Obituary of Alice Reineke

REINEKE – ALICE with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Alice Emma Reineke on September 14, 2022 at Maple Creek Integrated Health Care Facility with her family at her side.  Alice was born May 13, 1925 to Gust and Christina Fortman at the homestead at the Saskatchewan Landing.

Alice is survived by two daughters; Grace Bittner of Edmonton, AB and Marlene (Charles) Bertram of Piapot, SK; her grandchildren Kathy (Jody) Schroeder, Pamela (Derek) Smith, Caitlin (Trevor) Slavens, and Landon Bertram; great grandchildren Nicole and Ashley Schroeder, Jade, Taylor, Kamryn, and Calvin Smith, and Jaysik and Aubree Slavens.

Predeceased by her husband Leonard, parents Gust and Christina, eight brothers Adolph, Art, Ed, Fred, George, Robert, Milton, and Willie Fortman, three sisters Martha Dyck, Louise Church, and Edna Doll, and son-in law Richard and granddaughter Elizabeth Bittner. 

Alice was the youngest daughter in the Fortman family.  Growing up on the farm during the Great Depression there was never a shortage of work and Alice was always willing to help her family.  This value continued on when she started her own family.  Alice was united in marriage to Leonard Reineke in 1953. Alice worked for the City of Swift Current in clerical and accounting roles and helped Leonard on the Reineke family farm in Hodgeville.  She was a member of the Salem Lutheran Church and was on the executive at the Hodgeville Figure Skating Club. She continued to help and support her family in anyway she could, always there to lend a hand or moral support. 

In 1981 Alice and Len moved to Swift Current and continued to farm until Len had to retire due to failing health.  Alice stayed in the home until 1994 when she downsized to an apartment in Swift Current. She continued to live on her own until 2018 when she moved to the Bentley in Swift Current. In June, 2022, Alice moved to Creekside Senior Living in Maple Creek where she resided until her passing at the Maple Creek Integrated Health Facility.

Alice was an incredibly talented artist, making beautiful quilts, needle point jewellery, crocheted and knitted items, and creating a wide variety of beautiful crafts that have been seen around the world.  There was not a craft or project around that Alice could not do.   Alice was an excellent homemaker and took pride in her baking endeavours.  She was endlessly proud of her family, always supporting in any way she could, whether attending figure skating carnivals, band concerts, curling events, and basketball games, she was always there with a smile and warm hug.  

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with Reverend Linda Hall officiating. The pallbearers are Don Reineke, Keith Reineke, Kelly Fortman, Richard Doll, Glenn Straub, and Vernal Seibel. The interment will take place at Mount Pleasant Burial Park, Swift Current, SK. 

In Alice’s memory, donations can be made to the Southwest Integrated Health Care Facility, where Alice was treated with compassion and dignity during the last weeks of her life. Funeral arrangements are in care of Parkside Memorial Funeral Home – Ryan Cappelle & Hayden Cappelle.