Jean Willerton (Chimko) was born on October 13, 1926 in Porcupine Plain SK. Jean's parents, Mike and Stella Chimko, had settled on a farm in the Chelan District in 1925. (The farm is where Jean's brother, Mac, now lives.) When Jean started school in Pringleton at age six she spoke only Ukrainian, she but quickly acquired the English language and completed her schooling in Chelan.
In 1949 Jean married Ralph Willerton and they settled on a farm between Chelan and Bjorkdale. (The farm is the one now owned by Jean's son, Lester and his wife Janice.)
Jean worked hard on the farm, for years caring for livestock and growing a large garden. She preserved vegetables and fruits to keep their growing family healthy. She enjoyed picking berries and made preserves and jams that her family thoroughly loved. She baked bread and prepared delicious meals, including handmade perogies and cabbage rolls, that she served to Ralph and the men in the fields during seeding and harvest. Their four children often enjoyed meals with the men, sitting on the tailgate of the truck. Jean sewed clothing for her children and provided them delicious lunches for school.
Jean was able to retire from farming when, in 1984, she and Ralph moved to Porcupine Plain. She continued to grow a large garden and pick berries, preserving the produce for her family to enjoy.
Jean liked to curl in the winter, and she and Ralph acquired many trophies at local bonspiels. She also loved to play cards with family and relatives. Jean played rummy as often as she had a competitor, including during her four-year stay in Red Deer Nursing Home (RDNH). At RDNH she enjoyed games like bingo, shuffleboard and pokino. As well, Jean liked the singing groups that visited at RDNH and sang along to most songs.
Jean is survived by her daughters: Elaine Bergh (Porcupine Plain, SK) and Louise Willerton (Kelowna, BC); her sons: Lester (Janice) Willerton (Bjorkdale, SK) and Dale (Linda) Willerton (Edmonton, AB); her brothers: Mac Chimko (Chelan, SK) and Bob Chimko (Deming, New Mexico, USA); grandchildren Dana (Shawn Cherry) Price (Winnipeg, MB), Cory (Keri) Bergh (Calgary, AB), Lindsay (James) Stang (Macklin, SK), Kristin (Cory Bloom) Willerton (Tisdale, SK), Ashley (Tyler) Bloom (Martensville, SK), Alana Willerton (Calgary, AB), and Jessie Willerton (Edmonton, AB); great grandchildren: Lauren Bergh, Peter Bergh and Jacob Bergh (Calgary, AB), Taylor Price, Jeremy Price, and Skylar Price (Winnipeg, MB), Peyton Stang and Isabella Stang (Macklin, SK), Nathanial Bloom and Liam Bloom (Martensville, SK); as well as many neices and nephews, relatives and friends.
Jean was predeceased by her parents: Mike and Stella Chimko, her parents-in-law Charles and Doris Willerton; her siblings Gilbert and Peter Chimko who died in infancy; sisters Pauline Panasiuk and Beatrice Bigler; husband Ralph Willerton; brothers-in-law Dan Panasiuk, Harold Bigler and Richard Willerton; sisters-in-law Joyce Chimko and Vi Willerton.
Jeans family are grateful to Dr. Pieterse, the Nursing and Care staff at Red Deer Nursing Home, and Porcupine Carragana Hospital, for their professional and compassionate care of their dear Mother.