Marilyn Ballantyne

Marilyn was born June 14, 1960 in The Pas, Manitoba to the late Rachel (nee: Flett) and Arthur Crain. Marilyn grew up for a short time in Muskoday and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. After the loss of her mother, Marilyn moved back to Opaskwayak, Manitoba. Marilyn’s mother passed away when she was only ten years old. After this time she and her siblings went and lived with family. Marilyn was raised by her maternal Auntie and Uncle, Josephine and Norman Budd. She accepted and called Josephine her mother and was thankful to them for raising her. During her younger days Marilyn and her friends belonged to Opaskwayak Angels and Wild Cats. She enjoyed playing baseball and was a traditional pow wow dancer. Marilyn received her education at Opasquia School and Margaret Barbara Collegiate Institute. For a short time Marilyn worked at Aseneskak Casino, Moose Lake Band Office, Department of Justice and she was a business woman as she owned her own little store in Crossing Bay, Manitoba. Her most important and much loved occupation was a partner to Harry and mother to her children. Harry met Marilyn formerly at The Pas Reserve Hall during a bingo. He stated that he seen her and she stole his heart. Harry got a friend to bring him to town from Moose Lake one day. Telling him that he had to come and pick up something, here they came to Opaskwayak and took Marilyn back to Moose Lake. Her mom scolded her when she came home telling her that she can’t do that and that she would have to marry him. Later on Marilyn was united in marriage to Harry Ballantyne on December 16, 1978, together they raised their children; Josette, Amy, Rachel, Waylon and Denny. Marilyn loved her family incredibly and was very close to her sister, Delores, and before her sudden passing Marilyn took and raised Delores son, Denny, as her own. Harry always referred to Marilyn as his “Dear”. Marilyn enjoyed taking care of her children and assisting in raising her grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking, baking, traveling, listening to music, camping, singing and playing bingo. During the 2010 Opaskwayak Indian Days she won first in the Karaoke Singing Competition, her love for singing earned her the nickname “Kitty Wells”. After a short battle with cancer and with family by her side, Marilyn passed away peacefully during the early morning hours of August 20, 2011 at The Pas Health Complex at the young age of 51 years. Marilyn will be missed by her husband, Harry Ballantyne. Her daughters: Josette (Jimmy James) Ducharme, Rachel (Lawrence) Campbell and Amy (Moses) Ballantyne. Her sons: Waylon Ballantyne(Kate Myers), and Denny (Helen) Crain. Her grandchildren: Erika, Louie, Lennox, Lealand, Kordell, Klorissa, Kajdrin, Kelton, Kenley, Keyandra, Chais and Bryce. Her brothers; Ken (Angela) Crain, Keith Crain (Julianna Cook) and Lyle (Sheryl) Crain and families. Her step sisters; Hazel McNabb, Mary Anne Bignell and Angie Hardisty. Her sister and brother in laws; Albert Ballantyne, Harvey Ballantyne, Laddie Ballantyne, May Pitre, Linda Ballantyne, Marlene Campbell, Mary Campbell and Bertha Ballantyne. Her aunties/Uncles; Henry Flett (Rebecca Garson), Josephine (Norman) Budd, Nancy (Lucien) Spence, Maggie Flett, Jimmy (Eliza) Crain, Elmer (Sylvia) Bear, Julia Bear, Hazel (Lionel) Lariviere, Linda Pederson (Tom Caron), Florence Bear, Beatrice (Dennis) Sorenson and Myrtle Crain. Her many friends and good friends; Carla Tobacco and Carla Demery. Her god children; Stephan Cochrane Crain and Denny Crain. Many cousins, nieces and nephews too numerous to mention. Marilyn was predeceased by her parents: Rachel and Arthur Crain. Parents in law: Emily and Louisone Ballantyne. Her grandparents; Edna and Alex Crain, and Martha and George Flett. Also by an infant brother, infant sister and younger sisters Valerie and Delores Crain. Her godmother; Beatrice Wilson. Her nieces, Danielle Crain, Taylor Campbell, Brenda and Kelly Ballantyne. Nephews; Elliott Flett Brian Campbell and David Ballantyne. Cousins; Randy Joseph Spence, Lawrence Guiboche and Darrell Spence. Her Uncles; George Flett, Duncan Flett, Harvey Bear, Lloyd Bear, Chief Francis Flett, John L. Flett. Her Aunties Judith Flett and Agnes Flett. Her brother in laws; Adolfe Ballantyne, Rene Ballantyne and Melvin Ballantyne. Her sister in laws; Lillian Allen, Betsy Ballantyne and Mary Jane Ballantyne. If we forgot to mention anyone, we are sorry and it was not intentional. WAKE SERVICES Margaret Henderson Parish Hall Opaskwayak, Manitoba Wednesday, August 24, 2011 WAKE SERVICES Moose Lake Community Hall Moose Lake, Manitoba Thursday, August 25, 2011 FUNERAL SERVICES Moose Lake Community Hall Rev. Clara Lambert Presiding Moose Lake, Manitoba Friday, August 26, 2011 2:00 p.m. INTERMENT St. Dominic Cemetery Moose Lake, Manitoba PALLBEARERS Waylon Ballantyne, Ken Crain, Keith Crain, Brennon Crain, Denny Crain, Louie Campbell, Tony Flett, Jason Ballantyne, Trinity Knight, Mike Flett Sr., Garth Flett, George A. Flett, Mark Handley, George Spence, Brian Spence, Doug Spence, John Flett, Norman Budd Jr., Rodney Flett, Dennis Flett, Ernie Flett, Dennis Flett, Delbert Flett, Riley Flett, Neil Flett, Pat South, Stephan Cochrane, Dakota Head, Lyle Crain Jr., Markus Crain, Logan Crain, Dan Constant, Brad Campbell, Garry Campbell Sr., Murray Campbell, Harvey Campbell, Rainy Ballantyne, Darcy Ballantyne, John Ballantyne, Rainy Ballantyne Jr., John R. Nasecapow, Roman Ballantyne, Randy Ballantyne, Roger Ballantyne, Harry “Sonny” Ballantyne Jr., Conrad Ballantyne, Melvin Ballantyne, Darrell Ballantyne, Jeff Allan, Andy Allan, Fabian Campbell, Adolf Ballantyne Jr., Ryan Campbell, Chris Ballantyne, Ricky Ballantyne, Brian Ballantyne and Orvill Ballantyne HONORARY PALLBEARERS Baby brother Lyle Crain, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and all her friends.