Mark Traverse

A Wake will be held Fairford House of Prayer 
on Friday November 21, 2025, at 7:00 pm.

The Funeral will be held at Fairford House of Prayer 
on Saturday November 22, 2025, at 11:00 am.
Richard Anderson will be officiating in both services. 

Interment to follow at Obushkudayang Graveyard. 
Supper to follow at Obushkudayang School.

The Pallbearers will be
Grandsons: Patrick Anderson, Marty Marion, Wade Laforme 
Garry Sault, Stanford Sault, Theodore Sinclair.

Reading of the Obituary - Tanya Traverse-Stagg

Cross bearer will be Teegan Sinclair.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dad, grandpa, great grampa, great, great grampa at the age of 95 years old. Mark Passed away at the Ashern Personal Care Home on Saturday November 15, 2025.

Mark leaves to mourn his children: Chris (Alice) Traverse, Tena Sault, Rita (Merv) Sinclair, Ronnie (Charlene) Traverse, Valerie Traverse, Bernice Ryle, Norma (Dean) Laforme, and Charlene (Richard) Anderson, and sons-in-law: Robert Ryle, and Paul Marion

25 Grandchildren, and 84 Great-Grandchildren, 6 Great-Great Grandchildren.

Mark leaves to mourn his sister Evangeline Traverse of Obushkudayang (Lake St. Martin) and numerous nephews and nieces. Special acknowledgement to Dr. Myrle Ballard. He was proud of her work and accomplishments in her career.

Honorary Pallbearers will be all who knew him.

Mark leaves to mourn his in-laws: Doris (Chris) McLeod, Mary Henderson, Allan (Elenor) McKay, Florence Huston. His adopted Bittern's brothers in Berens River, Manitoba.
Mark and Clara married in May 25, 1954. They were married for 44 years before her passing. Together they raised eight children in the old community of Lake St. Martin.

Mark was predeceased by his wife Clara on January 16, 1998. His Parents: Victor & Emma Traverse. His son-in-law Garry S. Sault on September 2, 2025. His great grandson Zayvion Woodhouse on September 25, 2024. His grandson Morgan Traverse on October 14, 2022. His adopted sister-in-law Margaret Bittern, and Late Doreen Traverse in infancy.
Mark was a twin; his late twin brother's name was Matthew. He passed away at a young age.  Pictures of the twins with their late mom Emma Traverse are available for viewing at day of wake & funeral.

He was predeceased by his brothers and sisters: David (Flora)Traverse, Elizabeth (John) Beardy, Harry (Jesse) Traverse, Alec (Jane) Traverse, Jacob Traverse, Edith (Henry) Gagen, and Bertha (Samuel) Sumner, Alvina Traverse.

Mark was the Chief of Lake St Martin from 1971-1974 and 1964-1969. He was a Councillor of Lake St. Martin in 1969, and 1981, 1994, and 1996. He served several terms for both positions.

Mark had many occupations in his lifetime: He was a fisherman for 54 years on the following Lakes: Lake St. Martin, and Lake Winnipeg. He had many hired men and filled his quotas to the max. He retired from fishing in 1998.

Mark had a ranch of cows and horses. He leased land to make hay for the cows. He had tractors and hay bale machinery. He was a trapper who trapped fox, lynx, marten, muskrat, and rabbits to sell for profit. He hunted deer, elk, and moose to provide for his family. Lastly, Mark was an ordained minister and a Pastor for several years. He travelled to Ontario, Saskatchewan, and BC.

Growing up Mark taught his children to pray, love each other, help each other, and never to have a feud with each other, he told them to speak the language in the home all the time. The family prayed together, he took the children to tent meetings, they grew up in the way of the church.

Mark went into Lundar Care-home on Friday May 3, 2024. The family kept him at home as long as they could. Bernice and Val provided home care for him. Ronnie moved in with him for one year before the care home. They all worked together and took turns to take him to his appointments.

Mark stayed in Lundar for 18 months. He moved from Lundar Care-home to Ashern Personal Care-home on Thursday November 13, 2025. He was in Ashern for 3 days before his passing. The family decided to move him closer to home for convenience. Mark agreed to the move to Ashern. He was in good spirit when the family saw him that morning, he was not sick or in pain in anyway. The Care-home staff mentioned that he was awake and looking out the window during his last ride from Lundar to Ashern. When the family greeted him, he looked happy, and felt a sense of peace knowing he was closer to home.

Rita and Merv went to visit Mark on Friday November 14, 2025, at 5:00 pm. He was sleeping, they woke him up and he waved to acknowledge them. Their Granddaughter Tierralynn showed him a picture of him and Clara. He held it and looked at the picture for a couple of minutes before putting it down. They had a short conversation about him being in Ashern. They communicated in the language, he was awake and nodded in response. After their visit, Rita told him they were leaving, he nodded and waved. They called him as they stood at the door, he waved to them again. He waved his final wave (Good-bye). The next morning the family received the phone call he had passed.

The family would like to thank the Lundar Personal Care-home and their staff for taking care of dad while he was there. Thank you to Ashern Personal Care-home for the short stay. Thank you to the Leadership of Lake St. Martin. Thank you to everyone that visited him in Lundar. We appreciate this.
If we forget to add anyone, it is not intentional.

You Meant So Much
By: Cassie Mitchell

You meant so much to all of us
You were special and that's no lie
You brightened up the darkest day
And the cloudiest sky

Your smile alone warmed hearts
Your laugh was like music to hear
I would give absolutely anything
To have you well and standing near

Not a second passes
When you're not on our minds
Your love we will never forget
The hurt will ease in time

Many tears I have seen and cried
They have all poured out like rain
I know that you are happy now
And no longer in any pain.

Dad
-    I remember you,
-    I remember the love you gave.
-    I remember the joy and peace you brought.  
-    I remember the respect you taught me.
-    I remember the laughter you shared.
-    I remember the life you gave me.
-    I remember when you were young and able to care for me.
-    I remember the teachings you offered.
-    I remember the hardships you endured to take care of me.
-    I remember the tears you shed when times were hard.
-    I remember when you tried to be strong.
-    I remember when you needed help and strength to carry on.
-    I remember when I gave you back all the help and love to care for you as you had cared for me.

A Heart Of Gold

A heart of gold stopped beating,
Hardworking hands went to rest,
God took you home to prove to us,
He only takes the best.

We will always remember the way you looked,
The way you walked and smiled,
All the things you did for us,
Will be with us all the while.

You lived your life for those you loved,
Your children taught and grown,
He called to you to come and dwell,
Where no more work is done.