Obituary of Bella McKee

Bella Sara McKee of Mossbank passed away on July 23, 2014 at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital. Bella was born on November 15, 1930 in the Old Wives district to Harry and Ethel (Hartley) Middleton. She received her schooling at Old Wives and went on to work in Courval at the General Store for Walter & Phyllis Meili. In 1949 Bella married Eugene McKee and they farmed in the Rodgers district south of Courval. In those early years they farmed with Eugene's parents, Archie and Blanche and later with their son Lawrence. Their days were busy with farm chores, big gardens and raising their three children. In 1994 Bella and Eugene retired from the farm to Mossbank. Bella was proud to celebrate the McKee Century Farm with her family in 2012. Quilting, embroidery, gardening and coffee row friends were a few of Mom's passions. We often joked about how she would be on the ready in her garden, with hoe in hand, just daring a weed to emerge. She was very generous and always shared her garden bounty, tasty baked goods and those treasured hand stitched quilts. FAMILY was Bella's priority #1 and we were blessed to have her live close by as we raised our families. Grandma Bella and Grandpa Jeano always loved to have the grandkids come visit. She rarely missed sporting events that her grandchildren and great grandchildren were involved in. She was an avid fan and will be missed in her seat on the bleachers at the Mossbank Rink. Marion Williams and Bella have been lifelong friends and you seldom saw one without the other. Marion was like a sister to Mom and will always be a special part of our family. Bella is survived and dearly missed by her loving family, son Lawrence (Marilyn) McKee, grandson Chris (Jill) McKee, great grandsons Cody, Chase, granddaughter Carla (Derek) Nyhus, great grandchildren Parker, Kate; daughter Sandra (Robert) Duckworth, grandson Chad (Candlle) Duckworth, granddaughter Christie (Jonathan) Johnston, great grandsons Casey, Tucker, Bo; daughter Darlene (David) Letnes, grandson Jason (Katie) Letnes, great grandsons Nathan, Carter, granddaughter Jamie Letnes, granddaughter Lisa Letnes (Dustin Pettypiece), great granddaughters Jorja, Jordan, Aly; sister Irene Sapergia; numerous nieces and nephews; and Mom's very special friend Marion Williams. Great Grandma Bella was very eager to meet two more new great grand babes arriving this fall. Bella was predeceased by her husband Eugene McKee (1998); parents Harry and Ethel (nee Hartley) Middleton; brothers Jim (Evabelle) Middleton, Bill (Dorothy) Middleton; sister Mary (Ted) Wirges; brother-in-law George Sapergia; father and mother-in-law Archie and Blanche McKee. The funeral service and celebration of Bella's life was held on Monday, July 28, 2014 at the Cornerstone Gospel Church in Mossbank with Wendy Gibson, DLMr and Pastor Marty Johnson officiating. Chris Faris was the organist and ushers were Doug Hutchinson, Wes Hutchinson and Donald Sandbeck. Jamie Letnes (granddaughter) delivered a touching eulogy that was written by all of Bella's grandchildren. Carla Nyhus (granddaughter) shared a fitting verse about the family tree. The pallbearers were Bella's six grandsons, Jason Letnes, Chris McKee, Chad Duckworth, Dustin Pettypiece, Derek Nyhus and Jonathan Johnston. Following the service was a private family Interment at the Mossbank Cemetery followed by a social time with a delicious lunch organized by the Cornerstone Ladies. Memorial Tributes in memory of Bella may be made to the Mossbank Centennial Arena or the Mossbank 50 Plus Club. As we said goodbye to our Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma BELLA McKEE our caring communities made the load a bit lighter with all of the expressions of sympathy that embraced us as we mourned her passing. HUGE THANK YOU for the many cards, phone calls, emails and text messages, as well as the beautiful flowers, delicious trays of food, meals provided, the countless offers of help and especially the warm hugs. A sincere thank you to Norm Erb for your assistance and advice and to the Cornerstone Gospel Church family for sharing your chapel and hall for the funeral celebration of Mom's life. Many thanks to the Cornerstone Ladies for organizing the delicious lunch. Wendy Gibson, DLMr and Pastor Marty Johnson, we appreciated your spiritual leadership and officiating at the service. Thank you to the organist Chris Faris and the ushers Doug Hutchinson, Wes Hutchinson and Donald Sandbeck. Our sincere gratitude for the compassionate and professional guidance from Renee Lethbridge and her colleagues of Piche-Hawkins-Grondin Funeral Chapels. Thank you for all of the memorial tributes that were made to the Mossbank Centennial Arena and the Mossbank 50 Plus Club. We were deeply touched by all that came from near and far to help us celebrate Mom's life. God Bless & Thank You Lawrence & Marilyn McKee Sandra & Robert Duckworth Darlene & David Letnes and families