Theodore Ehrhardt Fladeland

Theodore Ehrhardt Fladeland was born July 21, 1923, ½ mile South of Gladmar, in the farm home of his parents,  Theodore and Selma,  on his father’s birthday.  He attended Hummingbird School, where he completed his grade 8.  He walked 1 mile cross country to school, he was very proud of Hummingbird School.  He completed his formal grade 9 education in Gladmar.  He started his farming career at the young age, of twelve when he learned to drive a tractor.  His father was a sub agent for John Deere & Case in Gladmar but they went Case and Ted became a Loyal CASE man forever.

In 1943 he bought his first car, a 1939 Ford Coupe, that he named the Mountain Climber.  Many of us heard stories about the Mountain Climber, how he drove to pick “Gertrude” up, to take her to dances in Ceylon.  He was loyal to Ford vehicles, he had a sign in his yard “Ford parking only” and of course often teased others who did not drive Fords.

Ted married the love of his life, Gertrude Gold on Monday, July 2, 1945, in Ceylon, SK, at the Catholic Rectory.  After the ceremony they returned to the Gold farm for a celebration.  They had a one week honeymoon and a wedding dance at the Minton Hall.  He brought his new bride to the farm, where they enjoyed 75 years, 7 months and 2 days of marriage.  They TRULY lived their marriage vows.  They had six children: Dennis, Wayne, Karen, Judy, Dianne and Murray.  This family of eight grew to include: spouses of their children, 18 grandkids plus spouses, 30 great grandkids and 1 great great grandkid.

Sadly through the years their family became smaller, with the passing of Judy, Dennis, Wendy and Murray.

In 1929 he watched the CPR Railway come to Gladmar and 70 years later he sat in that same spot and watched them pull that track out. 

Ted and his Dad farmed together and raised cattle, in 1945 they got their 1st rubber tired tractor.  He also worked together with his brothers Arthur and Wilhelm and then farmed together with his sons Dennis and Wayne.  As Dennis and Wayne’s families grew and Ted got older he sold the land to Dennis and Wayne, except one quarter, he was still a farmer, to the end.  Ted and his father started their purebred polled hereford cattle business in 1945.  Ted and Gertie purchased their first purebred heifer with $100 of their wedding money.  Ted Fladeland & Sons: T.F.S. Purebred Polled Herefords:  Ted, Dennis, Wayne and Murray, this cattle operation was started in 1964. In 2000, he was presented with two pins, a 25 year pin and a 50 year pin from the Canadian Hereford Association.  Ted  REALLY enjoyed watching cattle sales and shows, especially when a member of his family  was in it.  But as he often said and we knew he wasn’t teasing, because in his heart,  “Herefords are the Best !”

In 1954 Ted and Gertie traveled to Ontario to the Ford Assembly Plant to get their first new car, a blue Meteor.  In 1965 they built the big round roof barn, which he was very proud of.  In 1970 they built their new home, where many wonderful family gatherings have taken place.

Ted was not born in Norway BUT we think he wished he was, he truly loved his Norwegian ancestry, with lots of stories about it.  His favourite coffee cup reads  “ I’m not perfect but I am Norwegian and that’s kind of the same thing”

Ted had many hobbies: wood and metal working, hunting, collecting- toy tractors and cars, coins, plates and bottles.  He was a meticulous craftsman and each year would donate, 1 or 2 of his prize, red ribbon creations to the Minton Gladmar Family Fall Fair Auction, they always brought high dollars for the fair.   Many people admired his collections and his creations.  Ted loved working in his yard: spending many hours meticulously planting flowers and tomatoes, for everyone to enjoy, especially Gertrude.  He was the mighty hunter and we all enjoyed hearing the stories about his great hunting expeditions with his friends, sons, grandsons and great grandkids. 

Ted was a community man, he was on the board of directors for:  the Gladmar Community Hall, the Gladmar and Radville Co-op for 15 yrs, the Gladmar Lutheran Church from 1988 to his passing and the Minton Gladmar Family Fall Fair from 1990 to his passing.  He spent many hours designing the gates for Dovre Lutheran Cemetery and Gladmar cemetery.  He planted trees and built the gate for the Gladmar Cemetery in memory of Judy. He helped with maintenance at both.

Dancing of all kinds was also a favourite for Ted.   He would play the tape and with his grandkids, they all would do the bird dance (Chicken dance) , Christmas, Easter any gathering, as years passed it became a tradition to do at any celebration, with the grands and the greats.  Now in your memory, Grandpa Ted your Grands and Greats will carry that on.  Ted and Gertie loved to dance.  It truly was a joy to watch them old time waltz and float around the dance floor, if you ever saw them dance, close your eyes and  you can just picture it.   They square danced for many years, travelling with their good friends to many conventions.  They loved to travel by car, bus and plane.  They visited every USA state and every Canadian province.

They celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary with a large parade in Gladmar, of course Ted proudly wore his wedding suit and today we lay him to rest in that suit.

Grampa Ted, as he was called by many, lived by:  Love, Faith, Honesty, Friendship, Teasing and Hard Work.   Every Task he completed to the best of his ability and he taught anyone he worked with these values.  Family always came first.  It was always a celebration when any family members came to visit.  We should celebrate his life, like he did, by eating tomatoes,  the same way he celebrated every quarter, or half birthday or any random Tuesday.

We have all heard many times,” Just wait I have something to tell you “and then another story would be told.  One of his favourites in the later years became an annual event.  It was to have his picture taken in front of the outhouse on his birthday.  The reason for this was because the outhouse and Ted arrived on the farm the same day.

Apparently on a cold day like this he would say “ its so cold,  that when I’m outside I have to back up when I take a pee.” 

We will miss your stories but just like your values, they have been passed on to your kids, grandkids and great grandkids and they will carry on.  The stories won’t be as good as you could tell them, with that twinkle in your eye but we will do our best.   

Gertrude says, “it was like a roller coaster, with many ups and downs but it has been a Great ride”.  

Theodore was predeceased by his parents, Theodore and Selma Fladeland; mother and father-in-law, Konrad and Anna Gold; his daughter Judy; sons, Dennis and Murray; daughter-in-law Wendy; siblings and in-laws: his brothers, Arthur (May) Fladeland, Wilhelm (Clara) Fladeland; sisters: Cora (Art) Matters, Anna (Ole) Eikemo, Emily McGugan; brother-in-law Joe Kaufmann; sisters-in-law: Anna (Raymond) Hoffman, Katie (John) Kohl, brothers-in-law: Joe (Barbara) Gold, Konrad (Blanche) Gold, and George Gold.

Theodore is survived by his loving wife, Gertrude of 75 years, 7 months and 2 days; son Wayne Fladeland; daughters, Karen (Dwayne) Fettes, Dianne (Greg) Dedora; daughter-in-law Valerie Fladeland; 18 grandkids: Bret (Oksana) Fladeland, Bridget Fladeland, Ian (Jody) Fladeland, Paul Fladeland; Del (Lisa) Fladeland, Clint Fladeland, Louelle Fladeland; Trina (Perry) Verhelst, Tyler (Lori) Fettes, Scott (Tina) Fettes; Jared (Alicia) Dedora, Joshua Dedora, Pamela (John Fenrich), Dexter (Kayla) Dedora; Logan Fladeland, Austin Fonk, Ryan (Sheena) Fonk and Evan Fonk; 30 great grandkids: Gabriel and Mila Fladeland, Hannah, Jessica and Brianna Fladeland, Mya Fladeland, Sam Jackiw, Kelsie (Taylan) Prokop; Dawson, Rylan and Brayden Fladeland, Benz and Tave Fladeland; Olivia, Julia and James Verhelst, Cody, Cassidy and Carter Fettes,  Brandy and Eric Fettes; Keely, Reagan and Benson Dedora, Simon and Maxwell Fenrich-Dedora, Dunn, Dace and Dallya Dedora; and James Fonk; 1 great great grandkid Charlotte Prokop; sister Nina Kaufmann; nephews, nieces, cousins and a huge extended family of friends.

Ted was very proud that he was born on the family farm, he could sit at the dining table and see the area where he was born in the old house.  He lived a great life and passed away peacefully in his home on the farm.   He was loved by many, a life well lived, we thank God for the Blessing of his life.  He TRULY will be Missed but Never Forgotten.

Public visitations were held Sunday, February 7, 2021, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m and Monday, February 8, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. both from RD Family Funeral Chapel, Weyburn, SK. 

Due to Covid 19 restrictions, we all must abide by the province of Saskatchewan’s restrictions on public gatherings by limiting the number of people attending the service to 30 people. 

A Private Funeral Service was held Monday, February 8, 2021 at 1:00 p,m. from RD Family Funeral Chapel with Wendy Caldwell officiating.  A Private Interment followed at Gladmar Cemetery, Gladmar, SK. 

For those wishing to join the family, please follow the live stream video by opening Theodore’s memorial page on RD Family Funeral Chapel’s website, www.rdfuneralchapel.com starting at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, February 8, 2021.

For family and friends so wishing, charitable donations in memory of Theodore may be made to STARS Air Ambulance, 2640 Airport Road, Regina, SK, S4W 1A6.

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