Obituary of Marie June Dagg

Marie June Dagg was born Marie June Kowalchuk in Kamsack, SK on December 21, 1945.  She was the second oldest of five children (Dan, Jim, Bev, and Dave), born to the late Metro and Pauline Kowalchuk.  She grew up on a farm outside Kamsack, SK where she developed a love for animals…except for snakes due to a dead snake incident, and maybe pigs after one escaped and ran her over as she tried to herd it!

Marie attended Saskatchewan Technical Institute in Saskatoon, SK where she trained as a Certified Nursing Assistant.  Once her training was complete, she moved to Tisdale, SK and began working at the Tisdale Union Hospital where she especially enjoyed caring for young children.  It was in Tisdale where Marie met her future husband, Ray Mervin Dagg (although Ray admits he noticed Marie in Saskatoon while they were both attending Saskatchewan Technical Institute).

Little known for many years, Marie became pregnant with Ray’s child and gave birth to a baby boy they named Duane.  Marie and Ray made the heartbreaking decision to give Duane up for adoption one month prior to being married on March 2, 1968.  Twenty-nine years later in 1997, Marie and Ray found their son, now named Warren Ballance, in Okotoks, AB.  Warren is the oldest of four boys in his family, and was a little shocked to learn he also had three full sisters!

Once married, Marie and Ray moved from Tisdale to Prince Albert, then Uranium City, back to Prince Albert, and eventually made their way back to Tisdale to raise a family.  They made good friends along the way and kept in touch with many of them.  Marie and Ray raised three girls, Rheann, Leslie, and Kim on their acreage outside Tisdale.  Marie and Ray owned and operated an ESSO service station in Tisdale for a number of years where Marie worked in the office.  Eventually, Ray began to work in northern SK and Marie worked in Tisdale for various businesses (i.e. Tisdale Recorder, BowMar), always making sure she was home for her girls after school when they were young.  As the girls became older, Marie took a job with Wood Country in Tisdale doing books.  She retired from Wood Country in 2005.

Marie was a wonderful wife and mother who fully supported her family.  Raising three girls while Ray worked away certainly had its challenges, but Marie handled it with ease (even though the girls sometimes drove her crazy)!  She became involved in the organizations her girls joined (i.e. 4-H Club Leader, gymnastics judge, etc).  When the girls were old enough to go out, Marie’s biggest concerns were that her girls were safe.  She drove the girls and their friends many places, and the girls knew they could call anytime (day or night) for a ride.  Marie even became known as Mama Dagg to many of the girls’ friends.

Marie enjoyed gardening, camping, curling, knitting, music, family, animals, and a good visit over coffee (or something stronger).  She always sacrificed her needs for the good of her family.  Marie will be remembered as a strong, kind, and selfless wife and mother who looked after everyone before herself.  She never complained and took everything in stride.  Her character is best demonstrated when she was diagnosed with cancer in January 2017 until her passing on May 9, 2017, at the age of 71.  Marie had many reasons to cry or be angry about her diagnosis.  Instead, she remained strong and continued to say she felt good every time she was asked.  Even while in the hospital, she was concerned about everyone else getting enough rest, and to eat.  She will be dearly missed by all.

Marie is survived by her husband Ray of 49 years, children Warren (Jennifer) Ballance, Rheann (Lee) LaClare, Leslie (Shon) Penner, Kim (Wade) Salmond, grandchildren James & Tyson Ballance, Arizona, Ruger, Laken & Fischer LaClare, Marty, Jorja & Luke Salmond.  Marie is also survived by her brothers and sister, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.