Grace Livingstone

On March 16, 2022 Grace Livingstone (Crichton) of Swan River, passed away at the age of 93 years.

She is survived by four children, Jim Crichton (Lorraine) of Minitonas, Rosemary Crichton of Bowsman, Kathy Crichton of Winnipeg and Darlene Jackson of Winnipeg, five grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.

Mom was predeceased by her parents John and Rosa Lock, first husband Stewart Crichton, second husband Clair Livingstone, brothers Charles, Richard and Jim and sister Mary.

Mom was born on November 14, 1928 in Macklin, Saskatchewan.  She was one of five children born to John and Rosa Lock.  Mom travelled by train at age 18 to Bowsman to work as a cook in a logging camp.  She had many interesting stories to tell of her time in the logging camp and met many acquaintances who remained life long friends.   Mom left the logging life and became housekeeper to two bachelors, Stewart and Bob Crichton, on a farm outside of Minitonas.  Mom later married our dad, Stewart Crichton, and they raised 4 children on the farm.  After Dad passed away Mom carried on raising 4 children, managing the concession at the Valley Auction Mart and farming.  Some years later Mom married her second husband, Clair Livingstone.

Mom spent a lifetime volunteering in the Swan Valley.  She was a member of the Swan Valley Hospital Auxiliary for 70 years.  Mom began her time with the hospital auxiliary by taking her sewing machine to the hospital with a group of like-minded ladies to repair and mend hospital gowns and bedding.  Mom will be remembered for her homemade bread and fudge that graced every hospital auxiliary bake table for years.  Mom worked the hospital concession every Friday for years and was often out and about selling tickets to raise money for equipment at the hospital.  She got much of her visiting in while raising money for a cause she truly believed in.

Mom sat on the Swan Valley Hospital Board, partnered in a catering business, Country Kitchen Caterers, with 2 friends, Freda Fulford and Jean Niven.  Mom’s hobbies were quilting, sewing, knitting and walking.  Mom had the greenest thumb and was an avid gardener her whole life.  She belonged to the Minitonas Horticultural Society and could often be heard comparing the size of her carrots and tomatoes to every other gardener.  After moving into the West Side Lodge, Mom had her own garden and shared the bounty of her garden with the lunch program.

Mom was very social and made friends wherever she went and in the oddest places.  On her way to Calgary on a Grey Goose bus she struck up a conversation with the lady in the next seat who was going home to Regina.  They corresponded for years sharing recipes and stories.

In keeping with Grace’s wishes, cremation has taken place.  A come and go tea is planned for summer for friends and family to gather and share memories.

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