Obituary of Martha Ruth Shantz

MARTHA RUTH SHANTZ (nee Jones)

Dec 18, 1936 – Mar 30, 2024

Martha passed away March 30, 2024 surrounded by family. She is pre-deceased by her parents, Lanson and Mary Jones, as well as by her siblings Hilda, Maynard and David. She was also pre-deceased by her in-laws, Loretta and Wesley Shantz, as well as brothers-in-law, Carl Shantz, Lloyd Weber, Bill Mantle, Bob Fotheringham, and sister-in-law, Patricia Shantz.

Martha is deeply missed by her beloved husband Keith; her children Susan (Gerald) Antosh, Rodney (Sharon) Shantz, Ruthanne (Patrick) Reimche and Carolyn (Kevin) Noble. She was a cherished Grandmother of 10 and Great-grandmother of 7. She also leaves behind in-laws Ellen Weber, Patricia Mantle, Wilma Fotheringham, Joan Shantz, Gordon (Elaine) Shantz, and Gilbert Shantz. She is also sadly missed by extended family too numerous to name.

Martha grew up in Haldimand County, Ontario and graduated from Hamilton General Hospital School of Nursing in 1958. She decided she wanted to see different parts of Canada and came to work at the Kindersley Hospital for only a year. In Kindersley, she met her husband of 64 years. With the exception of a brief time in Assiniboia, SK, they would remain in Kindersley for 46 years. It was there that they raised their family. Martha was active in her local church and was a long-time member of the Kindersley Horticultural Society. She was an avid gardener who was not afraid to try to grow something that had never been known to grow in her gardening zone. She was always eager to plan her annual flowers and garden, dedicating a great deal of time to what plants would ‘make the cut’. She was a voracious reader and advocate for public libraries. She was on the Library Board both in Kindersley and later in Bethune.  In 2006, Keith and Martha moved to Bethune, SK to be closer to family. Martha took her love of gardening and reading with her. She was a frequent visitor of the local library and until recently an active member of the 50 Plus club.

A Celebration of Martha’s Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday May 13, 2024 at Bethune K+S Community Hall, Bethune, SK. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation may be made to either the Bethune 50 Plus Club or to the Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Lumsden, earmarked towards a mobility lift.