Margaret Lois Howell

Margaret Howell, at the age of 86, passed away at Shaunavon Long Term Care Facility on February 28th, 2022, with her youngest daughter Charlotte by her side. 

Margaret is survived by two daughters, Pat Droho (Vernon BC) and Charlotte Bull (Redcliff AB), and one daughter in-law Sue Droho (Kelowna BC), 4 grandsons, 2 granddaughters, and at least 10 great grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She was predeceased by her parents Jack Redden (1964) and Lucy (Lightfoot) Boychuk (1996), her brothers Bud Redden (2004) and Butch Redden (2021), her sons Chris Droho (2006) and Doug Droho (1982), her grandsons Jordan Droho (2016) and Christopher Bellows (2020).

Margaret was born October 5th, 1935, at Maple Creek SK and as a child grew up in Cypress Hills Park where her dad was a carpenter and had built many of the first cabins, some which still remain standing.   The family moved to Vancouver BC during her teen years.  She married Mike Droho at a young age and had 4 children.  They lived in several places including Whitehorse Yukon, Fort St. John BC, Vancouver BC, and Prince George BC., where her children were born respectively. She divorced Mike and returned to her homeland in Maple Creek SK where she met and married Vern Howell and they resided in Consul area.  For a period Vern and Margaret owned and operated the General Store in Consul (formerly Lightfoot General Store), and later bought the Wagner farm on the Vidora corner.  Vern passed away in 1993 and Margaret remarried Vic Bykevich.  They sold the farm and moved to Maple Creek.  Vic also passed away and Margaret remained in Maple Creek until she was admitted to the Long-term Care Facility at Shaunavon SK in February 2019.

I am sure Margaret will be remembered most for her story telling, Fact or Fiction… left up to the listener to decide:) She was a character, some would describe her as “eccentric”.  She may have put the FUN in Dysfunction?  Though Margaret’s life was not always filled with joy, she managed to live a colorful life, full of adventures.  She loved to travel, especially if she could find an antique store, garage sale, or thrift shop along the way.  She had a love for animals of all kinds, when she lived on the farm at Vidora it was like a petting zoo.  She enjoyed entertaining, and ALSO being the centre of attention.  She had many talents including the years she spent sewing costumes for the many fashion shows she organized, and oh how she thrived on the details of every outfit from the shoes to the hat to the jewelry.  She loved her collectibles, like her many hats of all eras, her dolls, her antiques, and so much more!  She purchased the church building from Consul and moved it to the farm and it became her museum of treasures for all to stop in and see.  She was always involved in the community in some way.  Most recently she had been very actively involved with the Saskatchewan Archeology Society and Saskatchewan Museums over the years and had many plaques for her achievements. She will be remembered for the many presentations she organized depicting the native culture she loved so much.  She attended schools and events and quite often she would bring costumes for the children so they could get engaged in her stories.

Margaret spent the last 3 years in the Long-Term Care Facility in Shaunavon with Dementia. She arrived at first against her will, but soon found she could entertain the residents and the nurses with her antics and stories, and she settled in quite well.  Some of the nurses defined her as sweet and spunky, she had a lot of zest when she arrived, and she kept them on their toes.  When Margaret passed on the early morning of February 28th, the eastern sky held a bright red sunrise.  Jokingly said, “Red sky in morning, Heaven’s warning, you’re about to receive one feisty lady today”.

Margaret did not wish to have a service upon her passing.  Her wish was to be cremated, and in her final words she said, “throw my ashes to the wind or I will haunt you with an Irish Wammie”.