Name: Lois Warner
Family: Married to Terry Warner
Occupation: Farmer
Years in Grenfell: Grew up outside of Summerberry, and back to Grenfell in 1979 - 39 years
Age: 61
What is one life event that changed you?
I guess probably the passing of my parents when I was young. I was 12 when my dad died, and 13 when my mom died. My aunt and uncle raised me after that - my mom's sister and her husband. They lived in Regina, but they quit their jobs and came back to the farm near Summerberry. I guess I had to grow up in a hurry. I'm an only child, but I'm really close with all of my cousins, on both sides.
What is something your spouse does that you really appreciate?
Just being there, through the good and the bad. He keeps me on the straight and narrow. There's always something every day that I appreciate. I just like having him in my life. I can't think of one specific thing. I think I've become a stronger person with him. I used to be, well, still am, emotional - but I've gone through a lot of hard life situations in the last ten years, and I don't know if I would have been as strong without him beside me.
What's the bravest thing you've ever done?
In 2018, I probably have done the two bravest things that I've ever had to do. I wrote my Auntie Mavis's eulogy in March and on Sunday I assisted my cousin Shirley with our cousin Laverna's eulogy. I lived with her when I lived in Regina. She was more like a sister than a cousin. So for me to get up in front of a bunch of people, it was hard. So ya, those two things were brave.
You're on a road trip. What music is playing?
Country. I've found a Sirius radio station that's all country. It's a really good channel. That, or rock and roll. My favorite country singer is probably Alan Jackson. Some of the newer stuff, but more the 80s and 90s country. And the 60s and 70s rock and roll. I like my sirius radio for that, because you can find really specific stations.
What was your first concert?
I think it was Roy Orbison, back in the late 60s, early 70s, with my cousins Leslie, Joanne, and I think Laverne. I was about 13 or 14. It was in Regina at the Center of the Arts.
What scar do you have that tells the best story?
The one on my elbow. We were snomobiling, in I think 2004. A bunch of us decided to go for a ride. We were going down a backroad, and I don't know exactly what happened, but I fell off the embankment and my skidoo fell on top of me. Bill and Beryl were there, so Beryl came running over right away. I just remember looking up at Barnie Stopanski and he was standing there looking at me and I said "Barney, get off my hand!" And Beryl said he wasn't on my hand. But it was tingling. We were out near Joe and Doreen Rieger's, so Joe went and got her and her and Beryl took me to Broadview hospital. The xrayed it and then sent me to Regina. I had to wait three days for the parts to come from Toronto - they had to put a metal ball in there. I broke the head off my elbow. I have to be careful when I go through the airport! So I guess that's probably the only scar I have.
Where is the last place you went on a holiday?
We went to Stettler, AB on the July long weekend, for a wedding. They have a little campground right on the edge of Stettler, and it's privately owned. It was just beautiful. We only had to walk a little ways from our camp site to where the wedding was. We didn't have a lot of time to tour around, because we got there at 6:00 on friday night and the wedding was saturday. And then Sunday was the 1st, but they didn't have a July 1st celebration in town. I didn't feel like doing much anyway, because that was the day my cousin Laverna died. I got that phone call that morning. We came home monday. We saw the town a little bit, and it was a nice drive out there, and nice to see another part of the country.
What is your biggest fear?
Heights. Two, maybe three steps up on a stepladder. I'm getting better. When Terry went to look at his first self propelled combine, we weren't married yet, and I looked up there and thought "I don't think I can climb up there!" After my first trip up, then I was o.k. But yes, fear of heights. I've always had that. As a little kid, to get up on the horses, I remember just crying to be let down.
Which province would you like to go to that you haven't been to yet?
Nova Scotia, or anywhere in the Maritimes. I look at the pictures and I think it looks so gorgeous. It's hard to get away though when you have cattle.
Talk about a friend that you admire.
My cousin Laverna that just passed away with cancer. I admired her for her bravery. She was diagnosed in March. So from then until she passed away earlier this month, she just had such courage, and I admired her spirit.