Regina Tress passed away on July 29, 2023, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Regina was born in the Bayard, Saskatchewan area on June 24, 1929. She was the eldest of nine children born to Frank and Anne Morhart. Regina received her first year of schooling at Hapsburg School, near Bayard then the remainder of her schooling in Spring Valley, Saskatchewan. She left school in 1944 to help her parents with the farm until 1945, when she went to work in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. In 1946, she returned to Spring Valley to work in the general store.
It was at the general store that she met her future husband, Frank Tress. Frank and Regina were married on October 14, 1947 in Mater Delarosa Roman Catholic Church, in Spring Valley. They immediately moved onto the farmyard, located near Bayard. Regina and Frank raised seven children on their farm. Their first child, Sharon Ann, passed away in infancy, in 1949. In 1959, upon the death of Frank’s father Josef Tress, Regina and Frank bought the quarter section, which Frank was raised on. Regina and Frank attended St. Joseph’s Parish in Claybank, Saskatchewan, where their seven children received their first four sacraments. While their children were growing up, Regina and Frank made sure that the seven children received their Grade Twelve education in Spring Valley. All seven children were members of the Blue Hill 4-H Beef Club with Regina and Frank’s help. Regina was excellent at ensuring the children’s record books were complete and helped ensure that the calves were ready for the show ring. Regina kept a large garden, enjoyed raising chickens and helped with outside chores as well as being an excellent homemaker, seamstress and cook.
Regina and Frank moved into Moose Jaw, in 1982. Regina became involved with the Moose Jaw Home Town Fair, where she volunteered with the Household Arts and Crafts Committee from 1983 up to and including 2009. While living in Moose Jaw, Regina enjoyed cooking, crocheting, gardening, sewing and making many preservatives. From 1982 to 1987, Regina was employed with Service Master, as a janitor, for CHAB Radio and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Regina also became primary caretaker for her mother Anne. Due to declining health, Regina moved into the Crescent Park Retirement Villa in 2018.
Regina leaves to mourn her children Gerald Tress of Calgary, Alberta, Rosemarie Majeran of Lethbridge, Alberta, Larry (Susie) Tress of Burns Lake, British Columbia, Leona (Robert) Strom of Turner Valley, Alberta, David (Becky) Tress of Washington, Utah, Kathy (Kevin) Aris of Calgary, Alberta and Timothy (Donna) Tress of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; twenty grandchildren; twenty five great-grandchildren. Regina is also survived by three siblings, Anton (Mary) Morhart of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, John (Muriel) Morhart of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and Anne Tarr of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Regina was predeceased by her infant daughter Sharon Ann in April, 1949; husband Frank in 2019; daughter in law Rose in 2022; parents Frank Morhart, in 1951 and Anne Oberderfer, in 2011. Regina was also predeceased by three brothers, Siegmund Morhart in 2017, identical twins Zach Morhart in 1969 and Frank Morhart in 1976; two sisters Rosie Messner in 2009 and Marie Williams in 2010; Frank’s parents Josef, in 1959, and Anna in 1970; as well as all twelve of Frank’s siblings.
A special thank you to the staff of Crescent Park Retirement Villa and Moose Jaw Special Care Home, who have taken care of Mom in the last few years of her life. Also, a thank to Mom’s niece Glenda Eldstrom for all of the help Glenda gave to Mom and Dad in the last few years.
A Prayer Service will be held on Friday August 25, 2023 at 7:00 PM at W.J. Jones & Son Funeral Chapel. A Memorial Mass will take place on Saturday August 26, 2023 at 10:00 AM at St. Joesph’s Parish, 1064 3 Ave NW, Moose Jaw, with Father Bert officiating.
Memorial donations may be made in Regina’s name to St Joseph's Parish or Saskatchewan 4-H Foundation, 3830 Thatcher Avenue, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7R 1A5. In living memory of Regina, a memorial planting will be made by W.J. Jones & Son Ltd. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.wjjonesandson.com (Obituaries).
Chrystine Dacey- Funeral Director