Nellie (Nell) Archer

Nellie (Nell) Archer

(nee Bogoslowski)

April 4, 1936 – August 8, 2025

                Nell was the youngest of eleven children born to Joseph and Mary Bogoslowski on the family farm in the Grifton District, north of Grandview. At the age of four, Nell and her family moved to Dauphin, where she attended Whitmore, Smith Jackson and McKenzie High School.

                One of Nell’s favourite hangouts was the Rex Café, where she met Wes and spent many nickels playing “He’s A Slowpoke” on the jukebox while waiting for him. The summer of Nell’s grade nine year took her and her friend on an adventure to Clear Lake, where they were both hired on for the summer at the Wigwam Café in Wasgaming. After earning a wage for the summer, Nell decided not to go back to school. That fall, she returned to Dauphin, where she started working at the Elite Café.

                On October 2, 1953, Nell Married her sweetheart Wes. They were married for 70 years prior to his passing on April 11, 2024. Nell continued working at the Elite Café during the weekdays only so that she and Wes could spend the weekends together.

                On November 24, 1955, their first daughter Sharon was born. Nell loved being a stay-at-home Mom! She loved children. In the spring of 1959, they moved to Swan River as Wes had accepted a position there with Hydro. On May 26, 1959, Nell and Wes’ second daughter Beverley, was born. Their family was now complete. In the summer of 1969, they moved to Minitonas, where Wes manned the Hydro station.

                Nell enjoyed gardening and loved her flowers especially red geraniums. She loved dancing with Wes as they would glide across the dance floor, never missing a step. Nell would always be singing as she tidied the house and even taught her girls some of her favourite songs. Nell’s friends and family would quite often ask her to read their tea leaves or cards. This was passed down to her by her mother. Nell liked to see her girls and their friends playing and having fun in the front yard, where she could keep an eye on them and make sure everyone was safe. On Fridays, Nell would divide her pennies so that each child could get a treat from Conrad’s. Nell liked baking, especially apple pie for Wes and birthday cakes for her girls. Bev’s favourite cake was a butterfly.

                Nell loved all the holidays and decorated the house (with Wes’ help) for each one. Next to Christmas, Halloween was her next favourite. She loved to see all the little ones dressed in their costumes and gave each one a special goody bag. One year, she had 68 children come and some of their parents. Everyone got a treat! Nell also liked playing cards and taught her girls and grandchildren many games. She was overjoyed when each of her grandchildren were born. She loved to play games with them, teach them nursery rhymes or rock them to sleep. As the grandchildren grew, Nell enjoyed camping with them, just as she had done with Wes and their girls when they were small. Over the years Nell ate a lot of burnt marshmallows and told the kids that they were just right! Nell and Wes took some of the grandkids on special trips, which they treasured.

                Nell was a wonderful Mother and a Grandmother with a heart of gold. Due to the onset of dementia, Nell had resided at the Swan River Valley Personal Care Home since August of 2019.

                Nell was predeceased by her husband Wes on April 11, 2024; her parents Joseph and Mary Bogoslowski; her in-laws Alvin and Mary Archer; an infant sister also named Nellie; her twin sister Irene at the age of three; her older sisters- Annie(Steve Robak), Katrina(Clarence Speers) and Olive(Charlie); her brothers- Frank, Walter, Nicholas(Sophie), Steve(Dina) and Johnny(Verna). All her in-laws on Wes’ side and a few nieces and nephews.

                Left to cherish Nell’s memory are her daughters Sharon(Bill Cocks) and Beverley (Doug Alford); her grandchildren- Tracy(Dane) and Kylie; Clinton(Nancy), Addison, Sadie, Harper and Devyn; Jackie(Brian), Zack and Dylan; Stephanie(Jay), Kinsley and Hailey; Darren(Alice) and Ben; Ryan(Ashley), Kaycee and Harlynn; Trenton(Leah), Nicholas and Natalie.