Lila Elizabeth (Garrett) Wheelans

Lila Elizabeth Wheelans was born on September 28, 1936, in Manitou, Manitoba and passed away on Thursday, April 10, 2025 on her farm in Tilston, Manitoba. Lila was the youngest of her family and was predeceased by her parents, Edward and Myrtle Garrett; brother, Ted; sisters, Jean and Alice; and her husband, Earl Wheelans.

Lila’s love of being around children led her to her pathway of education. She moved away from her home at a young age and completed her high school education at Carman Collegiate Institute. She continued her education and graduated as a teacher through the Teacher’s College in Manitoba. She had a dream of becoming an airline stewardess yet teaching was always her passion. She travelled to teach in many small towns in Manitoba before moving to Tilston in 1959 to teach at the Tilston Elementary School. This was where she met her husband Earl as he was delivering eggs at her boarding house which was owned by Cora Halls. They married on October 4th, 1962 at her parent’s farm - the Oak Dell Farm near Mowbray, Manitoba. They soon bought their own farm in 1963 which was near Earl’s parent’s farm, just south of Tilston. Earl’s family all lived in the Tilston area and are deceased – Jim (Karen), twin Russell, and Isobelle (Bill).

She had many fond memories of growing up on the Oak Dell Farm and one memory stood out for her as a child – it was near the Christmas holiday season and her family was traveling by sleigh with bells to visit a neighbour. The air was crisp outside and she and her siblings were cozied up in a blanket in the sleigh with snow falling softly and the bells jingling with the crunch of the horse’s hooves in the snow. She loved spending time with family especially at the big holiday events where the house was filled with laughter.

Lila was extremely proud of her children Kevin, Kimberly, and Michael, and supported their endeavors at all stages of their lives. She supported the kids who were involved with the Tilston hockey team, baseball, curling club, 4-H clubs, and garden clubs. She enjoyed playing sports such as baseball, volleyball, curling, bowling or ping pong, or just walking with a dog by her side and identifying birds. All through her life she had a passion for creating art and photography, especially with her grandchildren. She had a love for playing board games, bingo, and cards or doing puzzles with her family and friends. Gardening, her fish pond, and flowers were a passion through the years and you would look for her in the garden if you needed to find her. Her yard was always filled with flowers and she enjoyed prepping and entering flowers and vegetables in the horticultural fairs. She had a love of music and played many instruments including the organ, accordion or stringed instruments. She especially liked going to dances with Earl or taking a drive in the countryside. She was hard working, yet took the time to listen and talk with family, friends, and especially the grandchildren.

Left to cherish Lila’s memory are her sons Kevin (Wendy), Michael (Sandi) and daughter Kimberly (Derek) and loving grandchildren – Tyler, Brianna (Taylor), Derrick, Aiden (Kiana), Jaymie, Khloe and great-grandchildren Elijah and Noah. She left behind many nieces and nephews whom she adored. Lila was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

A public "Come & Go" Memorial Reception will take place at the Tilston Community Hall, Tilston, MB. on Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. A private family interment at the Tilston Cemetery will be held.

In lieu of flowers, if friends desire, memorial donations may be given to the Tilston Cemetery Fund, Box 54, Tilston, MB. R0M 2B0.

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