Fanny Harper

On March 2, 2026, at 3:40 AM, our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Fanny Harper passed peacefully into eternity, surrounded by her daughters and several of her granddaughters.

Fanny was born on December 30, 1931, in Red Sucker Lake to Jonah and Martha Harper. She was one of fifteen siblings and was the remaining sibling. She spent her early years in Red Sucker Lake until the age of fifteen, when illness forced her parents to leave the community for treatment. They later passed away at Clear Lake Indian Hospital and were never able to return home. Before leaving, her father brought her to the church where she began working and singing in the church choir—something that would become a lifelong devotion.

Fanny then lived with her older brothers, helping to raise their families. On October 11, 1956, she married Ernest Harper, and together they raised their family in Red Sucker Lake. They lived close to the land and often travelled to their traditional hunting grounds at Pierce Lake. Ernest worked as a fisherman, and Fanny smoked the fish in the smokehouse he built for her. During the summer months, fish could always be seen hanging in her smokehouse.

Fanny was predeceased by her beloved son Reynold, who passed away at the age of two, and by her loving husband Ernest Harper on June 13, 1992. She was also predeceased by her granddaughters Daphne and Claudia, her son Lawrence Harper, her daughters-in-law Angie Harper, Jessie Harper and her sons-in-law Henry Harper, Gordon Disbrowe, and Frank Evans. She was also predeceased by her parents and all of her siblings.

She leaves behind her loving daughters Elma (Gordon) Adie, Christina Disbrowe, Susan Evans, Pauline (Billy) Okemow, and Betty (Jeffrey) Dan; and her sons Carl Harper and Marshall (Rita) Harper. She will be deeply missed by her 35 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren, and 27 great-great-grandchildren. She has two surviving cousins, Dennis Harper (Caroline) and Fanny Harper from Garden Hill, Manitoba.

Fanny also welcomed many people as children of her heart, who lovingly called her mother and were adopted into the family. These include Lawrence and Donna Moore (Norway House), Susan and the late John Folger (Lakeville, Minnesota), Mervin and Alicia Harper (God’s Lake Narrows), Susan and Vandell Harper (Garden Hill), Louise Branconnier (Winnipeg), Colleen Little, Samuel and Charlotte Knott, Louisa Spence, and Melody and Ernest McKellar (Beausejour).

Fanny faithfully served her church and sang in the church choir for over 70 years. She was known throughout the community for delivering many babies as a midwife and for her deep love for children. Many young people called her Kokum. She worked as a homemaker for elders and also served as a groundskeeper at the local school, where children would often seek her out—knowing she always had candies in her pockets.

She also served as an Elder advisor for the Health Authority and spent many years counselling youth in her community. In recognition of her lifelong dedication and wisdom, she was honoured as an honorary graduate of Red Sucker Lake High School on two occasions.

Fanny carried deep traditional knowledge. She gathered roots, cones, leaves, and bark from the land to prepare traditional medicines for members of the community. She also shared her knowledge with others, teaching women’s groups and helping many young women learn sewing, beading, and traditional crafts.

Her life was one of faith, service, and love for family and community. She spent many Sundays in her church and that is something she deeply enjoyed.

Psalm 117: “Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.”

Ephesians 6:1–3: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Officiating services will be Rev. Lawrence Moar.

Viewing Service to be held on March 7, 2026, at Eternal Grace Funerals, 1111 Logan Ave. Winnipeg MB, from 7pm to 10pm.

Wake Services to be held on March 8, and March 9, 2026, at Red Sucker Lake United Church.

Funeral Service to be held on March 10, 2026, at 11 AM Red Sucker Lake United Church.

Interment to follow in Red Sucker Lake First Nation.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Fanny Harper, please visit our floral store.