Obituary of Lillian Burgess

Lillian was born September 11, 1929 in Lasburn, Saskatchewan just a few miles from the farm where she grew up north of Waseca, Saskatchewan. She was born a twin to her brother, Bert and a sibling to a family of 11 children. Her parents Frederick Daniel Schimelfenig and Martha Georgia Polinsky had immigrated from Prussia just a couple of years prior to Lill’s birth. Her grandfather George Polinsky also lived with the family until his death in 1950.

Lill grew up on a mixed farm that was developed by her parents and family from raw bush land. She went to Saskatoon where she graduated from sewing school. She worked in the Maidstone Hospital for a short while.

On October 11, 1950 Lillian married Mervin Harold Burgess and they took up residence on a new homestead north east of Maidstone, Sask. She lived there while she brought four children into the world:  Ken, Peggy and Patricia and Stuart who was stillborn.

Lillian raised almost all the food that the family enjoyed. She also enjoyed her flower gardens throughout her life.

Lillian lived to see her parents, many of her siblings, her husband Mervin and her two daughters all pass from this life. When her last daughter passed away in October of 2017 she moved to Regina to live with her son, Ken and was there until her passing on September 14, 2023.

Lill is survived by her son Ken (Susan); grandchildren Steve (Nicole), Susan, Doug (Denise) and Robert; step-grandchildren Trish (Jack) and Brad (Monica); sister Margaret; 12 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.

Lillian joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 17, 2018 when she was confirmed after Baptism on the previous day. She was excited and expressed that she felt so free after her baptism. She was asked by her grandson, Steve, to share her testimony of the Saviour and the Plan of Salvation with Steve’s Elders Quorum by video conference just a week after her Baptism.  Lillian’s greatest wish was that her family would join her in an eternal relationship in the Celestial Kingdom with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

A private family service will be held, where Lillian will be laid to rest with her husband, Mervin in Maidstone, SK.