Esther Dahl

Esther Ann Nieminen-MacLaurin–Dahl

December 22, 1930 - March 29, 2020

Our families greatest gift has left us. Mom was wise, loving, funny, and full of adventure. She wasn’t an ordinary woman and will be missed by so many.

Mom was born on the family farm in the Roe school area of Abbey, SK to Nilo & Annie — Finnish immigrants. She was a baby sister to her two brothers, Pat (Laurie) and Andrew. 

Mom married Ian MacLaurin (September 15, 1928 –December 16, 1962) and lived on the farm. The boys, Dan and Jim, were born before the family moved to Abbey, then Marjory and Bev were added to the family.

Dad passed in 1962, so Mom was raising four kids by herself when she was 32 years old. Grandparents, friends, and neighbours were a tremendous help. Mom was strong and resilient. She worked, had boarders, gardened, made the best ice carnival costumes, and never missed driving for hockey and baseball games. Mom had a passion for all of the arts and especially loved music and dancing.

In her next chapter, Mom married Hank Dahl, (October 26, 1916-October 16, 1973) in 1966 and moved the family to Swift Current. Hanks daughters, Arlene and Nancy, joined the family.

Mom was an inspiration. She worked full time and she also loved to golf, curl, play bridge and scrabble, and do her daily crossword puzzle — anything that would exercise her competitive spirit. She believed in giving back to her communities and volunteered with Lioness, Rebecca Lodge, Hospital Auxiliary, Wellness Clinics, Doc’s Town, her Condo board, and the patient board at the Meadows. Mom had so many friends of all ages, from all walks of life, and enjoyed and valued each one. It is impossible to mention them all, she had a knack at making them feel special.

Abbey remained important to her and she always called it home. She never forgot those who helped her along her way and loved going back to catch up with the locals and spreading the word of Abbey’s accomplishments.

Mom’s siblings, their families, Hank’s families, and our father’s families remained important and she kept in touch with all of them, the glue that held them together.

As life happened, Mom would acknowledge events and always find a positive way to move forward.

Mom was happiest when there were people around and she was visiting and entertaining. Most recently at her home in the Meadows she was a social butterfly. She enjoyed her time and was loved by the residents and staff alike.

Mostly, she loved her family, which grew to include ten grandchildren — Chris, Trevor, Paula, Ian, Michael, Mark, Jonathan, Peter, Jessica, and Raelene — eighteen great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

The Inurnment Service for Mrs. Esther Dahl was held Thursday, June 18, 2020 from the Abbey Cemetery, Abbey, SK

In lieu of flowers and in recognition of our Mom, Esther Dahl, donations gifted to the Meadows, Swift Current, SK would be appreciated by the family.

We, as would Mom, would like to thank the hard-working staff of The Meadows.

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