Elsie Dann / Behrendt

ELSIE DANN/ELSIE BEHRENDT

1931-2025

Memorial service will be held June 28, 2025, at 2 pm at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 260 Rodney Bay N. Neepawa, MB. Officiant; Chas Harrison. Zoom ID 868-8659-3663 Pass code 20010

Mom was born June 20, 1931, in Kenora, ON, while her father was working on the construction of Highway 17 as part of a government relief project during the Depression. That Fall the family moved back to their farm NW of the Village of Riding Mountain where she spent her childhood as the second child with 5 sisters and one brother.

Times were difficult during the Depression years. Even before her teen years she often worked as a hired girl to make enough money for school supplies. School was important to her, she loved to learn. Next was Normal School and achieving her Teacher's Certificate. Camperdown School near Glenella, MB, was her first teaching position 1950-51 followed by Aux Marais School, Letellier, MB 1951-52 That summer mom married (Wil)bert Dann, and they lived in Winnipeg while planning their dream of establishing an auto-body business in the Village of Riding Mountain.

Dann's Auto-Body became a reality in 1959. Over the years the building expanded, and the tow trucks increased to a fleet. Mom became business partner, bookkeeper, and also fed and boarded employees. Probably many of them remember her pies that she could whip up in no time. The red paint worn off the rolling pin handles is testimony to this. For the next 30 years the business thrived until dad's sudden passing, Aug 2/89. Mom sold the Auto-Body that Fall but remained in the much loved house they had built in 1969. Later mom married Gerd Behrendt from Langruth, MB, and together they travelled the world. Some of her favourite trips included Europe, Arizona, Niagara Falls, Yukon, Queen Charlotte Islands, San Francisco, LA, a Caribbean cruise and many road trips to Alberta to visit family.

Gerd predeceased mom in 2022. Mom spent her final years in Country Meadows Care Home from Dec/2015 till her passing. She quietly faded away with Alzheimer's and died peacefully on Feb. 2/25.

Mom was very creative always knitting, crocheting, or sewing something. Her handiwork was flawless and included everything from wedding gowns to baby outfits and continued on to her great grandchildren. There was always a big garden planted with plenty of canning and freezing tucked away for the winter right up until her broken hip and onset of dementia. She loved her flowers especially Spring tulips, lilies, and roses. The birds were well fed, and she always had a friendly squirrel named Charlie. Mom enjoyed music and learned to play the piano in her 50's. She was very proud of herself when she learned to play "Somewhere My Love," the theme song from Doctor Zhivago. Most of all mom loved spending time with her grandchildren. Sleepovers, making their favourite foods, making doll clothes together and other projects were moments she treasured.

Her paternal grandfather was a Bible reader which first piqued her interest as a young person. But it wasn't until years later that a neighbour rekindled her interest, and she was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1973. She was loyal to her faith and actively involved in her congregation until her dementia took over.

Mom was predeceased by her parents, William and Thelma Henry (Ames), husbands (Wil)bert Dann and Gerd Behrendt, sisters Mabel Tolley, Vivian Law, Joan Schoenman, Wanda Levandoski, and Jane Levandoski

Surviving are her 3 daughters Bonny Dann, Heather Timlick (Malcolm), Mona Dann-Janzen (Wayne). 5 grandchildren Tanya Hayes (Jason), Jodie Dann-Advice (Craig), Amy Sheffield (Scott), Jason Timlick, Leah Dann-Janzen (Kaylen), 9 great grandchildren Ceanna Daniels (Connor), Ewan, Finn, RyAnne, Arrington, Dannika, Maliyah, Alex, Riley, I great great grandson Seraphim, brother Herb Henry, brother-in-law Leonard Levandoski, many nieces, nephews and cherished friends.

Flowers gratefully declined. Thank you to White's Funeral Home for their professional services. Thank you to Country Meadows for their wonderful care.

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