Obituary of Mae Lean

Mae (Irvine- Milne) Lean April 1, 1923 – September 14, 2014 Cared for by her Scottish born parents, Bill and Maggie Milne, Mae arrived April 1, 1923. Older brothers, Archie and Norman, her sister Minnie and brother in law Mag Little, nearby bachelor uncles, Alex and Bill Sparks, better known to us as "Ec and Willie", their sister, Jessie, and Grandma Sparks would soon shape Mom's early and formative years. Mae spent her growing up years on the Milne farm near Isabella and Decker helping her parents with farm chores, tending to a large summer garden, carrying endless pails of water from the well to the house, bringing cows in from the pasture, looking after chickens, and the list goes on. Her gardening interests continued into married life as Mae continued to keep a large vegetable garden on our home farm. She particularly loved her flower gardens. Many vegetables and flower bouquets including sweet peas and glads were shared with family members and neighbors. As a little girl, Mae enjoyed animal life on the farm. Cats and farm dogs were her childhood companions. Mom would "nurse back to health" numerous little birds that would hit a window. More recently at PCH, a rescued cat, Honey, brought a smile to her face. Recent visits these past months from her grandchildren's dogs were also much enjoyed. Soon, it would be time for Mae to attend Rothesay School, a one room school, and the hub of community life. There, she made many lifelong area friends and often entertained us with stories about her days growing up in a country school. One could be sure that her school mates would make the most of Mom's April 1st birthday! For years, Mom and Dad continued to maintain their friendships with neighboring families often visiting back and forth with the Ashcroft and Irvine families for Sunday supper. Aside from the simple pleasures of farm life, Grandma Milne saw to it that Mae would have the opportunity to have some musical education. There was the promise of a piano, but only if she learned to play a set number hymns from the "old black hymn book" on a pump organ. Not an easy task for a little girl! It wasn't long after that her dad traveled into Winnipeg and arranged for a piano to be shipped by train to Decker. Lessons and practice continued over many years, and Mae gradually became very skilled at both reading music and playing by ear. Her family's love of Scottish music and dancing enhanced Mom's range of musical abilities. No doubt, her keen interest in music would take her in many directions later in life! This would include teaching area children and adults both piano and organ, coaching and accompanying vocalists and choirs, and sharing her musical talents as a public school teacher. While Mae's interest in music carried on as both her children, Alexis and Dennis, were encouraged to take music lessons. While daughter, Alexis would take part in many musical events including area festivals, her son, Dennis, played clarinet in Alex Whyte's Rivers School Orchestra. Having to sing a duet or two with your sister or brother at a country school concert, admittedly…. neither of us kids were too thrilled! After attending Rothesay school, Mom went on to Decker to enter high school. She lived with her sister, Minnie, brother in law, Mag Little and their twin sons, Hector and Lloyd at the Little farm close to Decker. Her high school French studies and her keen interest in history were most helpful in her teaching years. To complete Grade 12, Mae moved to Minota and boarded with the Armitage family. She soon finished Normal School in Winnipeg and summer schools at Gimli. Her teaching career began at Kelloe (near Shoal Lake), then Gretna, and later Rapid City. Her years in Gretna were most memorable. While she taught in the public school, she immensely enjoyed all the wonderful musical activity that occurred in the Mennonite community, There, she made many lifelong friends. It was evident that Mae felt she needed to be closer to her elderly parents who remained on the farm. Getting a teaching position in Rapid City meant she could travel home by train to Decker. It was somewhat of a coincidence that mom boarded at our Auntie Bell's home. Boarders soon became some of mom's good friends. This included teaching friend, Marg Fallis. While Alex had courted a few lady friends, Dad was introduced to Mae at a Rapid City dance by family acquaintance, Marge Spearin. Like the Milnes, the Lean family greatly enjoyed their heritage which included "old fashioned" Scottish hospitality and a mutual enjoyment of "old time" music and dancing. Their afternoon wedding was arranged for July 10, 1948 at the home of Mag and Minnie Little's lovely farm home followed by a honeymoon to Radium Hot Springs and Glacier National Park. Farm life at Blink Bonnie farm in the Moline district quickly resumed. Daughter, Alexis, arrived on their first wedding anniversary as well as son, Dennis, a year and a half later. Mae and Alex farmed for over 30 years, raising cattle, pigs and chickens while operating a grain farm. Throughout, our parents worked side by side whether it be pleasure or business. The change of farming seasons dictated their need to help each other. Mom was Dad's navigator during times that we took family trips. Mae supported Alex in making farming decisions about renting and buying land, purchasing machinery and renovating our farm home. While Mom needed Dad's assistance in springtime to prepare the ground for a large vegetable and flower for spring planting and summer watering, Mom was often recruited to help Dad move cattle, assist in moving equipment to various fields, give rides to the field, and drive the grain truck to and from the field to be loaded and unloaded during combining. Mae raised a good number of Leghorns in the spring and summer. A day was set aside for Dad to kill and pluck while Mom would dress the chickens for freezing. Her delicious canned chicken was a picnic hit on a hot days coupled with potato salad whenever there was a summer gathering. Many an afternoon lunch and tasty hot meal were prepared and delivered to the field. Nothing was more fun than helping Mom load up the car to drive to the field to have a visit with Dad and our neighbors who often worked together. Mae's life centered around family. Immersed in rural life, she enjoyed her participation in the Women's Co-op Guild and the United Church's UCW group, both in Rivers and Trinity United (Brandon). Very fond of crocheting, knitting and sewing, Mae shared many of her projects. Mentioned at Alex's memorial, there was considerable pride in our community that Moline was the first co-op to be established in Manitoba, both our parents enjoyed their long time affiliation with Co-op. Mom participated in the Co-op Guild for several years. Our folks particularly enjoyed the annual family camp gathering at what is now known as Camp Wannakumbac. Being a "co-op kid", Alexis attended many summer camps at Clear Lake making many lifelong friends from all over Manitoba. Alex and Mae eventually built their retirement home in Brandon. Trinity United was their church of choice, and there they made many good friends and were soon involved in much of the same types of activities as they had been doing. They enjoyed keeping their travel trailer at Curran Park. In the late 80's they purchased a cottage on the east side of Lake Minnedosa and looked forward to visiting each weekend with their family, their special friend, Elsie Jackson as well as other acquaintances. They enjoyed a number of trips to the southern states, Scotland and Hawaii. While it was difficult to get Dad to travel, he would remark after the fact, that he was that he was glad that they had had the opportunity. Their trip to Scotland to visit many family members and friends on both the Lean and Milne side was certainly a highlight in their years together. Words, alone, cannot speak of our parents' devotion to family. Always overly caring and concerned about her family's health, our wellbeing and our continuing education, Mae, "the teacher", spent countless hours at the kitchen table helping her children master their times tables, long division as well as prepare for tests. On trips to Brandon, she borrowed numerous books from the children's library. She helped both her children learn to drive around the farm. She was so very proud of her children, their spouses and her grandchildren's accomplishments! As Alex and Mae made their move to personal care in Minnedosa more than 9 years ago, they continued to enjoy their photos taken of the family. Despite the challenges of growing old, our parents were able to continue to be together for 64 plus years. Our family could not have done this without the friendly, supportive and experienced staff at PCH these past several years. Family members cannot find enough words to thank everyone PCH including those who volunteered their time and talents to entertain and transport residents. There are not enough words to thank our Mom and Dad for all that they have done for our extended family. We are sure that Mom would soon be tinkling the ivories while Dad would be catching up on the farm papers. While your family can't continue to be with you to turn on the TV, don't forget to watch the Lawrence Welk Show on Sunday evenings! Safe journey, Mom, we miss you very much.