Elsie Riess was born on the family farm January 31, 1929 to Frances and Karl Riess. Elsie attended Gelowitz School from grades one to eight. On October 21, 1949 Elsie married John Exner at St. Elizabeth Church, Killaly, SK and started farming three miles south of Killaly. In 1984 Elsie and John retired from the farm and moved into the village of Killaly. In 2006 Elsie became a resident of St. Paul Lutheran Home, Melville, SK where she resided until the time of her passing. The memory of her will live forever in our hearts.
Elsie was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, John, her parents Frances and Karl Riess, her sister Irene (Carl) Fuchs, hers brothers-in-law George Novak, Tony Exner, Frank Exner and Bill Exner and her sister-in-law Marianne Exner. She is survived by her sister Emily (nee Riess) Novak and her sisters-in-law Agnes and Elizabeth Exner, all of Melville, SK, and her brother-in-law Jim (Liz) Exner of Toronto, ON.
Elsie will always be lovingly remembered by her 14 children, Charlotte (Cyril) Holitzki of Grayson, SK, Sabina (Blair) Baller of Pilot Bute, SK, Barry (Dawn) Exner of Ottawa, ON, Garry Exner of Yorkton, SK, Agnes (Ted) Kenworthy of Regina, SK, Penny Exner of Balcarres, SK, June (Martin) Gagnon of La Minerve, QC, Leo (Cheryl) Exner of Killaly, SK, Chuck (Grace) Exner of the Philippines, Ryan Exner of Killaly, SK, Jerome Exner of Redwater, AB, Marina (Tim) Thibault of Humboldt, SK, Mark Exner of Melville, SK and Bill Exner of Melfort, SK; her 21 grandchildren, Kevin (Sang), Jamie and Michelle (Erik) Holitzki; Scott and Christina Baller; Joel (Sarah), Erin (Clayton), Emily (Sebastien) and Patricia Exner; Jaret and Amy (Greg) Kenworthy; Justin and Lisa Gagnon; Brandine and Kurt Exner; Georgina and Caleb Exner; Kirsten, Celine, Rayanne and Rene Thibault; and her 9 great-grandchildren, Charley; Bre and Kya; Emma; Emmett and Adele; Jeremy, Owen and Grayson.