Doreen Maude Lumax

Doreen Maude Lumax

1927-2026

On November 26th, 2025, Doreen Maude passed peacefully in the night, in her own home, at the age of 98 years. August 14th, 1927, Doreen was born to George Ambrose Hunt and Maude Rose (Allen) in Swan River, MB. She was the eldest of 4 siblings. She was raised in the Little Woody district, west of Swan River. On October 31st, 1944, Doreen married William “Darrell” Garfield Lumax and took up residence on the Lumax family farm. They had 8 children, 22 grandchildren, 40 great-grand children, and 6 great-great grandchildren. In October of 2014 they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on the family farm – Green Valley Stock Farm.

Doreen was a farm wife who raised her 8 children with grace and strength. She cared for her family with a steady hand. She was grounded. Over the years, it didn’t matter what problem needed solved or what crisis was at hand, she was able to stay calm and guide others through it. “You deal with it now, and you can fall apart later.” She was not one to get flustered.

She was a wonderful cook and baker. She used to make 20 loaves of bread at a time. She fed the hired hands and guests without batting an eye. We can always put more potatoes in the pot, and bring up some pickles from her well-stocked cool room. There always seemed to be desserts or fresh ice cream on a blistering day. If there were extra guests at the table, she could have a chocolate cake whipped up and in the oven in minutes. She worked hard and took an interest in all that were seated around the worn down, grey, kitchen table, that gained a lean the last few years where Darrell sat.

The Green Valley Stock Farm started with a few animals and grew to many with Darrell at the head and Doreen by his side. They made a great team. She kept the breeding records of the horses and did the financial books too. Her record keeping was impeccable, and she could find data quickly. She was a walking telephone book. She knew the pedigree of almost all their registered stock by memory. In about 1980 she got a computer to do her bookkeeping on. (Businesses in town were starting to use computers, and her accountant encouraged her to do her books on the computer). She was not afraid to try new things.

Doreen loved working with Darrell and going to the ranch with him. She said it was their “alone time.” Darrell said she could run through the bush like a blue healer. She liked to know about the horses and cattle too. Doreen spent many days in her coveralls, working the gates of the sorting chutes with one hand and a clipboard in the other, taking notes called out from the vet, Gary Clapman or Darrell. Her books were brilliant. Clear and complete.

She loved to garden and nurture her plants in her plant room. She also loved her flowerbeds. Many of us spent hours picking berries with her. In one recipe book she documented what she preserved through canning and freezing that year. It was over 2000 jars and freezer bags.

Doreen’s father and brothers were very mechanically inclined, so it was no surprise that she was also very interested in all the machines that came and went on the farm. She was always looking out the door or window to see what was going past or through the yard. She lived through the birth of motorized equipment. She was very aware of what was happening in the day-to-day operations of the farm and could step in when needed.

One of the interesting things about Doreen, was that she was the first woman in the valley to get her pilot’s license. Darrell and Doreen both flew and bought a Piper Cub (2-seater) plane, enabling them to check on the cattle at Swan Lake without having to ride horseback all day.

Darrell and Doreen also hosted several exchange students over the years, through the Rotary Club where Darrell was an active member. They also enjoyed taking a team and wagon on trail rides with their friends and family. They enjoyed hosting 3-4 parties every year. Doreen loved to put on a big turkey dinner on all those occasions.

In her limited recreation time, she loved music and played the piano. She was a seamstress. Doreen volunteered as a 4-H leader of the horse club and sat on the Regional 4-H Council.

In her later years, when she had more leisure time, she always had a puzzle on the table. She spent hours in her rocking chair visiting with others and enjoying the Blue Jays games.

Darrell and Doreens family:

Reta Houle (Rick) (Fred Bednarski) predeceased of Swan River, Darin Bednarski (Heather), Shari Pasturshauk, Kerrie Dickson, Steve Bednarksi (Pam) and great- grandchildren: Taylor, Jacob, Dustin, Zack, Sydney, Savanna

Diane Sakal predeceased (Terry) of Swan River, Heather Steven, Bob Sakal (Stacey) and Dean Sakal and great-grandchildren: Randy, Robin, Caleb, Chelsea

James Lumax predeceased (Bev) of Swan River, Tammy Lumax, Don Lumax and Great-Grandchildren: McKenna, Kalli

Lyle Lumax (Carolyn) of Swan River, Jasmin Schultz (Ben), Cody Lumax (Courtney) and Great-Grandchildren: Victoria, Elise, Caleb

Winona Bielik (Brian) predeceased of Benito, Roselyn Jennison (David), Jocelyn Beehler (Scott), Gwendalyn Suffron (Ryan), Kristalyn Friesen (Tim) and Great-Grandchildren: Peter, Isabelle, Elizabeth, Hudson, Lexie, Burkley, Baylor, Blakely, Emmy

Myles Lumax (Ruth) of Westaskewin, AB, Norah McKay (Steven), Daniel and Great-Grandchildren: Clara, Henry

George Lumax (Rhoda) of Swan River, Stacey Hay (Luke), Travis Lumax (Jakki) and Great-Grandchildren: Channing, April, Laiton, Cole, Hunter, Spencer, Aislinn

Lori Lumax (Jerry) of Kamsack, SK, Justin Lumax (Lilei), Katelyn Lumax, Patrick Lumax (Katlyn) and Great-Grandchildren: Alexis, Brinnley, Kian, Abigail, Westley, Ivy

Doreen was predeceased by her husband Darrell Lumax, her parents George Hunt Sr. And Maude Hunt, sister Mildred Gabrielle (Louis) and brothers George Jr. (Beth) and Bill (Jeanette).

If friends so desire, memorial donations in memory of Doreen may be made to Community Foundation of Swan Valley Box 1509 Swan River, MB R0L 1Z0.