Helen Peters

Helen was born on July 4, 1926, at Hague, Saskatchewan.

Around 1932-33, the family moved to Petaigan, Saskatchewan to up a homestead twelve miles north of Carrot River. At the time, Helen was approximately 7 years old. She attended school with her older brothers, Walter and Clarence who were nine and eleven.

Helen related this memory from homestead days:

“I remember our move from Carrot River to the homestead in a big wagon. There was an old car seat, more like a couch. Our family consisted of Mom, Dad, Clarence, Walter, myself, Mary, Laura and Gilbert. Our ginger-coloured cat was with us, as well as pots and pans, and our uncle’s two ducks. At some places the water was so deep that it came into the wagon box, and the ducks could swim.

At one point we stopped to have lunch. Our trail was through the bush, and that’s where our cat jumped out of the wagon and ran into the bush. I was six or seven and we could not find her. Finally, Dad said we would just have to go on without her. For the rest of the journey, and a long time afterwards, I grieved over the loss of my cat.

Another vivid memory stands out above all others – the day our Dad knelt by the radio, confessing his sins to God, and accepting God’s plan of salvation. The year was about 1937 and Rev. Oscar Lowry was holding a two-week evangelistic campaign by radio. Dad had been listening to this evangelist for quite a few evenings when he encouraged us girls to get the dishes done quickly, so that we could gather round the Stuart Warner radio as a family. When Dad wept and got down on his knees, we kids didn’t really know what was happening, but it wasn’t very long before we knew what had happened because our Dad had become a new man in Christ Jesus. The next day Dad got the Bible of out of the old trunk and read it at the breakfast table. He did this every day, explaining to us what it meant. We all saw the change, as did his friends and neighbours.”

Work on the homestead was difficult for everyone, and they all did their share of the work. Being the oldest girl in the family meant extra responsibilities.

When she was old enough, Helen attended Two Rivers Bible Institute in Nipawin, and graduated on April 18, 1952. Their annual retreat was a highlight of her year until she was ninety years old.

Years passed and the family moved to the Altona area, four miles west of Osler, Saskatchewan. Helen began working in the Warman Hospital for Dr. Wilkin. Later, she took her nurse’s training at Balcarres, Saskatchewan.

Helen knew that she was called to be a missionary, even if it meant breaking off the relationship with a young man she was very fond of. After much preparation and raising funds to support her for the next five years. In the winter of 1956, she left for Africa. The snow was very deep on the farm, and Dad took her to the train station in Osler by horse and sleigh. Mom and Dad and Helen had spent months packing 45-gallon drums for the sea voyage, because she had to purchase and pack items to last five years.

In 1956 she began her mission work at a Leprosy Colony in Norther Rhodesia, which later became Zambia. In the meantime, Mom founded a Pillars at Home and Abroad, a ladies auxiliary made up mainly of family. Our monthly meetings were spent preparing rolls of white bandages to be sent to Helen for her work among the lepers. Monthly quilting bees and quilt raffles were held to support for her work.

Helen had learned to type, and this was a great communication with family, friends, and supporters. She wrote regularly and sent postcards to her many nieces and nephews. In her 80’s, already retired, she mastered the computer and email.

She spent 35 years in Zambia, in various locations, working in hospitals as well as teaching women and working in the church. She travelled by bicycle, then by motorcycle, and eventually she acquired a truck which made her work in the villages so much easier. When she moved to Lusaka, her home became a stopping place for missionaries from outlying areas. She was a good cook with a gift for hospitality, and her fruit garden provided ample supply of delicious fruit.

After she retired in 1991 and made her home in Saskatoon, she raised funds for orphans and made several trips to Namibia to oversee the distribution of funds.

In her retirement at Bethany Manor, she loved baking pies and peppernuts, and was affectionately known by many as the Queen of Peppernuts, always having an ample supply to give to friends and loved ones. Each year she took part in the Bake Sale at Bethany with dozens of pies, homemade bread and of course, peppernuts. Her product sold quickly.

For her 90^th birthday, several of her younger siblings and their spouses hosted a huge birthday party for her with friends and family coming from far and wide. That was probably the last time she would see many of them, as in the years that followed, Alzheimer’s began to invade her life. Having to sell her car and give up her independence was a very difficult decision for her.

In February 2021, she left Bethany Manor and moved into a care home where she deteriorated quite rapidly. In September of that year, she moved to Warman Mennonite Special Care Home where she resided until her passing. We are thankful for the wonderful, compassionate care she received there.ome Ho

On many visits, she would express her desire to go to heaven. On Tuesday, December 12, 2023, while singing Amazing Grace with her caregiver, she had a sudden seizure. When it subsided, they realized she had a stroke and was unresponsive. Her brother Ron and wife Lydia were with her when she moved to her heavenly home. Helen reached the age of 97 years.

Helen was predeceased by her parents, Peter B. and Agnes Peters, siblings Clarence, Walter, Gilbert, Clifford, Robert, Edna, Norma as well as sisters-in-law, Tena Peters (C), Tena Peters (W), Anne Peters, and brothers-in-law Bill Insull, Marcel Tetrault, Henry Wiebe and George Funk.

Helen is survived by siblings Mary, Laura, Ila, Melvin (Leona), Ruth (Neil), Ronald (Lydia), Leona, Leonard (Susan), and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Viewing will be held between the hours of 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM at Martens Warman Funeral Home on Sunday, December 17, 2023. Funeral service will be held at 1:30 PM on Monday, December 18, 2023, in Martens Warman Funeral Home, 402 Central Street West, Warman.

Helen's service will be available via Livestream at https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/83533

Interment will take place at the Haven of Rest Cemetery at Neuhorst, Saskatchewan.

For charitable donations in honour of Helen, we chose Nipawin Bible College, which used to be known as Two Rivers Bible Institute. This is where Helen attended.

Nipawin Bible College

Box 1986, Nipawin, SK S0E 1E0

www.nipawin.org

(306) 862-5095

Martens Warman Funeral Home is honoured to be entrusted with the care and arrangements of Helen Peters.