Helen WickenhauserAugust 3, 1928 - February 6, 2011The death of Mrs. Helen (nee Miskuski) Wickenhauser of Evergreen Country Home, LeRoy, (and formerly of Watson), occurred at Humboldt District Hospital, Humboldt, on Sunday, February 6, 2011. She was 82 years of age. Helen was born on August 3, 1928, to August and Alice (nee Elkow) Miskuski at Clair, SK. Her father was employed as a farm labourer, so the family moved to various areas in the province. Helen attended Greenside Rural School near St. Gregor for the first six years of her elementary education and then continued her schooling at Reigate, near McKague. In 1941, the Miskuski family moved to Vancouver, BC. Helen completed her formal education there, then joined the workforce. She was employed as a waitress at White Lunch, and as a labourer at The American Can Company and at a suitcase factory. During that time, Helen met Leander Wickenhauser who was also from the prairies. On May 21, 1947, they were married in Vancouver. They continued to work and reside there until 1950, when they returned to Saskatchewan and settled on a farm in the Romance district, near LeRoy. As well as grain farming, Helen and Leander supplemented their farm income by selling chickens and cream, and Helen was very much involved in doing chores and anything else that was required to help run the mixed-farm operation. That effort made them quite self-sufficient, with little need to buy very much. In 1965, due to Leander's failing health, he and Helen semi-retired from farming. They both worked at various places in Watson. Helen was employed as a waitress at the B & W, now known as TC's. She also took a cooking course in Moose Jaw and attained her Journeyman Diploma in the cooking trade. Helen continued working in the cooking and management field at TC's for 25 years. She and Leander both fully retired in 1993, which allowed more time to spend with their family, fishing and relaxing at their lakeside cabin and, of course, snowmobiling. They put innumerable miles on their snowmobiles and took part in many poker rallies, accumulating a total of 35 trophies. Many more pleasurable hours were spent doing crafts and going to craft shows all over the country. Helen will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her three children, six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren: Dennis Wickenhauser of Watson and family, Kristi Wickenhauser (Everett) of Saskatoon and children Jordyne and Victoria, and Blaine Wickenhauser of Turtleford; Darlene (Jim) Vetter of Minot, ND, and family, Tenelle Vetter (Dan) of Minot and children Kaidan and Caleb; and Jayne (Wayne) Mierke of LeRoy and family, Michael (Joline) Mierke of Airdrie, AB, and children Hannah, Brooke, Ava and Hayden, Lee Mierke of Saskatoon, and Amy Mierke of LeRoy and children Jonah and Presley; three sisters: Margaret Sullivan of Nanaimo, BC; Adeline Gilfillan of Burnaby, BC; and Evelyn McIntosh of Meadow Lake; and by numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Leander Wickenhauser (2002); parents, August and Alice (nee Elkow) Miskuski; and by four brothers: Ernest, Herbert, Lawrence and Robert Miskuski. The Funeral Mass was offered at Sacred Heart R.C. Church, Watson, on Saturday, February 12 at 2:00 p.m., celebrated by Fr. Demetrius Wasylyniuk, OSB. Others taking part were: Dianna Knaus, eulogist; Darrell Wickenhauser, cross bearer; Dianna Knaus and Bev Thoen, scripture readers; Bev Thoen, intentions; Luke Wickenhauser, music ministry; Tenelle Vetter, Kristi and Jordyne Wickenhauser, gift bearers; James Vetter, urn bearer. Interment followed at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery. Memorial donations may be directed to either the Humboldt District Hospital Education Endowment Fund or the Humboldt District Hospital Palliative Care Fund. SCHULER-LEFEBVRE, Humboldt, SK.
