THIS IS ALL ABOUT KATIE (Deceased May 10, 2014)

I knew Jim before I met Katie and after meeting her I became encouraged….there was hope for this guy yet.

There was a special bond created between Jim and I when we unceremoniously became delegates to initiate a unification of young Doukhobors in Western Canada back in 1969. January was a bad choice to go to Saskatchewan but after six days of marathon meetings, blizzards mixed with hospitality, I knew that Jim was a good leader when he drove into Swift Current in a blinding snow storm while I navigated. I asked that infamous question “are we there yet as the speedometer suggests we must be?”

His answer was “how would I know as I cannot see a thing!”

I opened the door and bumped into a parking meter, “We are here!”

Yes I knew then I was safe with Jim. No, we did not achieve unification of Doukhobors!

But we created a bond, recognized by Katie as she melted into this friendship through the rest of our lives.

Katie had unique attributes which revealed an intelligence that was modest as she never boasted nor indicated any desire to stand above anyone around her. Her Doukhobor upbringing enabled her to live entirely under the direction of the psalm Be Devout. When you read this psalm, Katie’s character becomes clear.

Oh yes, Katie could party with the rest of us and so she was part of the gang.

Right at the outset Katie couldn’t wait to start her family and when she became pregnant with Jamie, there was a glow around Katie as an enthusiastic and expectant mother. She immediately became involved with raising her family which was to be her obsession as the rest of the boys came along.

It was volley ball, baseball and about anything the boys did always received the entire family support with love. Coaches and the team families became welcome at their house, room, campground or wherever the event was being staged. All these people became the extended family.

This meant that getting together with the Laktins had to be second to what was happening in the family. We all understood and were happy for them. Of course that did not prevent soaking in their Jacuzzi and drifting on the Arrow Lakes in their House Boat whenever time permitted.

At this time the Latkins were part of the Doukhobor Cultural Association that interested themselves in hearing from thought-provoking speakers on a variety of subject matter. On one such occasion, John Verigin Sr came to speak to us. Katie was our Secretary at that time and I occasionally looked her way to see what she was doing about making notes on this profound presentation by our speaker. I did not see her make one note. Two weeks later, she gave her seven (7) page account of John Verigin Sr’s presentation that astounded all of us in its completeness and clarity. So you be the judge of that lady’s capability.

Katie’s reputation of a good cook was well known by those who had the privilege to sample same. I recall our infamous Curling Team decided that a Bonspiel in Revelstoke was very necessary. We convinced our wives that we would have to leave Wednesday to get there by Friday evening using the irregular Galena Bay Ferry schedule, icy roads, etc., as justification for the lengthy trip. Katie took this very seriously and loaded the van with countless jars of dill pickles, pickled cabbage and asparagus not to mention pickled hardboiled pickled eggs. We found it amazing that Katie knew what food was necessary for professional Curlers.

Well everyone at the Bonspiel heard about our stash and crashed our room till all hours of the night exalting at the fantastic cook that created all this. Needless to say, Katie won in the culinary field but her heroes lost every game.

In recent years the Laktins came back to the Kootenays and we reinstated our relationship when Jim and I started working together at Grandview.

There were times that I was present when Jim was having lunch. Let me tell you that Katie knew how to pack a lunch. As I watched Jim gorge himself, my saliva dripped. It was an easy decision to stay away at lunch time so that I would not have to watch with envy. I tried different times and guess what: he was eating no matter when I showed up. What a lunch lady!

We decided to do things like creek fishing, picking Suzziki, mushrooms or Huckleberries and just plain visiting. No matter when, eating and Katie’s hospitality abounded. I am not sure now what was more exciting, the fishing and outing event or getting to see what Katie packed for lunch. There was always enough for twice as many people and perhaps Katie was naturally always ready for that possibility.

When Jamie became an entrepreneur with the Market, Katie was there in support, creating her special borsch recipes along with an endless supply of Pyrahaee for the enthusiastic customers.

A special high light in Katie’s life was when the grand children came along. It just seemed that her love for family rose to an exceptional height. Although all received an equal love, her excitement over the arrival of the triplets made even all her friends share in her rise to this wealth in family relationship. I never heard the word triplets used so many times with the corresponding amount of love.

Then when the Medical Fraternity gave Katie a clean bill of health this past February we decided to celebrate that occasion. We loaded up with:

• Fresh Oysters
• Lobster Tail
• Jumbo Prawns
• Scallops

and headed for the Laktin house. The visit started with the fresh oysters and carried on from there. We were overjoyed that Katie loved seafood and also knew exactly how to prepare same.

Wow what a party!

No such celebration can be enjoyed by Doukhobors unless there is a competition between men and women with a game of Doorock. After 20 or more games the ladies asked if we had been cheating. With absolute innocent faces we responded , “of course not. It is just the way the cards fall. You know that Doukhobors don’t cheat in Doorock!” Sorry Katie, now I must confess to your spirit that maybe I did once or twice but I am sure that Jim did not.

We made plans to go on a Casino junket next time but it was not able to happen. I have to admit that 24 hours after she died, she was pressing the right keys for me at Chances and let me win a few dollars. If that is the way you want to continue participating Katie, I am fine with that.

When I ponder on this issue, I cannot fathom what goes in our bodies when over 10 trillion cells that make up our bodies regenerate so that, save our heart, bones, teeth and brain, replace themselves every 7 to 10 years. This means that Katie’s body was able to do just that at least 6 times successfully. Medical Science is still determining why this last time Katie’s body became a victim of faulty programming of those cells who attacked each other in a futile control struggle that resulted in her body expiring.

In my understanding, Katie is just in another dimension and with us even today and likely with remain with her family for a time. Quantum Physics agrees with this but unfortunately we are not able to communicate between dimensions although we can feel that something is definitely happening.

Katie, our memories with Jim and you will be ours for a long time.

Elmer and Marilyn Verigin May 16, 2014