Emma Karoline Rathgeber was born on December 11, 1928 to John and Theresa (Bauer) Fuhr at Colmer, Saskatchewan. She was baptized, confirmed and married at Zion Lutheran Church, Melville, Saskatchewan. She received her education at Alkerton School in the Colmer district. In grade 8 she received a medal from Canada for having the highest marks. Unfortunately she was unable to pursue her education due to family finances. She loved working on the farm, helping her dad, and often said she would have been happy marrying a farmer. She waitressed at the White Lunch Café, the Beanery and cafes in Vernon, British Columbia.

Emma married Peter Rathgeber on October 12, 1947 at Melville. To this union three children were born, Karin and twins Larry and Lesley.

Pete and Emma loved to dance, and they were the first on the dance floor and the last ones to leave. Emma was a baker and a cook, and nothing was ever left unused, from finding a pig’s tail on top of the sauerkraut to chicken feet. She crocheted afghans, made quilts for everyone, sewed her own clothes, gardened, canned; you name it, she did it. Emma was a caregiver long before the word was invented. She cared for dad and his struggles, his mother and brother and her parents. She had some pretty busy days.

Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her world. Many camping and holiday trips were with her family. She was especially excited about having twins born into the family, having raised twins herself, and was extremely happy to have been able to see them last summer. She was so looking forward to Tannis and Chris’s new baby coming.

Emma’s faith was very strong, and she truly believed in Jesus Christ Our Lord and eternal life.

Emma passed away February 26, 2015 at St. Paul Lutheran Home, where she resided. She will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by her daughter Karin (Dave) Broda, Melville, and their sons - Todd (Nadine) Richardson and their sons Joshua and Evan, Henderson, Nevada, and Jarett Richardson and his son William, Surrey, BC.; her son Larry, Melville, and his daughters - Tara (Kelly Badduke) and children Rylan (Tiegan) and Janine, Melville, Tricia (Scott) Hynds, Regina, and Tannis (Chris) Owens, Regina; her son Les (Lorraine), Crooked Lake, and their sons - Keith (Erin) and their sons, Dexter and Nathan, Calgary, Alberta, and Shaun (Stephanie) and their children Emmett, Norah and Jillian, Paducah, Kentucky; as well as in-laws, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Emma was predeceased by her husband Peter; her parents; step-brother Henry (Elsie) Fuhr, step-sister Agnes (Bill) Meyer, sister Margaret (Ed) Stark, sister Louise (Ernie) Ruecker, plus sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

We love you Mom and will cherish your memory always.