Ida Ceres Johnston

August 31, 1936 – October 26, 2024

On Saturday, October 26th, we said goodbye to our mother (grandmother and great grandmother), Ida Ceres Johnston (née Rhead) who left this life at 88 years of age. She was born on the family farm August 31, 1936, the youngest of three daughters. Ida's fondest memory of her childhood was walking to school over the prairie on a fine spring morning (uphill both ways). She left us with many stories of milking cows, her father walking behind the horses to plow the fields, baking with her grandmother and reading the ‘print off’ of her grandfather’s newspaper. She was predeceased by her parents, Douglas Rhead and Gwendoline (Janes); her granddaughters, Christine Newman and Shelley Johnston; and, her brother-in-law George Antonichuk.

She is survived by her children: William (Marlene) Johnston, Joyce (Robert Ross) Kirsch, Arthur Johnston, and Donna (Randy) Labash; 12 grandchildren: Richard Johnston, Robert (Miranda) Johnston and Steven (Megan) Johnston; Jayci (Freeman Ayre) Kirsch, Raylin (Matt Cockell) Kirsch, Logan (Amy) Kirsch, Kaela-Lee (Charles Nwonuala) Kirsch, and Dhillon Ross; Raymond (Lindsay) Johnston; and Amanda Link, Jason (Annetta) Labash, and Clinton Labash, and a wealth of great grandchildren; as well as her siblings Gladys Wilson (Bill) and Edith Antonichuk.

Our mother believed in living by the golden rule: to treat others as you would want to be treated. She was the perfect mix of kindness and toughness (such as when she shouldered a sawed-off shotgun and fired it with one arm just to show she could) and never afraid to speak her mind. Our grandmother was a true farm woman through and through, with a big garden, a love of animals, and a work ethic like no other. Her example shaped who we are today, a legacy she has passed on. We will miss her.

An informal celebration of Ida’s life will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in the gymnasium in Dysart, Saskatchewan.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan, 301 – 2550 12th Avenue, Regina, SK S4P 3X1