Dorothea Viola Sabin (née Ribling)
1919 - 2020

Dorothea Sabin passed away at Mainprize Manor & Health Centre, Midale, Sask. on Thursday, December 24, 2020 at the age of 101.

Dorothea was predeceased by her husband, Robert (2011); parents: Albert & Alice Ribling; brothers: Edgar, Norman & Leonard; sister, Charlotte Kolke; brothers-in-law: Bruno Kolke, Alf Sabin, Bill Sabin, Clifford Sabin, Oliver Skappel, Everett Marin, Harvey Throssell, Ken Mackie, Ed Buchholz, Tex Pashko, Leif Nelson and Archie Shaver; sisters-in-law, Margaret Skappel, Elsie Sabin, Esther Marin, Josie Throssell, Stella Shaver, Mildred Nelson, Mary Sabin, Jean Sabin, Mary Anne Sabin and Mae Buchholz; grandson, David Sabin; son-in-law, Pete Yoner.

She is survived by daughters: Marlyne (Wayne) Dolinsky, Marilyn (Bill) Herschmiller, Annette (Bill) lsely and Arlette Sabin; son, Randy (Vi) Sabin; six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, two step­ grandchildren and eight step great grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Betty Ribling, Esther Sabin, Helen Mackie and Elaine Pashko; brother-in-law, Archie (Kathy) Sabin.

Dorothea was born to Albert and Alice Ribling at home on SW 13-1-11 W of the Second. After she got married, she landed up living 3/4 of a mile straight south of where she was born and lived there for 72 plus years. Since she was the oldest child in the family, she did a lot of the heavy work outside including raking and bucking hay, milking cows and feeding pigs and chickens. Later she helped raise her younger siblings. When she was in her early teens, she helped her Dad haul loose hay, each with their own team of horses and hay rack, from the Wild Rose hills south of Crosby, ND. She also hauled grain to the elevator in Outram with a team of horses pulling a grain tank; and was always intrigued at how smart the horses were at backing up as the grain tank was hoisted up in the elevator.

Dorothea was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Her family attended St. John's Lutheran Church at Outram and later continued in her faith at Torquay Trinity Lutheran Church. She attended Kolke and Hagen Schools south of Outram as a child. She also taught at Hagen School before she married. When she was teaching at Big Four School, Minton, SK, from 1944-46, Dad volunteered to be janitor at the school after meeting her. They married on December 16, 1947. Their first home was in Roan Mare Coulee at the base of a buffalo jump. Mom told Dad she wasn't raising a family out there, where you walked out the door and all you could do was look straight up and see turkey buzzards circling overhead. They moved to the Outram area to farm in June of 1948. Marlyne and Marilyn, the first set of twins, were followed by a second set of twins, Annette and Arlette, and finally a son, Randy, rounded out the family.

It was sometimes a struggle having enough money to go around, with two sets of twins, but somehow she managed to save up enough, making sure we all got our driver's training. Randy met and married Violet, bringing along with her two daughters. Veronica and Heather, along with their husbands and children became welcome visitors to the Sabin household. Dorothea enjoyed singing. Her voice was music to our ears - hearing her sing while separating milk. We learned the tunes and lyrics to many songs by listening to her. She sang hymns, Christmas carols, war time songs and many more. There was always a radio playing especially for the Country Countdown on Saturday mornings. Mom's house was always welcoming. She enjoyed her brothers dropping in. When they married and had families of their own, everyone was welcomed. Nieces, nephews and grandchildren had numerous sleepovers and no one cried to go home early. Every spring would find Dorothea starting bedding plants with the expectation of having an early start on her large vegetable and flower gardens. It was a labour of love with many hours spent weeding, watering and harvesting. She always had to share the abundance with others. She continued doing some of the same hard work she had done as a young adult and was still milking cows until milking machines were purchased and Dad and Randy took over the milking of the herd of Guernsey cows. Even though us girls helped Mom with every other aspect of learning many of life's skills and lessons, Mom refused to make us girls milk cows.

When Dad's health started failing, she looked after him at home with the help of Randy, Vi and Marlyne. Dorothea rarely complained. She was a mom, who showed that women can be just as strong as they are kind. She took everything in stride with patience and determination. Quit was never part of her vocabulary. She enjoyed going to church in Torquay every Sunday. She continued to enjoy gardening until her health and mobility became an issue. She was placed in Mainprize Manor on June 26, 2019. Although we knew she'd miss the farm, she accepted the move and made friends easily with the staff and residents. She often commented on how nicely the staff treated her. Dorothea was comical without even realizing it. One of the caregivers recently asked her what she wanted for Christmas. The caregiver was taken off guard when Mom replied, "I don't know. I surely don't want any more kids!" Another time, one of the nurses accidentally set off Mom's bed alarm. As the nurse hurriedly reached to shut the alarm off, Mom told her, "Hurry and shut it off! We don't need a whole army in here." Mom was always one to share with others. Once we were visiting her while she was having a snack before bedtime. She had a glass of cranberry juice and several crackers and cheese. She had to divide up the crackers and cheese among us and then we were supposed to each take a sip of cranberry juice and pass it around the table. It seemed almost like Lord's Supper. Mom was one to always put others before herself.

We are grieving with this recent loss but also rejoice with the assurance that she is now in God's hands with no more pain and suffering. We thank the Lord for her life and are very thankful for who she was. She will be missed by us all.

A public visitation took place on Friday, January 1, 2021 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Hall Funeral Services, Estevan. A private family Funeral Service was held on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Hall Funeral Services, Estevan, with Rev. Daniel Krauss officiating. Interment took place at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Outram.

We would like to thank Dr. Christie for being instrumental in giving Mom such excellent care. We also appreciate the administration and staff at Mainprize Manor for the compassion and care shown to our mother. If so desired, donations in Dorothea's memory may be made to Mainprize Manor and Health Centre, P.O. Box 239, Midale, SK SOC 1S0.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan provided care to the Sabin family - Dustin Hall, Funeral Director.