Olga Frykas

After a very fulfilling life, Olga Frykas passed away peacefully on February 20, 2025 at the age of 95 years at the Grandview District Hospital.  She was surrounded by loving family.

Olga Bewsky was born to Paul and Annie (Zachidniak) Bewsky on June 4, 1929 in the Mink Creek district on the homestead her grandparents, John and Anna (Broschuk) Bewsky purchased almost thirty years before. In 1932, the growing family moved to their own quarter section in the Kerr School District.  Olga spent her childhood years there and attended Kerr School until the age of fourteen when it was decided her help was needed more at home than continuing her education.  She was responsible for many of the farm chores, the housekeeping as well as minding her younger brothers and sisters. 

In the spring of 1945, Olga met John Frykas while he was on leave from the army. John had to return to his military training and Olga decided to leave home and look for a job.  In the spring of 1946, she went to Flin Flon where she was hired as a housekeeper/nanny.  Her new way of life was short lived, when after only a few months she was beckoned home to help on her parent’s farm once again.        

Olga was reunited with John in September, 1946 after he was granted an honorable discharge from the army.  The following year, Olga and John were married on November 8, 1947 at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Mink Creek.  For the first three years of their marriage, the couple lived with John’s parents on the homestead until they purchased a quarter section of unbroken land located in the Rural Municipality of Gilbert Plains.

It was here that Olga and John built the home where they would raise their eight children. 

Olga was responsible for many tasks including looking after the poultry and livestock, milking the cows twice a day; field work such as harrowing, stooking and picking stones, mending fences, gardening and raising their children while John also worked the fields and built roads for the RM of Gilbert Plains.

Olga was a skilled seamstress. Besides sewing clothing for her children, she created heavy thick patchwork quilts of Fortrel remnants from past sewing projects.  In the early years of the Veselka Ukrainian Dancing Club, Olga volunteered many hours of time and handiwork; sewing the detailed authentic Ukrainian costumes.  When a long day’s work was finally done, Olga’s hands were far from idle.  With a crochet hook and yarn in hand, she created numerous intricate doily sets and colorful afghans that have become treasured heirlooms. For many decades, she crocheted dozens of cozy afghans and christening blankets for the grandchildren, great grandchildren and her and John’s godchildren.  She even had one last afghan stored away that she was able to gift to a recent great- great grandson. Within her family, these handmade keepsakes are lovingly referred to as “Baba Make Its” – a term Olga was extremely proud of.

Music was a huge part of Olga’s life. While John was a very gifted tsymbaly (dulcimer) player, Olga loved to sing.  For a few years, Olga sang in the Veselka Choir Ensemble. As a parishioner of Mink Creek Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church, she was not only a member of the parish sisterhood as secretary for years but also sang in the church choir for decades.  Caroling at Ukrainian Christmas with fellow church members was a treasured tradition she always looked forward to. In her final years as her health and vision declined, music remained an important comfort to her and there are extremely special songs the family holds dear in her memory.

Her family was everything to her and she enjoyed their presence, frequent phone calls, emails and video chats. For many years, she was the hostess of the family get togethers and everybody always looked forward to her delicious Ukrainian meals with food a plenty. 

Olga and John ran the farm successfully for fifty-two years before they decided to retire. John passed away in 2005 and Olga remained on the farm until 2010 when she decided it was time to move to town and take up residence at Sunset Lodge in Gilbert Plains. Olga enjoyed this new chapter in her life; going for coffee with friends, visiting with her fellow lodge residents and playing cards at the drop-in centre. She even joined the tech world, learning basic computer skills to operate a laptop. To her family’s delight, she took up a new pastime, joining a ladies’ league at the bowling alley. Olga enjoyed travelling and took advantage of the opportunity to travel in her later years to places like Arizona, Vancouver and her trip of a lifetime, Punta Cana, that she reminisced about until the very end.

Olga was pre-deceased by her loving husband John; daughter Doreen Storozuk; granddaughter Amanda Frykas & great granddaughter Savannah; sons-in-law Gerald Robak and Walter Kozarchuk; her parents Paul &Annie Bewsky, sister Helen Pidskalny and husband Johnny; sister Mary Pisiak; brothers Fred and wife Diane, Peter, Walter, John, Mervin and Nestor; and sister-in-law Jean Bewsky.

Olga will be forever missed by her children Verna Smelski (Maurice) of Keld, MB; Ron (Linda) of Stonewall, MB; MaryAnn Jurkiw of Ste. Anne, MB; Gloria Robak of Grandview, MB; Harry (Gail) of La Salle, MB; Rob (Tammy) of Ladysmith, BC; Sharon Price (Terry) of Reston, MB; as well as son-in-law Gord Storozuk. Olga was blessed with 21 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren that will always hold their Baba in a special place in their hearts. Also surviving is brother Steve; brother Nick and wife Jill; sisters-in-law Verna Bewsky, Rosemarie Bewsky and Stella Manchur. Olga also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and extended family. Olga was a special lady to all who knew her.  Her work ethic was something to be admired and she took pride in everything she did; instilling her knowledge and values in all her children.  She was an inspiration, showing everyone her strength in the face of adversity. Her everlasting faith never wavered through her long life and carried her through to her moment of peace. Olga’s unconditional love had the capacity to envelop all of us at once – “that was her story and she was sticking to it”. Like her husband, her ever present sense of humor could make the “sun shine when skies were grey”.  Even on the most trying days, there was always a wise crack when we least expected it.  She had a smile and joke for everyone and it has been said that her laughter was contagious.

She led a very full life, one of hardships and joyous occasions and in 2024, Olga’s life story was chronicled in a local publication called “Guardians of the Past”.

In her final days, Olga repeatedly spoke of how grateful she was for her family- every single one of us.  In 95 years and 8 months she left a legacy that touched so many lives and generations.  She was a great woman and we were blessed to be a part of her life.

A Funeral Liturgy was celebrated for Olga on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 10:00 am from the Mink Creek Ukrainian Catholic Church with Rev Father Ivan Hnativ celebrating.  

Interment followed in the Mink Creek Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery.

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