Miriam Gail Koch

Miriam Gail Cutler was born at Gull Lake, Saskatchewan on October 3, 1947, to parents Andrew Glen Cutler and Ida Mae (Hodgins) Cutler. She lived in Cutknife, Lanigan, and Gull Lake, Saskatchewan during her youth. She took piano and voice lessons for years, and won many awards for her voice performances.

As a young woman, Miriam gave birth to two boys: Grant Ross on October 9, 1965 and Mark Williams, on January 17, 1968. She was forced to give both of them up for adoption. Miriam was able to reunite with Mark in 2014, and with Grant in 2016.

Miriam attended the Regina Teacher’s College in the late 1960s and began teaching in Russell, Manitoba in a grade 4 classroom in fall of 1969. She only taught in the school system for one year, but she loved every minute of it. She would later use her gifts in teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.

Miriam married Norman Koch on August 1, 1970 at Hoffenthal Church. They farmed for over 40 years together, growing crops and raising cows, pigs and chickens. She loved her time on the farm, and she wrote a book about her experiences called Please Don’t Marry A Farmer. Norman and Miriam had two children together: Cheri on June 16, 1971, and Allan on September 4, 1972. Miriam was a devoted mother, spending hours singing and reading to Cheri and Allan.

Miriam found great joy in music and art. She led the choir at Christ Lutheran Church in Langenburg for many years, and sang with numerous other church and community choirs. She also sang many beautiful solos at funerals, weddings, and other occasions. She started painting in the late 1990s and her humorous folk art paintings and bright-colored flowers and landscapes were both beautiful and filled with her personality. Her art won awards at locally adjudicated art shows, as well as at the provincial level.

Miriam and Norman retired from farming in 2006 and moved to Churchbridge. They loved their time there and made many friends at Trinity Lutheran Church and in the community. When Norman moved into the care home in 2013, Miriam moved back to Langenburg to be near him. Soon after, she opened her own art gallery, which had been a dream of hers for many years. Norman died in 2017, but Miriam stayed in Langenburg, doting on her pets and shopping in Yorkton. Soon after, Miriam joined the Langenburg Evangelical Fellowship Church where she made many more friends.

Miriam is pre-deceased by her father, Andrew Glen Cutler, her mother, Ida Mae Cutler, her sister, June Gerrie, and her daughter-in-law, Aileen Rosales Koch.

She is survived by her daughter, Cheri (Keith) Haberstock, her son, Allan (Veronica) Koch, her son, Grant Ross, and her son, Mark Williams (and family); her grandchildren: Wade Haberstock, Faith Haberstock, Justin Koch, Jasmine Koch, Kaia Koch, and Kelsey Koch; her sister Glenna (Dave) Sexton, and numerous nieces and nephews.