Gayle Helen Johnson

It is with great sadness that the family of Gayle Helen Johnson announce her passing on September 14, 2022 at the age of 79. She leaves to grieve her two daughters Carmen Johnson (Kathy Richlen-Tilden) and Jackie Hubick; her grandchildren Dustin Preece (Stephanie Ives), Tarrah Preece (Kirk Johns), Dallas Hubick and Tyrell Hubick; great-grandson Zavion Hubick (alias Buzz Lightyear); her brother Owen’s children nieces Patty Ciarniello (Robert), Shannon Tagseth and nephew Shawn Tagseth; as well as numerous nieces and nephews on the Johnson side of the family. She was predeceased by her husband Raymond Johnson and brother Owen Tagseth. 

There were gale-like winds blowing at the Tagseth farmhouse on April 25, 1943 when our Mom was born. Mom’s spirit took its lead from the weather that day. Baby Gayle arrived and she was a force to contend with forever after. When she was a few months old it was realized that she had a congenital hip dislocation. She lived In Strasbourg, SK with Dr. Elden Hitsman and his wife for several months to receive the many cast changes she needed to correct her hip. They were so enamoured with her, they called their own daughter “Gayle”.

Gayle was a farm girl and attended Stony Croft School and later Sprayville School in Gibbs, SK. When she was 14, she “borrowed” her father’s brand new car and took a trip to Regina to buy a hamburger. When she was 15, she took a fancy for our Dad and relentlessly pursued him into marriage at age 17. She finished her Grade 11 school year, started farming and had her two daughters when she was 18 and 22 years of age. She peddled eggs, chickens and cream for grocery money, making the 50 mile trip to Regina every Friday. To reward herself, she would get her hair set in a stylish “Beehive” or go to Stampede Wrestling at the Exhibition Grounds. Once Jackie and I were old enough to make our school lunches, she ventured off to become one of the fastest mushroom pickers at the Prairie Mushroom Plant by Lumsden, SK and later worked as a teller at the Wecan Credit Union in Bulyea, SK. She moved to Regina to enhance her work skills and education. She was employed by the Sherwood Credit Union (later Conexus) and worked her way up from a teller position to the Executive Vice President of Human Resources. Mom was instrumental in introducing many programs to the workplace, including support programs such as the nationally recognized “Finding the Key”, a partnership between Conexus and First Nations to promote employment. She was nominated for the YWCA Woman of the Year award in 2012 for her work and later retired at age 67. She was an active volunteer in literacy programs and her church and even though she was busy, she wanted more challenges. She trained as a Commissionaire and worked at the RCMP Depot for 10 years, retiring in December 2021. 

Mom loved coffee and loved people. In the early mornings before work, she would usually visit 3 different coffee shops just to see with whom she could visit. In earlier years, she hosted frequent gatherings at her farmhouses (the latter with a pool) and barbeques with musical entertainment at Cardinal Cove, their campsite getaway in Bulyea. She enjoyed travelling with a camper to the Norsk Hostfest in Minot, ND and her favorite spot, Clear Lake, MB. She loved to bake and cook. She made incredible bread, buns and the best prime rib around.

Mom loved, loved, loved to drive in new, fast cars and she contributed frequently to the RCMP and SGI coffers. She never ever did slow down. Her last ticket was August 15, 2022 clocked at 147 km in a 110 km/hr zone.  Oh yes, she paid the fine.

A Celebration of Life for Gayle will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. in Bulyea Community Centre Hall, Bulyea, SK.  Bring your stories to tell.  If you do not want to tell the stories yourself, we will be happy to read them for you.

For those who would like to honor Gayle’s memory, donations to the Regina Food Bank or the SHA Regina Palliative Care program would be gratefully received.