March 6, 1940 – April 9, 2020
******
With spring still covered in deep snow, on April 9, 2020, Terry Booker (Rosthern) ended his journey with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was raised on a farm, north of Shellbrook with parents Frank & Grace, and siblings, Kay, Margaret, Bill, Keith, Norma, & Allistair. As the first child to finish high school, and with financial support from his older brothers, Terry attended U of S, obtaining Bachelor of Education & Arts degrees.
While teaching in Shell Lake, SK, he met another young teacher and a whirlwind romance began with Paulette Zbaraschuk in 1964. They were married in 1965 & he was embraced by his in-laws Mike and Mary Zbaraschuk. Afterward, they made the move to Birch Hills, SK to teach. While there, daughter Pamela was born. The teaching couple missed their friends & community of Shell Lake, so they moved back to teach for several more years.
A teaching job in Rosthern became available in 1968. As Dad said, they chose to live there because it was close to family in Prince Albert, it had a hospital, it had a swimming pool, & it had a PAVED street! It was considered a very progressive town. Their son Trent was born in 1968.
Terry was a committed teacher for 30 years. It was a career he loved because it allowed him to work with teenagers, to have continued learning, and it fulfilled his spirit of planning. After completing that career, he pursued instruction in adult education – another path that was a great match. From there, Terry, became a certified financial planner and enjoyed working with people.
He was a man committed to community…through volunteerism in many capacities, in supporting social justice & social advancements, & in his Rosthern Mennonite Church family. He was a Dad & husband who believed his role was to be supportive in the household, with no distinction between “gender” duties. Terry believed in family holidays whether it was camping most weekends, travelling from coast to coast in Canada to appreciate our history & geography, or to sunny climates in winter. He was a Dad who coached us (& many other kids), who drove us to music lessons, and who parented all summer when our mom was at work. With all of us, he had a constant sense of humour & enormous patience. He was an amazing father-in-law to Debbie Booker, & Dovona West, and an even more remarkable Grampa to Andrew & Rachel Booker. He adored, and was adored by, his in-laws, nieces, nephews and so many friends.
His favourite personal pastimes were history, reading, supporting the Saskatchewan Roughriders, current affairs, CBC radio, the NDP, walking, golfing, curling, dancing & socializing with friends and family. He enjoyed a good glass of scotch, a wide variety of music, and sharing many jokes!
Terry was a man who sadly, but gracefully accepted his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Rather than being in denial of his symptoms, he convinced family he needed to be assessed; he chose to stop driving before being directed to; he told friends about his disease so they “would understand why I’m changing”; he researched MAID; he planned for his long term care. He made this so much easier for his family.
Along with his immediate family, Terry will be remembered by his sister Margaret Von Eschen, in-laws Marlene & Larry Sinclair, Sylvia & Doug Green, special nieces & nephews, and so many amazing friends. He was predeceased by many family members & special friends.
Plans to celebrate Terry’s full life will take place in Rosthern when the uncertainties of the pandemic have lifted. An announcement will be made.
The family would appreciate any memories you would be willing to share. Please send them to: The Bookers, P.O. Box 762 Rosthern, SK S0K 3R0. In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting the remarkable work of the Rosthern Mennonite Nursing Home, Box 370 Rosthern, SK S0K 3R0, or Sask Valley Hospital Foundation Inc, Box 93, Rosthern SK, S0K 3R0.
Terry’s death was not a result of Covid-19.
Arrangements are entrusted to Funk’s Funeral Home, Rosthern, SK (306-232-5245, http://www.funksfuneralhome.ca)
I remember that Mr. Booker got down to business in math class while checking in and supporting our efforts. I remember getting a break from math to watch the first space shuttle launch on tv. I appreciated that your dad took time to talk to me about education when I started teaching at BMES in 1992.
My sincere condolences.
So sorry to hear of Mr Booker’s passing, he is in a beautiful place and without pain! Hugs to you Paulette!
I was fortunate to spend many wonderful days with Mr. Booker and Trent in the outdoors as a youth. I have many fond memories of us fishing at his cabin north of La Ronge, bird hunting around Rosthern and enjoying his Social Studies class in high school. So long my friend and my condolences to the Booker family.
Paulette and family: our condolences on Terry’s passing. We will always remember him as a kind, gentle person and a good friend. We have many good memories from RMC…we have a visual of you and Terry near the front of the church, wearing your Rider jerseys on game day. He was faithful and loyal, not only to his team but to all the causes he supported. And you and he were also the best team ever! He will be missed.
Pam – I was saddened to hear of you losing your father. My heartfelt condolences.
Paulette and family – We are so sorry for your loss. Terry was a very thoughtful and kind person who will be sorely missed.
Bernie and Marianne Kramchynsky
Our condolences to Paulette, Pam and Trent. Terry was a kind teacher, a trusted advisor and also a good friend
Dear Paulette, Pam, Trent and families,
Our sympathy to you! May your wonderful memories of Terry give you comfort during this time. Stan & Barb Wolfe
Paulette, Pam and Trent, so sorry to hear about Terry’s passing. Thinking about your family during this difficult time.
Terry was a wonderful teacher who instilled his love of history in us all. He went the extra mile to teach us. He was a man who demonstrated kindness always. We appreciated his knowledge and expertise in later years through his work with investments. Always enjoyed our time together. Our thoughts are with you all. Sincerely Ron and Donna Strate.
Hi Paulette, just read Terry’s obituary. I am so sorry! My condolences go out to you and your family! May God fill you with His peace and comfort! Love and prayers! Dora T.
To Paulette, Pam, Trent & families. Our condolences to you all. Your family has special memories for us with our connections at Rosthern Mennonite Church, while we were living in Rosthern. May God give you comfort & peace during this difficult time.
Menno & Melita Penner
We are so sorry to hear of Mr. Booker’s passing. He was a good man: quiet, kind and smart. We will be thinking of you all during this especially hard time. Our sincere sympathies Paulette, Pam, Trent & families.
Dear Paulette, Pam and Trent.
We are so very sad to hear of terry’s passing, but also know he is much better off now. He was such a great guy, always had a little joke to tell. You will have lots of great memories to share. We are thinking of all of you. Much love to Paulette, my dear high school friend.
I’m so sad to hear of his passing. He was one of my favourite teachers and instilled in me a lifelong love of history. Even after 50+ years I still remember my Grade 8 Social Studies. The best Social Studies teacher I ever had. I remember him as a kind and gentle person, very soft-spoken and very nice. My sincere condolences to his family.
Mr. Booker, as I’ll always call him, was an excellent teacher and role model. His hair cut was legendary and many of the male students tried to emulate it. It was even referred to as “The Booker Haircut.” I offer my condolences to his family. Alzheimer’s Disease is a tragedy. He is now at peace.
My deepest sympathy for your loss of your husband .
Paulette and family – sympathy and hugs from our family to yours during this difficult time.
My condolences to the families. ( Daughter of Ray and Hanna Booker of Dundurn)
Dear Paulette, Pam,Trent and families: I just read the beautiful tribute to Mr. Booker (Terry) you wrote. He had a wonderful life and made many contributions to the teaching profession and the many organizations he supported as mentioned in the tribute. His involvements with Church and many family friends is where I got to know Terry personally! He was always interested in hearing about my life and in sharing what was happening in his life and his family with me. I am thinking of you all at this time.
Sincerely,
Trevor Siemens
Bob and Debi Coffin
Pam, and family, please accept our sincere condolences. We are so sorry for your loss. He sounds like an amazing man who will be greatly missed. Take care. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
Our deepest sympathy to you all on Terry’s passing..
Thinking of you all at this very difficult time!
Love and sincere condolences to you all. Rest In Peace Terry, my ‘birthday buddy.’ M Jones
Our sincere condolences to all of Terry’s family
Condolences to the Booker family from the Gipman family.
He was a great all around man. Very happy to have known Mr. Booker. He was my favourite High School teacher. Please take care.
Byron Gipman
Dear Paulette, Pam,Trent and families,
I am so very sorry to hear of Terry’s passing.
He was a genuine person who shared a love for people and I am lucky to have known him.
I am thinking of you at this difficult time.
Sincerely.
Rita and Peter Dykhuizen
What a lovely tribute to your dad Pam. I am sorry that he is gone but you have a wonderful life to celebrate. Not surprised to hear he was a life long learner and committed to education. The Apple does not fall far from that tree. Thinking of you and your family.
I’m sorry to hear of Terry’s passing from Alzheimer’s, he was one of my High School teachers, my first car was one he had traded-in. Then in Regina I became acquainted with his sister Norma and her husband Miles. I understand what alzheimer’s is like (my wife has it), I’m sorry you all had to go through that.