Margaret Mair was born north of Biggar, Sask. to John and Agnes Kleinsasser. Learning with her 7 year old brother John, she was allowed to begin school at age 5. Grades 1 to 9 were in the one room school at Kensmith, Grades 10 and 11 were at Rosthern Junior College, and Grade 12 at Biggar. She completed Teachers College when she was 18 and taught one year at Tweedyside School before marrying Jock Mair. They travelled to New Zealand, Scotland, Eastern Canada and points West. Margaret worked hard with large gardens and was an excellent cook. The children’s clothes were sewn on a Singer treadle machine, later electric. She sewed many household items, dresses and gowns for the girls and for weddings.
Margaret was committed to giving the children the opportunity of music in their lives. They studied piano, violin, voice and theory. She was an avid learner and continued her studies at the U of S, obtaining degrees in Arts (English), Education (Art Education) and Law. Her water colours, several of grain elevators, were shown at Bazaart, several hung in the Mayor’s office in Biggar, and she taught an Art class at Biggar’s Community College. She worked as an investigator for the Office of the Rentalsman in Saskatoon, volunteered for the Elizabeth Fry Society, and enjoyed her employment at Irene Hill’s Ladies Clothing Store, identified by a little boy as “one of the Golden Girls”. After an illness, she volunteered with the Stroke Club and in 2005 moved to a condo at Bethany Manor, where she started a ukulele group of 20 to 30 seniors with a director, and they would perform at Senior Homes. Margaret travelled many times from Saskatoon to Biggar to visit her Mother.
Several months were spent in hospital in Saskatoon before Margaret returned to Biggar LTC for 7 months in 2020. She was grateful for good care, visits from her sister Annette and felt at home again, enjoying the train whistle. In October she moved to Providence Place in Moose Jaw, still active enough to go shopping with the help of the Handi van.
At the age of 90 years Margaret passed with family at her side. She is survived by daughter Shirley Newhouse and children Jamieson (Colette) Newhouse, Heather (Hugo) Peraldo, Jordan Newhouse (Sydney Franks), Becky Newhouse (Kevin Turner); daughter Lynn (Barry) Murk and children Tamara Murk, Dan Murk, Kurtis (Candice) Murk; grandchildren A.J. Mair and Nicole Mair; daughter-in-law PeiLan Xie Mair. She deeply loved her 19 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters Annette McKay and Marion (Gary) McKenzie, brother Bob (Lorna) Kleinsasser, sister-in-law Shirley Kleinsasser, numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by parents John and Agnes Kleinsasser, son John Mair and husband Jock Mair, son-in-law Glenn Newhouse, brother John Kleinsasser, brother-in-law Jim McKay, sister Loraine and brother-in-law Don Adams.
A Memorial will be held in Biggar at a later date.