Erla Meyer

A Celebration of Life for Erla will be held on Feb 22, 2024 from 5:00 – 9:00 pm at St. Olaf’s Lutheran Church in Swift Current.

Donations can be made in Erla’s memory to the Canadian Mental Health Foundation, Swift Current Chapter, the Swift Current SPCA, or the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

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March 7, 1946 – December 6, 2023

Erla Margaret Meyer SWIFT CURRENT - On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, surrounded by the love of her husband, Lloyd Meyer, and her daughter, Rhonda Reardon (nee Zacharias), Erla Meyer (nee Kruppke) peacefully passed away peacefully after a very brief, quiet, and courageous battle with cancer. 

As a loving and wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and friend, Erla will be remembered in our hearts with love and a smile.

Erla was born in Herbert, SK on March 7, 1946 to John & Margaret Kruppke. For much of her childhood and formative years, she lived in Swift Current, SK with her sisters Adela (Bob) Richardson, Doris (Michael) Warren, Pauline (Michael) Gorgichuck, and her brother, Art (Anna Mae) Kruppke.

She was predeceased by her parents, John & Margaret Kruppke; in-laws, Abe & Lena Meyer; her sisters, Adela and Doris, and her son, Douglas John Zacharias (1973-2018).

She and the love of her life and husband of 40 years, Lloyd Meyer, were married August 27, 1983 after falling in love over curling rocks.

She will be forever remembered with love in our hearts by her husband, Lloyd; daughter, Rhonda; and grandchildren, Claire, Mitchell, and Hannah Reardon; as well as many other family members and friends including her siblings, nieces, and nephews.

Erla had a zest and tenderness for all life had to offer.  This was reflected in both her accomplishments and the love she abundantly shared with those she cared about for all the days she was given.

Erla explored many different career avenues after graduating high school from the Swift Current Collegiate Institute in 1964. She began her career in banking at the Pioneer Credit Union, later progressing to the Royal Bank. This was followed by an interest in accounting, which she explored by working briefly for Stark and Marsh Accountants and Herbert-Morse Agencies. Her childhood dream, however, was to become a Registered Nurse.

She began this journey in 1987 after graduating from the Kelsey Institute with a certification as Special Care Aide while working at the Herbert Nursing Home. As she continued to work, she graduated from SIAST in 1989 with a Nursing Assistant Certificate. With a continued passion for healthcare and drive to do more, she graduated with a Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing in 1990 from SIAST and began working Cypress Regional Hospital. She continued to study at SIAST and completed a Certificate in Gerontological Nursing in 1993 and earned her RN with a Diploma of Nursing in 1996. For a brief period thereafter, she completed several classes at the University of Saskatchewan with the intention of completing her degree in Nursing, but ultimately decided her interest and skill were best served in patient care. She worked for the Cypress Hills Regional Hospital throughout her career, primarily focusing her time in the acute psychiatry unit up until her passing. 

Erla loved traveling and did several trips with her husband across the US, visiting Las Vegas, San Francisco, Houston, and Hawaii. One year, the pair travelled to Mazatlan, Mexico where they had many adventures-enough that Erla did not ever want to go back! In Canada, they made many smaller trips to Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, as well as locally to Cypress Hills and the Swift Current Landing where she and Lloyd enjoyed camping. 

Her daughter and grandchildren were always thrilled to see Grandpa and Grandma visit their home in Halifax, Nova Scotia every year. They reciprocated this travel with a Reardon family visit to Swift Current most summers. Family visits were filled with cherished memories of playground visits, baking, cooking, crafts, playdough, forts, reading, and trips to Cypress Hills Provincial Park or the Landing, BC, and various Nova Scotia locations. Saying goodbye each visit was always heartbreaking, but Grandma always made it easier by punctuating time in between visits with phone calls, letters, and post office deliveries of presents for all holidays and occasions, most notably Christmas. Grandma never missed a year! She lived every moment out loud with her grandchildren from near or far. 

Outside of work and travel, she had a flair for cooking and baking and spent time teaching her grandchildren the ropes of special German meals such as homemade pasta in cream sauce with farmer’s sausage, perogies, as well as bread, buns, and cookies. In her pastime, Erla enjoyed nurturing indoor plants, reading, and movies — especially around the topics of true crime mysteries. We also remember her soft and tender heart for animals, even Nova Scotian lobsters.

With her husband, they enjoyed being fans at various sports events either live or from the comfort of their home including the Scott Tournament of Hearts and Saskatchewan Roughrider games.

The family would like to extend their gratitude for the exemplary care of Dr. Bakare throughout this heart wrenching chapter of Erla’s life. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Erla Meyer, please visit our floral store.