Person:Clarabell Thompson (1)

2005 - Obituary, Weyburn Review, Nov 2005: Clarabell "Clara" Florence Farr (nee Thompson). With great sadness, the family of Clara Farr announces her passing on November 11, 2005 at the Bengough Care Home after a lengthy and valiant battle with numerous health problems. Clara was predeceased by her parents: William and Caroline (Boen) Thompson; her son Thomas Farr; sisters: Hazel (Winnie) Souther, Agnes (Alfred) Johnson, Loretta Folk, Carol (Duke) Peterson, Remina (Horatio) Souther; brothers: Edward (Ruth) Thompson, Richard (Alice) Thompson, Howard (Hazel) Thompson and Lloyd Thompson. Clara is survived by her husband Fred Farr, Bengough; her children: Roger Farr, Ogema, Howard Farr (Jackie), Chauvin, AB and Nancy (Myles) Schaefer, Regina; nine grandchildren: Ken (Shelley) Farr, Barbara (Terrence) Beckett, Jacki Farr, Curtis Farr, Alannah, T.J. and Gabrial Farr, Makenzie and Morgan Schaefer; five great grandchildren: Dustin and Danielle Farr, Alex and Margo Beitel and Heather Beckett; two sisters-in-law: Elsie Fournier, Moose Jaw and Margret Farr, Iowa Park, Texas as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Clara was born on a farm north of Lake Alma on October 9,1920, the youngest of ten children born to Caroline (Boen) and William Thompson. Caroline passed away when Clara was only two years, two months old leaving Clara to be raised by her father and older siblings. She spent much of her childhood living in different homes of her married brothers and sisters. Clara recalled that as a child, she would ride behind her sisters Carol or Loretta on the horse going to visit neighbors. She would alternate between sitting and standing on the rump of the horse as the neighbors seemed so far away. Clara used to get sent along with her brother Lloyd to fetch the cows on his pinto pony. Lloyd would take a long time unless Clara was along as he badly needed glasses and couldn't see the cows. Clara's brother Ed and his wife Ruth farmed the Thompson homestead for their father. While living on the homestead, Clara and Lloyd went to the Soda Lake School. A couple years later, Clara went to live with her siblings' families in the Ritchie area where she also attended school. While living with Agnes and Nub, Clara was given some clothes for her to wear to her new school, the Alberts Springs School. Sister Hazel sewed two dresses, Agnes gave her socks and underwear, Ed gave her a cap and coat, and Howard gave her a pair of overshoes. Ruth gave her an old doll made out of a stocking. Clara thought she had the world by the tail! Clara was always grateful for the little things she received in her life. Lloyd and Clara also had a real nice ranch of their own. It was made from the empty corn flakes boxes they had cut up for their toys. Clara then moved with Howard and Hazel to a farm near Amulet. In 1929 Clara went to live with Carol and Duke in the USA where she attended the old country school in that area. She also lived with Remina and Horatio. During summer holidays and weekends she herded sheep. There was always work to be done on the farm. Clara walked everywhere she went until a kind man who kept cows in Duke's pasture gave her a horse called Stubby. Clara really loved Stubby but he was traded for a white mule while she was away at school one day. Clara was heartbroken but she was getting used to losing things that meant a lot to her. She learned young that you just had to accept the bad with the good and keep on pluggin'. In 1934 news came that her father had passed away. She was only 13 then and had not seen him since she left Canada in 1929. Hard times and lack of transportation made it impossible to get up to the funeral in time but Clara and her sister Carol and came later. Clara then lived with Dick and Alice and moved with them to Manitoba. After a time she moved back to the Ogema and Ritchie area where she worked at various jobs. She was working in the café when she met Fred Farr. They were married September 9, 1940. They lived on the farm two miles east of Ogema until the mid 90's when Fred's poor health had them move to the villa in Ogema, then into their own house in town. In June of this year Clara moved into the Bengough Health Center where Fred was already living. Clara was a very busy lady doing whatever work had to be done. She worked as a store clerk, painted houses, decorated cakes and did house cleaning to earn some extra money. Clara also worked hard around the farm, driving the grain truck, doing chores and then rushing into the house to get a meal on the go. Somewhere in there she managed to become a damn good skip; take in a lot of curling bonspiels throughout Saskatchewan; play ball with the Big Butte Wheat Queens and raise four children; Tom, Roger, Howard and Nancy. Clara was a member of the Sunny South Society and the Birthday Club. Surprisingly she still had spare time in which she liked to do some sewing, quilting, crocheting as well as gardening and canning. When she was sick she would claim to have been "born tired." She was just catching up on some long overdue rest! Clara was never happier than when she had her large extended family around, laughing and playing cards. In 1964, they hosted the first Thompson Reunion on the Farr farm and it still continues on today in different locations each time. Clara's life was not an easy one but she was never one to complain. When there was work to do she would just get at it. She embodied the spirit of good sportsmanship; preferring to lose a close game than win by a mile. As her health deteriorated she gave up many of her passions with the exception of playing cards. She became a big Blue Jays fan and it was a wasted phone call if they were playing when you called. Clara was a very kind, generous and giving person, willing to help anyone out any way she could. She was never judgmental, and always forgiving. She had a great sense of humor, which helped her a great deal when her health started to fade. She loved her family immensely and showered them with the kind of love that she felt she had missed from her mother and did not want her children to miss out on. Clara lived by the philosophy that "It's not what you have in life that counts; it's what you give that makes life worthwhile." And she gave it her all!!! She will remain forever in our hearts. A Service of Remembrance was held on Wednesday November 16, at 2:00 p.m. from the Ogema Legion Hall, Ogema with Rev. Teresa Burnett-Cole officiating. A private family burial will take place at a later date. All who attended the Memorial Service for Clara were considered honorary pallbearers. Donations in memory of Clara may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association or the Canadian Cancer Society. Arrangements were entrusted to RD Family Memorial Funeral Chapel, Weyburn (848-0333). If so desired, expressions of sympathy to the family may be sent to our website at www.rdfamilymemorialchapel.com "Our Family Serving Your Family."