STRUCK: Samantha Stacey Elizabeth (Backes)
March 15, 1990 - July 5, 2013
It is with broken hearts that the family of Samantha Stacey Elizabeth (Backes) Struck of Pilger, SK, announces her sudden and unexpected death on Friday, July 5, 2013, at Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, SK. She was 23 years of age. Her young life was shortened by a life-long battle with diabetes and, recently, with asthma. Sam, as she was often called, was born to Sherry-Lynn Backes and Jim Frey on March 15, 1990, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Humboldt, SK. Samantha was a loving, fun little girl. She loved life, her family and friends, and always had a smile or hug for everyone she met. Samantha attended Humboldt Public School, then went on to Humboldt Collegiate Institute and graduated in 2009. A very talented and creative person, she accomplished much in her young life. Samantha pursued her interest in dancing and was a student at Jacquies Dance Academy for a year and at DK Dance Visions for four years. She also enjoyed crafts, reading, baking, and lately tried her hand at sewing. Over the years, Samantha attended diabetes camps at Camp Easter Seal near Watrous. There, she worked with the Council for Disabled Kids in the summer months, which she was very good at and found so rewarding. In June 2010, Samantha met Justin Struck and they were married on June 29, 2013, just six days before Samantha's premature death. They were blessed with two daughters, Tianna Rose Lynn on November 19, 2010, and Jessica Lee Marie on February 6, 2013. Children were always one of Samantha's greatest passions, so that made her a very special and loving mom. "Samantha, you may be gone from our sight, but never our memories. You may be gone from our touch, but never from our hearts. May your spirit continue to soar". Samantha will always be remembered and loved by her husband, Justin Struck; daughters, Tianna and Jessica; step-daughter, Cassidy; mother, Sherry-Lynn (Backes) Taphorn; step-father, John "Jay" Taphorn, Jr.; brother, Cole Taphorn; father, Jim Frey; step-mother, Helen (Patzwald) Frey; step-brother, Gabriel Frey; step-sisters, Angel and Catherine Frey; grandparents, Arnold and Marianne Backes; Maggie and John Kaminski, Irwin Frey; Tianna's grandparents, Richard and Monique Matice; parents-in-law, Eldon and Naomi (Klashinsky) Struck; sister-in-law, Amanda (Tyler) Masse; brother-in-law, Chris Struck; a very special cousin, Nicholas "Nicky" Harley Backes; and numerous aunts, uncles, and other cousins. She was predeceased by her uncle, Quinton Backes; and by numerous relatives of the Backes, Frey, Taphorn and Struck families. The Celebration of Life for Samantha was held on Friday, July 12, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall, Main St. S. (Hwy. 20), Humboldt, officiated by Rev. Kevin Sawatsky. Others taking part were: Sherry-Lynn Taphorn and Jim Frey, urnbearers; Amanda Masse and Jolene Kovach, scripture readers; Jay Taphorn, Richard Mattice, Amy Klitch-Fischer and Kendra Arnold Seymour, tributes; Samantha Klitch, Samantha Fredericks, Tabitha Wegleitner, and Kelci Aschenbrenner, memorial table attendants. Interment followed at St. Augustine R.C. Cemetery, Humboldt. Memorial donations may be directed to either a Memorial Fund for Samantha's children (for income tax purposes, cheques may be made out to LifePoint Pentecostal Church) or a Benefit Fund for the Justin Struck Family (through Viterra, c/o the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce). Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel, Humboldt, SK.
