Doris Whyte

Doris Whyte

April 18, 1934 - January 2, 2026

With heavy hearts, we announce that our beloved Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma, Doris Whyte passed away at home in Bengough, SK on January 2, 2026 at the age of 91.

Doris will be forever missed by her son Ken; son-in-law Gordon Stewart; grandchildren Dawn (David), Jody (Geof), and David (Cherry); her great-grandchildren Kelsey, Colton, Noah-Dawn, Jonah, Joran, Brock (Sierra), Alexander, and Olivia; her sisters Jean (Elton) Hill and June Scott, numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Doris is predeceased by her parents Cornelius and Jane-Mary “Jennie” Verboom (Collot-Leonard); her husband Clinton Kenneth Whyte; daughters Marie Stewart and Doreen Whyte; sister-in-law Ethel (Fred) Howlett; son-in-law Terry Duncan; grandson-in-law Dean Culbert; nine brothers; and five sisters, as well as many other cherished relatives.

Doris was born on April 18, 1934 to Cornelius and Jennie Verboom at the family farm near Ogema, SK. Doris attended Mount Joy School and for a short time, Ogema School, before returning home to help on the family farm. Before she married, she worked as a nanny for Stuart and Donella McKague. She excelled at all sports, but especially loved baseball. Growing up with so many brothers and sisters, a game of baseball was a favourite way to pass the time. Doris met Clinton Whyte and they were married on March 16, 1953. They made their life farming in the Harptree and Bengough area with their three children Marie, Doreen and Ken. It was a life built on hard work, but the rewards were plentiful. Tending the crops and keeping the livestock and flocks, the farm provided most every need for the family. Doris kept a large garden every year with a particular knack for growing tomatoes. She loved flowers and grew most from seed each spring. The Whyte home was filled with love and often the sweet smell of fresh baked bread and cinnamon buns or maybe an apple pie! Clint and Doris enjoyed square dancing and the whole family would attend many dances, in matching outfits made by Doris, of course. They spoke fondly of the friends and memories of fun they had square dancing. Doris would accompany Clint as he umpired at baseball games and tournaments. She would pack a picnic lunch which always included her delicious potato salad and they’d find some shade to sit and eat their dinner in between games. Clint and Doris drove school bus in Bengough for over 30 years which they thoroughly enjoyed and came to know and love many of the children on their route. Doris also worked as a Laundress at the Bengough Union Hospital for 33 years until she retired in 1994. After retiring, she focused on family and her life at home on the farm.

Doris was very involved in the community of Bengough volunteering and helping out in any way she could. She was famous for her pies, and when donated for auction they were relied on to bring in good bids. Doris was delighted and proud of how much her pies earned for the cause, but you might also hear her say to the lucky bidder, “You know you can come and have some pie for free anytime!” She enjoyed attending events in the community and could often be found at the curling rink or the Drop In helping out when hands were needed or just enjoying the event. She volunteered many hours to the Deep South Pioneer Museum in Ogema making ice cream or churning butter from fresh cream during school tours and Museum Day for many years. If you attended Museum Day, you surely would have had a slice of that famous pie. Any kind of pie you could imagine made from scratch by Doris, her sister Jean, and other family and friends. All proceeds were donated back to the museum. Another favourite pastime for Doris was painting ceramics. For decades, she painted and gifted her lovely work to the people who mattered. Every child received a piggy bank and if you had a fancy for anything, soon enough, you’d have it. She made sure of it.

Family was an ingredient in everything, whether it was sharing a meal in the field during harvest, planting and tending the garden or hosting a dance in the new barn – family was always the reason. We cannot begin to measure all that Doris gave to those she loved in her incredibly long life. We are so grateful for the time we had to spend with her. We will always feel her presence in our hearts.

There was no time to say goodbye

Remember me as you think best

The happy time – forget the rest.

Look for me and I’ll be there

And you will find me everywhere

In the gentle touch of breeze

That cools the skin or swirls the leaves.

In the scent and colour of flowers

That gave to me such happy hours

On sunny days under sunny skies of blue

Just think of me, I’ll be with you.

Live each day as if it were your last,

and garden as though you will live forever. 

Memorial Service

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 11:00 am
Community Hall
Bengough, Saskatchewan

Interment

Bengough Cemetery
Bengough, Saskatchewan

For family and friends so wishing, charitable donations in memory of Doris may be made to the Bengough Drop In, 281 Main Street, Bengough SK, S0C 0K0 or the Deep South Pioneer Museum, 504 Government Road, Ogema, SK, S0C 1Y0