Doreen Joyce Hall (nee Boyd) passed away on Friday. August 5, 2022 at Dinsdale Personal Care Home. Doreen was born March 27, 1930 in Frobisher, SK to Wilfred and Muriel Boyd. She started her schooling there, but due to the hardship of the Depression, at the age of seven their family moved to Manitoba with her two younger siblings Audrey and Effie and her older half-brother Mel. They lived with her Uncle Bill Burgess on his farm near Lauder until they were able to purchase one of their own. Doreen then attended Berry Hill country school. From there the family moved to a farm near Medora/Napinka and she attended Purple Hill and Tremblay Schools. Doreen finished her education in Napinka.
As a young girl Doreen had a love for horses and rode “Wanda” to school as well as rides in the country with her friends. For a short time after her schooling, Doreen worked in her half-brother Mel’s grocery store in Lauder. He also offered to put her through hairdressing school but for her own reasons, she turned him down. Even though not formally trained, she did a lot of hairdressing for family and friends in the area including a neighbor fellow who wanted pin curls! She was very adept at doing those, finger waves, perms and haircuts. Doreen’s adventurous spirit as a young woman took her to Winnipeg, where she lived with two roommates, one of whom remained a lifelong friend and married her cousin. Doreen got a job at Picardy’s Bakery, and soon after that she and Ken Hall of Napinka were engaged and married on December 9, 1950.
For the first years of their marriage, they lived on a farm near Napinka with Ken’s brother George, and their first three children were born: Bonnie, Carol and Janice. Following that, they had a new house built by the Co-op in Deloraine and moved it to the farm site 4.5 miles NE of Napinka. There they had three more children: Merla, Gregory and Bradley. Her life was very busy raising her family, gardening and managing the household. Doreen spent countless hours turning the farmyard into a garden atmosphere, where one summer her daughter Jan’s wedding took place. Ken and Doreen worked hard together on their mixed farming operation. Endless meals and countless pies were baked in her kitchen during seeding, harvest, and haying time. She also had a lot of fun for several years selling Avon. Doreen was very talented artistically, and it showed in her sense of style both in her dress and home decorating and took great pride in her appearance. One nephew fondly called her the “lipstick” lady! She sewed most of her own clothes, as well as many of her children’s. She passed on her knowledge of sewing to many young girls in the community in 4-H. Doreen’s Christian values and church life were important to her. Elim Chapel Pentecostal Church in Melita saw her teaching Sunday School and leading Women’s Ministry. She always made sure her family attended regularly.
Following Ken’s untimely passing, Doreen moved to Melita where she was able to spend time with cherished friends and family. She showed great courage in continuing with a smaller version of raising calves for a few years with a valued neighbor friend. She spent many hours playing her beloved Scrabble, bowling and kept a lovely yard there as well. Her bowling skills were well rewarded with more than one trophy! Doreen sensed a feeling of unrest and uprooted herself to Brandon in 2006, where she bought a condo in Village Green. She enjoyed her time there immensely making new friends to play Scrabble with and sharing many meals and coffee time with her newfound social group. Richmond Park Mennonite Church became her new church family.
Doreen’s travel experiences included several trips to BC to visit family and to enjoy the beautiful scenery and she spent some time in Texas a couple of winters. She developed a similar passion for cars as Ken had and put on many miles travelling to visit her family in various locations.
Sadly in 2012, Doreen suffered a stroke which did not allow her to return to her condo. She spent six months in rehab and then was placed in personal care. She spent the last nine years of her life at Dinsdale Personal Care Home, which was a struggle for her at first being a very independent woman. She gradually adjusted and learned to love and appreciate her new home and the staff there. The staff enjoyed her jovial spirit and quick wit!
During Doreen’s life, she showed a great love for family, hosting countless family celebrations in her home with her own children, her siblings and extended family. Christmas was always a special time with her home decorated beautifully, an abundance of good food and of course lots of guests! Outdoor family reunions were held many summers with extended family. She held a deep love and respect for her older half siblings Beatrice, Mel and Russel and would visit as often as possible.
Doreen was predeceased by her parents Wilfred and Muriel Boyd; infant sister Ruth, sister Audrey Bugg, half siblings Beatrice Milford, Mel Boyd, Russel Boyd and Stanley Boyd; son-in-law Ken Barkman; and her beloved husband Ken in 1987. She will be fondly remembered by her children Bonnie Barkman Dirks (Cliff), Carol Johnston (Rob), Janice Nestibo (Delory), Merla Kreuger (Kent), Greg Hall (Renae) and Brad Hall (Tanis); thirteen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren; sister Effie McMurray; sister-in-law Hilda Hall; and many cherished nieces and nephews.
A private family graveside service will take place at Napinka Cemetery with Tunji Olasunkanmi, Spiritual Care Chaplain of Dinsdale Personal Care Home officiating. Flowers are gratefully declined. Donations in memory of Doreen may be made to Napinka Cemetery Fund, Box 101 Napinka MB R0M 1N0.