Reta Doreen Houle

Reta Doreen Houle

1945 - 2024

In loving memory of our mother, Reta Doreen Houle, who passed away on February 11, 2024. She was the devoted wife of Richard Houle, loving mother of Darin (Heather), Shari, Kerrie, and Steve (Pam) and stepson Ric, and absolutely adoring grandma of Dustin (Domi), Zack, Taylor (Carson), Jake, Reid, Sydney, Savanna and great grandchildren Dason and Dillon. She will be so deeply missed by all who knew her.

Reta was born in Swan River, MB to Darrell and Doreen Lumax, September 22, 1945.  She was the oldest of 8 siblings and grew up on the family farm in Lidstone.  After high school, she went off to hairdressing school in Winnipeg before marrying Frederick Bednarski and starting a family.  They had many new adventures taking them west to Saskatchewan then Alberta.  Fred and Reta were very active in community events wherever they lived and Reta loved camping in the summer but she especially loved her curling in the winter and continued to be a fan all of her life, following all the Manitoba teams in the major events.

Reta and her family returned to the valley in the mid-eighties and made their home in Kenville.  Shortly after moving to Kenville, she bought the little store in town and gave her kids their first taste of business.  Later she would do the same for her grandchildren as she ran the concession at the racetrack, teaching them about cash and customer service and their first real payday.

Reta and Fred divorced, and Reta moved to Brandon to take her Food Service Management course.  This is where she met her second husband Richard while out dancing.  She loved to dance, and he was a perfect partner.  They married in 1993 and moved back to Lidstone shortly after.  Reta went to work at the Co-op where she ran the cafeteria then the deli until she retired.

After retiring, she spent her time volunteering and watching her children, then grandchildren race their stock cars.  She would not miss a single race, and she cooked, for everyone, at every opportunity.  Cooking for her family, especially her grandkids, was what she loved best.

Reta was predeceased by her father Darrell, sister Diane, brother James, brother-in-law Brian, stepdaughter Lorilee and son-in-law Lorne.

Our mother was a kind, caring and giving person who always put the needs of family before her own. She was a strong woman who faced every challenge in her life with courage and dignity and was a source of inspiration to us all.  She will be deeply missed by everyone whose lives she touched.

Beverages, snacks, and good conversation to be held at Green Valley Stock Farm following the service.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Reta Doreen Houle, please visit our floral store.