Obituary of Phyllis Robertson

Phyllis Joan Robertson (nee Fletcher)

  May 29, 1923 – February 17, 2023

Phyllis was born on the family farm north of Hazenmore in the Cardiff District on May 29, 1923, the third of four daughters born to Ernest and Flora Fletcher. She took her first 10 grades at Cardiff School and then moved to Hazenmore for Grades 11/12. It was from Ernest and Flora that Phyllis’ extensive farming knowledge originated first hand, her love of gardening and tending flowers flourished, her training to sew, knit, cook, and clean began, and her piano and singing skills were honed. There was always music in the home as Ernest played piano, violin, and sang, and Flora also had a beautiful soprano voice.  Phyllis learned to play piano and sing alto and soprano with perfect pitch and harmonies. This gift would continue to bring her joy and comfort throughout her entire life.

Phyllis met John Alexander Robertson while she was attending high school in Hazenmore. Alex enlisted in World War ll, in 1941. He began his training, becoming a member of the precision drill squad, obtaining his wireless operator course, and bombing and gunnery course.  Alex returned home on leave and they married on the Dignan farm, February 2, 1943.  They moved to Edmonton, Alta., where Alex became a bombing and gunnery instructor at the No. 2 Air Observer School, and Phyllis worked in Tom Campbell’s Hat Shop. They had precious few months together enjoying dances and each others company, before Alex was sent to Pat Bay, Vancouver Island, for air-sea operations. They came home to Hazenmore for about ten days before Alex was sent overseas to England, on Dec. 14, 1943. Alex was in the RCAF squadron #433 of No. 6 Bomber group, serving as the Wireless Air Gunner in his 7-man crew.  Their first child, Donna Joan Robertson was born on July 15, 1944. Two weeks later Alex was shot down during a bombing raid over Kiel, Germany. It was a month before this young mother knew that her husband was alive and in prison camp. Alex would spend 10 months enduring POW camps and a 21-day death march, before escaping to the American side when the German officers left Luckenwalde Stalag lll A.

Alex’s return to civilization took some getting used to, but they never really dwelled on that, they got to the business of earning a living, raising a family, contributing to the community and enjoying the life they created. They opened Robertson’s General Store early in 1946, in Hazenmore, and ran it for 11 years. During this time, four more children were born; Delmar, Jean, John, Jim.  Alex and Phyllis purchased Isaac Lovely’s farm in 1951. They ran the store and farmed until 1957 when they closed the store and moved to the farm on July 15. Laura was born in 1960. They ran a successful mixed farming operation.  

They both were active in the Hazenmore and Kincaid communities over the years. Their recreation in Hazenmore was Saturday night dances (beautiful dancers they were), bridge club, and plays. The Pinto Creek Legion #224 was an integral part of their lives with both serving for many years on the board. Alex developed lung cancer and after a stroke in 1981, passed away in Kincaid Union Hospital on May 11.  Phyllis built a new home in Kincaid and moved to town in 1982. Phyllis’ capability and independence, involvement in the community, friends and family helped her make the difficult transition to life on her own.

Phyllis spent her life serving her family and her community. She was a very active member of the Pinto Creek Legion, United Church, UCW, Book Circle, Birthday Club, and Kincaid Arts Council.  She was energetic; always walking, a member of the exercise group, skiing for the first time at 65, curling into her 70’s, working the rink kitchen into her mid-80’s, square dancing, gardening, babysitting and running grandchildren, moving equipment, driving to see family, taking care of her mother, feeding her birds, and shovelling her driveway. Phyllis shared her many talents of sewing, quilting, knitting, painting, drawing, gardening, making corsages and bouquets, poetry, dancing, creating or acting in skits and plays, playing piano, organizing choirs, singing, cooking, and serving at various events within the communities.  She loved to create, laugh and have fun.

Phyllis attended most everything she could; whether it be a ball game, Maroons hockey game, dance/piano/voice recital, shower, community dance, arts council play or performance. She was fiercely proud of our small towns. Phyllis was able to enjoy a few trips to England, Hawaii, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand.

In January of 2017, Phyllis moved to Cypress House in Swift Current. It was hard for her to leave her beloved community but there were church services, musical shows, exercises, Remembrance Day Services, and family members visiting her regularly. She survived a broken hip, the loneliness that Covid brought to all nursing homes, and Covid itself. Music, singing, visiting family and laughing were what kept her going.  On February 17, 2023, Phyllis passed away peacefully with her children surrounding her, at 3 months shy of her 100th birthday. We thank the staff at Cypress House for becoming moms second family and taking such good care of “Grandma”.

Phyllis was predeceased by her parents, Flora and Ernest Fletcher; her husband J.A Robertson; her grandsons Deny Robertson and Kevin Knight; her sisters Grace Brown, Vivian Millar, and Joyce Jacobsen; her mother and father-in-law John and Nellie Robertson; all her sister and brother-in laws; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is survived by her 6 children; Donna (Ron) Johnson, Delmar (Georgina) Robertson, Jean (Perry) Langford, John Robertson (Trudy Friel), Jim (Ronda) Robertson, Laura (Grant) Loverin, daughter-in-law Debbie Robertson; 19 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren, 7 great great grandchildren.

A celebration of Phyllis’ life will be held at the Glencaid United Church in Kincaid, Sk., on Monday, April 10, at 1:00 pm.  Lunch and fellowship to follow at the SWT Ice Centre in Kincaid. Donations in memory of Phyllis can be made to; Pinto Creek Legion #224, Box 30, Kincaid, SK. S0H 2J0, or etransfer pintocreeklegion@gmail.com; Glencaid United Church care of Ruby Ross, Box 163, Kincaid, Sk. S0H 2J0.  The service will be Live Streamed. Instructions to register to view the service are available on Piche Hawkins Grondin Funeral Chapels Website on Phyllis’ page.