Esther Pearl Gallant
August 28, 1935 – August 5, 2024
Esther Pearl Gallant was born in Birch Hills, SK, on August 28, 1935. She was adopted by Hetty and Herb Burgess who lived in a little log house in the hills north of Battleford, SK. She had an older adopted brother Gordon and, in a few years, a younger brother James. Unfortunately, when James was born his mother, Hetty, had a stroke. As time passed, Hetty died and Gordon was sent to live with his Aunt Mary in Edmonton, AB. The rest of the family moved nearby to the home of another aunt and later Esther lived with other relatives, George and Agnes Rogers. She attended country schools, loved riding horses, and learned to play the piano. Esther attended a Seventh-day Adventist boarding high school, Canadian Junior College, in Lacombe, AB. After finishing grade 12 she came to the Quill Lakes area to sell Christian books door to door. Here she met the love of her life, Henry Gallant. They were married on August 3rd, 1955. At first, they farmed with the Rogers family near the Battlefords and drove gravel trucks. In about 1958, after baby Garry Roger was born, they bought a farm from Mike Manchur in the Spalding RM and moved there. More children came to bless their family, including Sherry, Terry Allen, Sandy, Terry Angus, and Carson. They worked hard, built up the cattle and grain farm, and started a trucking business. Esther also followed a lifetime goal; she became a nurse’s aide and worked many years in the Watson Hospital. Often, she'd nurse all night and work in the trucking office most of the day. Through the years the farm was rented out and a semi repair business had grown. Right up to the week before she went to the hospital for the last time, Esther came out to the office five days a week to answer phones and dispatch the trucks. She loved to be in the middle of the action. Combining, gardening, hostessing, and loading trucks, all her life she was hard at it. Because they had such big hearts, Esther and Henry also took in and cared for many foster children. Esther was a generous, strong woman who always loved and trusted God. If you ever received love from Esther, it was God shining through her. She yearned for all to fall in love with God as she had, as she wanted everyone to find a friend in Him. She was an elder in the Quill Lake Seventh-Day Adventist Church, preached sermons that taught about God's love, and played the piano beautifully. Esther wanted to know more about her birth parents. After some searching, she found Ella Leo, her birth mother. They developed a good relationship, and Ella lived in Watson for a few years. Later she found her birth father, Allan Wood. At age 96, Allan moved from Ontario to live with Esther. He was a strong, kind man and lived with her until his passing just days before his 102nd birthday. Esther loved and kept his little white dog Bentley. Bentley was her close companion and brought her so much joy. Esther was a force to reckon with. She would tell you like it was and yet bless you with God's love. She survived many accidents and illnesses. For example; she hit a moose with her car and survived to tell about it, crashed into a bail wagon on the highway, survived one of the first waves of Covid in 2020, and dealt with the heartbreak of the passing of her baby son Terry Allen, her grandson Austin, her husband Henry of almost 50 years, and her daughter Sherry who fought cancer as hard as she could. Esther never wavered in her fight to live, even in the end, but her physical heart couldn't keep on. On August 5, 2024, she fought her last battle with illness and passed away in Humboldt Hospital surrounded by her loving family. To her last day, she was determined to get home and make a special meal for the family reunion she planned to have in the middle of August. The family looks forward to Jesus soon coming when we can all be together again. What a reunion that will be! Esther just beamed with pride when she talked about all her family. During her last days she expressed how she wanted all of you to know how much she loved you! Esther was predeceased by her birth parents Ella Leo and Allen Wood; adoptive parents Herb and Hetty Burgess; husband Henry Gallant; baby Terry Allen; grandson Austin Mielke; daughter Sherry (Bill) Mielke; and brothers Gordan and Jim Burgess. She is survived by son Garry (Myrna); son Terry Angus (Debbie); son-in-law Bill Mielke; daughter Sandy (Ken) Pfneisl; son Carson; 12 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and of course, her little side-kick Bentley. The Funeral Service was held at Quill Lake Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Quill Lake, officiated by Pastor Cliff Holm, who also welcomed everyone and opened with prayer. Others taking part were: Mike Humenny, scripture reader; Darla Gallant, life sketch; Hudson Gallant, picture presentation; Patti and Ron Hetland, prayer. The urn bearer was Terry Gallant, and honorary urn bearers were Garry Gallant, Sandy Pfneisl and Carson Gallant. Interment took place at Quill Lake Seventh-Day Adventist Cemetery. Memorial donations may be directed to the Humboldt District Hospital Foundation – General Equipment Fund (P.O. Box 1740, Humboldt, SK, S0K 2A0).
This Notice Is Courtesy Of
Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral & Cremation Services - Humboldt, Saskatchewan
(306-682-4114)