SENFT, Elizabeth Helen (née Meyer)

September 8, 1940 — April 12, 2026

Elizabeth Helen Senft (née Meyer), age 85, peacefully slipped away the morning of Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Glenmore Lodge in Kelowna, BC.

Elizabeth was born in Tisdale, SK, on September 8, 1940, to Kurt and Helen Meyer. Crooked River, SK, was where this young family started out, but the farm near Glen Bain, SK would become home.  A younger brother, Alvin, was born in November 1944, completing Kurt and Helen’s family.

Stories of farm life: skating on the pond; bike rides; a holiday to BC; much time spent with family nearby; and lessons of faith in God through the good and bad times, tell us what made up some of her early chapters of life.

However, her life story would forever change at the young age of 14, when her mom, Helen, passed away from breast cancer.  With a loving father who deeply cared for his children and help from extended family, life had to carry on through this very sad and hard chapter.

Elizabeth attended Glen Bain School through Grade 9, then Grade 10 at Caronport Bible School in SK, and then back to Glen Bain for her last two years of high school. She would later attend Hillcrest Christian College in Medicine Hat, AB.  It was at HCC that she fell in love with Allan Senft.  They were married on July 13, 1960, in Glen Bain, SK. Two children were born to them: Dwight Edward Allan was born on December 6, 1963, in Leroy, SK, and Dawna Lou Helen was born on November 5, 1965, in Moose Jaw, SK.

Allan’s call to the ministry took the family on many adventures throughout Saskatchewan. The churches in Esk, Wapella, Whitewood, Leader/Burstall, Yorkton, and Saskatoon all held different memories and friendships of times shared in those communities.  Playing the organ, singing, teaching Sunday School and youth programs, and serving as registrar for Echo Lake Camp were just some of the ways Liz supported Allan in the churches they faithfully served.  Liz had a natural gift for hospitality, always setting a pretty and welcoming table for friends and family to gather around.  She took care of each parsonage, whether it be a coat of paint or some new wallpaper, each house became a home for her family.  She enjoyed planting flowers in the spring and gardening in general. And, when she would finally decide to sit down to relax, she enjoyed reading a good book.  Al and Liz were avid campers and enjoyed many, many trips with family and friends. Travel highlights that they reminisced about were a memorable trip to Hawaii; a cruise to Alaska; an extended trip to Arizona; and attending the Quartet Convention; as well as visits to see their grandsons.

When moving from Yorkton to Saskatoon, Liz found herself facing her own diagnosis of breast cancer.  A positive outlook, support from family and friends, and her faith in a God who knew her by name got her through those early days of treatment. Her favourite song was “Through it All” by Andraé Crouch.  At her passing, she was a 40-plus-year survivor of this terrible disease.  She was able to give back and support other women going through cancer by volunteering at the Kelowna Cancer Clinic – she found this very fulfilling.

Back when she was living in Leader, SK, she had first taken on a part-time job for a doctor of optometry.  This career path followed her to Yorkton, Saskatoon, and finally to Tutt Street Optometry in Kelowna.  Drs and coworkers at each of these offices became friends that she truly enjoyed working with.

Elizabeth will be lovingly remembered as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.  She is survived by her son Dwight of Kelowna, BC; daughter Dawna (Darrell) Motz of Medicine Hat, AB; grandson Kaleb (Jami) of Medicine Hat, AB; grandson Benjamin (Payton) Motz of Medicine Hat, AB; and great-granddaughters Sawyer and Briar Motz; as well as by her brother Alvin (Kathy) of Kelowna, BC; and four nieces and three nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Allan Senft; parents Kurt and Helen Meyer; stepmother, Adelaide Meyer; brother-in-law Wilmer Senft and sister-in-law Lillie Senft; brother-in-law Lloyd Biesel; and sister-in-law Mildred Biesel.

A dual private memorial service to honour Elizabeth and Allan will be held on Sunday, May, 24, 2026, located at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream at the time of the service (see below), a recording will be made available to view in 3-5 days.

If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.

LIVESTREAM PROVIDED BY SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME: