Sarah Laurenson

Sarah Laurenson

September 3, 1952 – July 21, 2023

Sarah was born on September 3, 1952 to David and Mary Braun in the family home in Neuhorst, SK. She was the fourth child in a family of six. She had her grades 1 to 4 in the local school in Neuhorst before being bused to Osler were she continued until grade 11. Grade 12 was done by GED. Later she attended NAIT to get a General Business Course and along the way, a Blueprint Reading course at Kelsey.

She was adventurist at young age. Her first solo trip was to B.C. for a summer job of picking raspberries. It must of gone well because those house parents remained friends for years and even visited her parents in Neuhorst.

That was only the first of her many different jobs in many different places. In Saskatchewan she worked at RUH, the Bank of Nova Scotia and the La Ronge Credit Union. While with the Bank of Nova Scotia she sought a transfer to Whitehorse where she made friends with a gold miner from Dawson which really sparked her interest in mining.

Her jobs in Dawson City were in Hotels working as a Front Desk Clerk, night auditor and even as an assistant manager. Then she worked for the City of Dawson in many capacities – her main job was Deputy Treasurer but she even stepped in as city administrator in between hires.

She met David Laurenson in Dawson City in 1985. Dave was a placer miner working leased gold claims. For the first years she joined him for weekends and any holidays while continuing to work in the City. In 1991 she joined him full time working either the pay loader or a track hoe and anything else that was needed. That began their life – working the claim in summer and going south for the winter, sometimes for a job and sometimes for a warm vacation. They were married April 14, 1994 in Enderby, B.C.

They lived in very humble abodes in the North! The main travel trailer had ‘traveled hard’ as Dave hadn’t paid enough attention when moving it to the next lease and a log had gone through the front! And later a bear torn the door off and rummaged through everything after he’d squished a pail of oil all over himself so of course everything was oily. Sarah recalled that they’d gotten back from town very late to find the damage and thought it lucky that he hadn’t touch the bed so they simply secured the door the best they could and went to sleep.

In spite of the living conditions, Sarah continued to take time to do her hair – and who would iron creased into jeans when you had to start up the generator to heat an iron!

 By 2015 Dave’s health made it necessary to end this adventure. They continued living in Osoyoos, B.C. during the winter and housesit for friends on Vancouver Island for the summer until his death November 29, 2021. In Osoyoos they made many friends with other retirees in the trailer park as well as local people. While Dave’s health was good, they were active in local church and were baptized in a Baptist Church in 2015.

As a child Sarah loved the outdoors be it summer or winter – there is a picture of her swinging during the winter! During the winter many youths were involved in the 4-H Club as was she. No cooking or baking for her but she did learn to knit – a skill that she used all her life. Her nieces were recipients of many of her projects – leg warmers, scarves, tams, finger socks and who could forget those knee high bright colored striped socks?.

Transportation – there was one bike to share in the beginning but once she starting working there were many vehicles – cars and motorcycles and even a horse she was able to pasture at her brother’s place! There were even a few brand new cars including a new Ford which frustrated her to no end.

Her motorcycle days created an interesting story at the end! When Sarah moved back to Saskatchewan she needed another form of ID in order to apply for a health card so the two sisters went off to an SGI office where they were able to find the record of her last Saskatchewan driver’s license. The clerk looked at Sarah standing there hanging onto her walker and asked if she wanted the motor cycle endorsement on the license to show? This led to quiet a chuckle!

Her health struggles where noticed first when her voice became very hard to understand on the phone. At the urges of her siblings, she sought medical attention. After ruling out many others things it was diagnosed as ALS. Very quickly after this, other issues arose such as balance which made it hard to walk un-aided. Soon she was unable to talk at all and relied solely on writing. She always carried a white board and marker where she insisted on writing out the whole complete sentence! No short cuts for her. While they were doing their last house-sitting on the Island, Dave had a heart attack and was transferred back to Oliver hospital where he died a few months later. With the help of her brother she moved back into the trailer in Osoyoos where she spent the last winter in the trailer park. In April she had a feeding tube put in just before family and friends helped her sell the trailer and load all her belongings for a move back to Saskatchewan. Here she lived with her sister Susan until she needed more care. After only one night in a CareHome she went to hospital on August 16^th, 2022, first to St. Paul’s and then to RUH where she passed on July 21, 2023.

Sarah was not a ‘complainer’! She never failed to thank us for anything we did for her and was always apologizing for the trouble she was to us. Conversations with her were interesting.

Sarah passed away at Royal University Hospital on Friday July 21, 2023 at the age of 70 years. She is predeceased by her husband David (2021), parents David (1985) and Mary (1989), and brother Abe (2015). She is survived by her siblings: Margaret (Henry), Dick (Kathy), Susan, Corny (Linda); sister-in-law Mary Ann; many nieces, nephews and friends. The family would like to thank the staff at St. Paul’s Hospital, Royal University Hospital and the ALS Society for the excellent care they gave Sarah.

Interment and a Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on August 19, 2023 at the Osler Mennonite Church.

Arrangements entrusted to Dalmeny Funeral Home 306-254-2022.