak Lake United Church on Monday, April 15, (today) at 2:00 p.m.. with Pam Dean officiating. Interment will follow in the family plot in the Johnston cemetery. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Manitoba Division, 193 Sherbrook St., Winnipeg, MB, R3C 2B7. Arrangements are with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 15, 2002