Obituaries

Evelyn Gorius (nee Tiefenbach) was born in the old farmhouse on the family farm north of Regina, Saskatchewan to Bill and Annie Tiefenbach; the last of four children. Her earliest memories involved playing with the various baby farm animals; feeding kittens with cleaned out glue bottles or cuddling with the ducklings and chicks being kept warm in flannel sheets by the old wooden stove in Annie’s kitchen.

Days were soon filled riding the family horse, Duke, to the one room school house, Saultamarie, in the Kennell District or riding in the cutter with her siblings in the wintertime letting herself fall off into the soft snow and then racing to jump back on before her brother, Willy, pretended to leave her behind. Recess was filled with games of softball, at which Evelyn excelled, sledding down snow drifts on a grain shovel or skating on the frozen slough.

Saturday night school dances in the area were often attended with her older brother, Elmer and no matter how late they arrived home, they were expected to be up and dressed and ready to attend Sunday morning church at Immanuel Lutheran riding along with the rest of the family as Bill showed off his beloved team of horses in their Scotch tops and coloured rings.

Romance blossomed when she met Delmar (Del) Gorius, a young teacher newly arrived from the Assiniboia area, and they married in 1952. Their son, Terry, soon arrived with a daughter, Kim, some years later. Those early years were filled with all the trials and tribulations of a young house wife honing her kitchen and baking skills in the various teacherages around the province as Evelyn supported Del while he built his career in the field of education. Many a failed cake or loaf of bread ended up buried in a nearby garden plot but Evelyn persevered and became known for her excellent cooking and baking as well as her gardening and knitting skills.

As the years went by, son Terry met and married Bev Bula and Evelyn had the opportunity to dote on her grandchildren, Brandy and Tanner, while they lived in Regina and Lumsden as babies, then as youngsters, and later as teens in Grand Forks, British Columbia. Kim also married, lived in Langdon, Alberta and another grandson, Adam, arrived. Evelyn adored all of her grandchildren and visited whenever vacation allowed her time away from her work at the Southland Safeway bakery.

Later in life, Evelyn resumed her love affair with horses when she and a Tennessee Walking Horse mare named Sally became an inseparable pair. They spent many long hours trail riding on the prairies and in the Alberta foothills. She always recounted the time spent with the horses, camping and riding as some of her best adventures. She was particularly fond of dogs and was blessed with two long time canine companions, a Shetland Sheepdog named Kiltie, followed by a Pomeranian named Meko whom she doted on for 15 years.

Evelyn endured many losses during her lifetime as so many family members were tragically lost far too soon. She did not speak of it often but when she did the grief was overwhelming and it was always apparent how much she loved and missed each one of them.

She was predeceased by her daughter-in-law Bev (1981), son Terry (1999), granddaughter Brandy (2001), grandson Tanner (2022), sister Edna (2009) (Bill Edgington), brother Willy (2013) (Lillian Brant) as well as partners later in life, Norman Pascal (1997) and Siegfried Baker (2013).

Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Kim, grandson Adam (Christina), brother Elmer Tiefenbach, and sister-in-law Eileen (Manz) along with nephews Carson, Clarence, Clark and Darryl Tiefenbach, Brian Edgington, niece Lyn Pastuch and their respective families.

Never one to draw attention to herself, Evelyn did not want a formal funeral service. She instead requested donations be made to local animal shelters where her love of animals could live on and help animals in need.

Lastly, an enormous thank you to so many involved in Mom’s care in 2023 including Pasqua Hospital, Wascana Rehabilitation Centre and recently Cupar (Shalom) & District Nursing Home. Along the way we were blessed with so many amazing professionals and volunteers both in and out of the SHA system and there is no end to our gratitude for your kindness and genuine care for our loved one.

“Auf wiedersehen Mutti!” We have been so blessed to have you in our lives and we will hold you in our hearts forever and ever.