Henning, Olena 鈥� Olena Henning passed away on Wednesday, September 14, 2016. A Celebration of Olena鈥檚 Life was held Saturday, September 17, 2016 at the Cut Knife Community Centre in Cut Knife, Sask. with Rev. Grant Wasmuth officiating. Looking after the guest book were Kay Atton and Alice Rutley. Pallbearers were Denis Magnuson, Martin Magnuson, Robert Svoboda, Leonard Sigstad, Vance Rendle and Jeffrey Svoboda; Honorary Pallbearers were 鈥淎ll those who shared in Olena鈥檚 life.鈥� Following the interment in the Cut Knife Cemetery, the ladies of the Cut Knife Royal Purple provided a lunch for friends and family. Memorial Donations can be made to the Cut Knife Special Care Home (memo on cheque: Cut Knife Complex only) Glassford鈥檚 Funeral Home were entrusted with the arrangements. Olena is survived by her husband Walter and her three children: Jean Hewson(Larry) and their children Dayton and Ashton (Kendra); Wes (Colleen) and Arnie. Also by her brother Lynn Magnuson (Marie), her sister Gloria Rendle (Wayne) and nephews Trevor and Vance Rendle. Olga is predeceased by her parents Mildred and Henry Magnuson, her in-laws Olga and Arno Henning and by her grandson Bradley Hewson. Olena was born May 11, 1936 at St. Walburg. She grew up on the family farm with brother Lynn and sister Gloria. Olena contributed greatly to the day-to-day routine. She helped her dad do chores like tending to the livestock 鈥� in particular the horses. She had a great love for them and owned her own as a teenager. One of her favourites was a buckskin named Jewel that she still had as a young bride. In 1958, Olena met and married Walter Henning from Paynton. This was the start of a special relationship lasting 58 years. They lived in Paynton until 1963, when they moved to St. Walburg. Three children were born during these years: Jean in 1959, Wes in 1962 and Arnie in 1964. In the spring of 1965 they moved to Cut Knife where Walter was employed by Novak Construction. In 1972, they purchased the Wilbert Pool House. In 1973, Olena began driving school bus in the Cut Knife area. Walter took a job with the Cut Knife RM in 1974 as a grader operator. The family was involved in 4-H and school sports. In later years Olena enjoyed going to her grandsons鈥� sports events and 4-H. Olena seldom missed a 4-H Achievement Day or a Colts hockey game when grandson Ashton was playing. Dayton remembers many fishing trips to catch the 鈥渂ig one鈥�. Grandma always seemed to be the one with it on her line. He also remembers grandma getting quite angry when he was told to put away the fishing hooks from the seat of the boat, only to have Ashton sit on it a few moments later, causing an emergency trip to the hospital to have the hook removed! In 2001, Olena retired from driving the 鈥淏ig Yellow School Bus鈥� after 30 years! She taught herself to use the computer but sometimes drove her grandsons crazy with questions about how she did this or that on it! She loved doing crafts, cross-stitching, painting and ceramics. Olena gardened and loved her flowers 鈥� she took many photos of them and shared them on the computer with everyone. In retirement years Olena and Walter continued to go fishing in their motor home with one or more grandsons and a cat or two. Olena loved to go to Cut Knife for afternoon coffee and the odd card game with the ladies and Russell. They also enjoyed celebrating each other鈥檚 birthdays with a cake and a bit of wine! Olena was a kind mother, grandmother, sister and aunt who kept in touch with relatives at a distance through frequent phone calls and through Face book. Her care for her family extended to all family members. Her son Wes鈥檚 wife, Colleen, recalls that after her own parents died, when Colleen was still quite new to the family, telling Walter and Olena they were the only parents she had now. Olena responded warmly then and for all the years after, phoning Colleen regularly just to chat, texting with her, taking an interest in Colleen鈥檚 grandchildren and in every way possible showing motherly love to her 鈥� because that was who Olena was. She thought of others and put them before herself. We will miss our times together particularly at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Birthdays. Rest in Peace and we will see you again.
