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May 2, 2008

A tribute to Jack will be held on Saturday, May 3 at the Black night Inn, 2929 50th Avenue, Red Deer.
Please join us anytime between 1:00 and 3:00 pm.
There will be a brief program at 2:00 pm.
Jack passed away on April 7, 2008 and will be lovingly remembered by his wife Beverley, his brother Don and his wife Pat of Calgary and his sister Jean of Stettler. Jack will also be missed by his sister-in-law Marie Bradshaw of Innisfail, brother-in-law Charles Dallas and his wife Rosalie of Innisfail, and many nieces and nephews.

April 25, 2008

It is with great sadness that the family of Ralph Ponto announces his passing April 21, 2008. He was born in Bentley, Alberta on June 24, 1929, the oldest child of the late Fred and Audrey Ponto. In 1932, along with his family, he moved to a farm in the Eckville area, where he resided until moving to Calgary in 1971. Although Ralph enjoyed country life, he soon adjusted to city life, working at various jobs prior to spending a few retirement years in a seniors complex. Due to poor health he moved to Dr. Vernon Fanning Centre at the end of 2000 and to New Port Harbour Care Centre April 2005 where he resided until his passing. Ralph will be lovingly remembered by his 2 brothers Ray (Barb) Ponto of Fairview, Alberta, Dennis (Ingrid) Ponto of Sylvan Lake; his 3 sisters Shirley (Lewis) Heyler of Brooks, Alberta, Mavis Bush of Calgary, Carol (Glen) Bigam of Edmonton; his sister-in-law Marie (Mike) Beck of Rocky Mountain House, as well as 14 nieces and nephews and 13 great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father in 1978, his mother 1995, his brother harold in 1968, brother-in-law Malcom Bush in 1995 and nephew Sheldon Ponto in 1997. Ralph attended the school for the Deaf in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan from 1943-1947. Regardless of his disablilities (being deaf and never learning to speak) he enjoyed life and people. He always carried a pen and note pad, ready to visit with anyone who had time to spend him and he will be remembered by many. The family would like to extend their sincere Thanks to the staff of New Port Harbour Care Centre, for their excellent care and kindness.
A service of remembrance for the late Ralph Ponto will be held from Sylvan Lake Funeral Chapel, Sylvan Lake on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 2:00 pm with Pastor Bob Roth officiating. A private interment to take place in the Red Deer City Cemetery before the remembrance service. As an expression of sympathy donations may be made in Ralph’s name to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, NWT & Nunavit 100-119 14 St, NW Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6
Sylvan Lake and Rocky Funeral Homes and Crematorium, your Golden Rule Funeral Homes,
entrusted with the arrangements. 403-887-2151.

April 18, 2008

Mrs. Zita Gaskell of Sylvan Lake, passed away peacefully at the Bethany Care Centre, Sylvan Lake on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at the age of 78 years.  Zita was born on October 6, 1929.  She was survived by a son, David Gaskell of Sherwood Park, Alberta, two daughters, Audrey (Kirk) Maede of Knotte, Kentucky, Gayle (Larry) Clark of Port Hardy, British Columbia, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  Zita was predeceased by her husband, Bernard and an infant son and daughter.  A Celebration of Zita and Bernard’s Life will be held at the Peavine Community Hall in August.  Cremation entrusted to Central Alberta Crematorium.  Memorial donation’s in Zita’s honour may be made directly to the Alzheimer Society of Alberta, 10531 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T5H 4K1. Condolences may be forwarded to the family at www.eventidefuneralchapels.com  

April 11, 2007

Mrs. Mae Deardoff of Innisfail, passed away after a struggle with cancer, at the Innisfail Health Centre on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at the age of 71 years.  Mae was born on May 1, 1936 at Clive, Alberta then moved to Poplar Ridge with her parents, where they owned the Midway Service Station.  After moving to Red Deer, Mae met and married Ken Fraser, where they settled and raised four children, Kim, Curtis, Barton and Janice.  The family moved to Killam for seven years before returning to Innisfail to settle down there.  After Ken’s passing Mae married Jim Deardoff and together they settled in Lacombe, where she became the first female president of the Lacombe Legion.  Mae was able to accomplish many things for the Legion, one of those accomplishments being the building and development of the Legion Sunset Campground at Gull Lake.  It became a passion of hers, making many dear friends along the way.  Mae enjoyed her long time employment with Looker Office Equipment, where she was known to keep her co-workers in line. She had a wit and character that had humor and earned her the nickname “Maxine”.  After retirement Mae returned to Innisfail and once again drawn to the lake at the Dixson Leisure Campground.  Mae enjoyed doing cross-stitch, spending time with her dogs, camping and just enjoying nature.  Mae had a love of jive dancing and listening to Elvis, she was his biggest fan.  She was very proud of her children and found great joy in her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Mae never missed a family reunion, which has been going on for 70 years.  She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her family and all that knew her.  Mae is survived by her four loving children, Kim (Michael) Bizuk of Sylvan Lake, Curtis Fraser of Lacombe, Barton (Jackie) Fraser of Sylvan Lake, Janice (Doug) Dorherty of Innisfail, a brother, Dale (Helen) Ford of Killarny, Manitoba, a sister, Phyllis (Wilson) Pickering of Red Deer, twelve grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, two aunts, Peggy Flater, Jean (Ted) Decker both of Red Deer and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.  She was predeceased by two husbands, Ken Fraser and Jim Deardoff, her parents, Robert and Myrtle Matthews and a nephew, Travis Pickering.  A Funeral Service will be held at Eventide Funeral Chapel, 4820-45 Street, Red Deer on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.  Memorial donations in Mae’s honour may be made directly to the S.P.C.A. 4505-77 Street, Red Deer, Alberta, T4N 3T2.  Condolences may be forwarded to the family at
www.eventidefuneralchapels.com

Amy Dorthy Renwick (Keevil) 1919-2008
After 89 healthy and productive years, our cherished mother and grandmother hopped the twig at the Rimbey, AB Care Centre on March 25, 2008. “Hopping the twig” was Amy’s pet euphemism for dying and she used the term with humour, showing us her practical attitude towards death. Amy was pre-deceased by her spouse Walter, sisters Winnie, Corrie and Sally as well as her eldest daughter Julie. She leaves behind to honour her memory: daughter Linda (Bob) Forsyth, son Laurie (Doris) Renwick; grandchildren Jane Forsyth (Stuart Palmer), Mike (Michelle) Forsyth, Sandi (Mike) Verschoor, and Jerry (Maureen) Renwick.
Seven great granddaughters are part of her family legacy and she will be missed by Darby and Jamie Verschoor, Aleisha, Erica and Danica Renwick and Adeline and Elise Forsyth.
Amy was born and raised in Vancouver and New Westminster, BC the youngest of 4 daughters of Bishop Archibald Keevil and his wife Dorothy. She graduated from Grade 12 at the age of 16 and went on to secretarial college and a job as a doctor’s assistant. Amy was a keen reader and was always interested in politics and current events. She completed the daily crossword puzzle to keep her mind active until the near end of her life.
Amy met her husband, Walter at an army dance, and in 1944 they moved with their young daughters Julie and Linda to Manitoba, where son Laurie soon joined the family. Amy and Walter ran a dairy farm near Kelwood, Manitoba for many years. Happy memories and funny stories abound of family life on the Kelwood farm, including after-school gab sessions over home baked pie and emptied cans of beans left out for beloved cats to lick clean.
Amy and Walter eventually returned to the coast where they lived in New Westminster and Hope, BC. Following the deaths of her husband Walter, and later, her sister Corrie, she moved to Alberta in 1993 to be closer to her two daughters. She loved family get-togethers where she always took an active interest in her grandchildren and their spouses and friends. She loved her family dearly and will be sorely missed by all those she leaves behind.
The famly wishes to thank Dr. Ellis and the staff of the Rimbey Hospital & Care Centre.
A memorial service will be held at the Sylvan Lake Funeral Home, 5019-47A Ave on April 18th, at 2:00 pm with reception to follow at the Royal Canadian Legion, Sylvan Lake Branch, 4916-50 Ave.

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March 28, 2007

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March 20, 2007

March 14, 2007

Mr. Raymond Edwin Hilman was born March 31, 1911 in Sparta, Minnesota. The second child and oldest son of Oscar and Ida Hilman. He died at Portland, OR March 7, 2008. Three weeks from his 97th birthday. He is survived by his daughters Loretta Bierkos of Sylvan Lake, AB, Iris Seppala of Clayton, CA, Anita Walters of Portland, OR, Naomi Mata of Goldendale, WA; sons Raymond of Greer SC, Clinton of Amity, OR, Dennis of Nykarleby, Finland, Howard of Portland, OR, Darrel of Calgary, Alberta, Harlan of Portland, OR, Bryan of Waikoloa, HI, and his sister Helen Hilman of Sylvan Lake, AB. He was predeceased by his wife Irene of 65 years in 2001, daughter Wanda in 2003, son Ronald in 1979 and 11 brothers and sisters. He leaves 45 grandchildren and 71 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren as well as a host of Christian brothers and sisters world wide.
Ray moved from Minnesota with his parents to a homestead in West-Central Alberta when he was only a few months old. He spent his growing up years on the family farm near Sylvan Lake, Alberta, attending Marianne District School on horse back. He and Irene were married on December 21, 1935 at her parents home in Brush Prairie WA, and began their life together on their own farm just outside Sylvan Lake. They moved between several locations in Alberta and Washington Sate before settling at Goldendale in 1955.
Ray was a farmer at heart, a carpenter by vocation and a minister of God’s Word by calling. He and Irene tended no less than 5 farming operations between Canada and the US, where Ray built homes in 3 of these locations. He served as a pastor to Apostolic Lutheran congregations in Sylvan Lake, AB, Hockinson and Centerville, WA and preached in Finnish and English from pulpits all across the US and Canada as well as in Sweden and Finland on several occasions. Ordained as a minister of the Apostolic Lutheran Church, his service spanned more than 70 years and he still took a regular service in his Centerville church until a stroke claimed his mobility at age 95.
Family reception and viewing will be from 7:00-9:00 pm Thursday, March 13th, at the Hockinson Apostolic Lutheran church, 16108 NE 192nd Ave, Brush Prairie, WA. A funeral will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, March 14, 2008 at the Hockinson Apostolic Lutheran Church, 16108 NE 192nd Ave, Brush Prairie, WA. A Memorial service will be held Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 3 pm in the Centerville Grange Hall in Centerville WA. Private interment in the Centerville Cemetery. Layne’s Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

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March 7, 2007

Mr. Bernard Gaskell, beloved husband of Zita Gaskell of Sylvan Lake, passed away peacefully at the Bethany Care Centre, Sylvan Lake on Wednesday, February 27, 2008, at the age of 85 years. A celebration of Bernard’s life will be held at a later date. Condolences may be forwarded to the family
at www.eventidefuneralchapels.com

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February 27, 2007

Salange S. Dath of Sylvan Lake, Alberta passed away quietly in her sleep at the Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre, Rimbey on Saturday, February 9, 2008.
Salange was born in Roubaix, France; moving to Claydon, Saskatchewan and then to Sylvan Lake, Alberta. She was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Marta; her brother, Fernand; and her friends, Charlie and Bernard Schenk. Salange was definitely an outdoor person, enjoying her large garden and her flowers, which in later years she devoted much time to. She was most at home when she was working the land, side-by-side with her life-long friends, Charlie and Bernard Schenk. In the early years, the family spent many an evening driving into Sylvan Lake with horse and wagon in the middle of winter, with hot rocks for warmth, to challenge the Rousseau family in an evening of cards where much laughter took place. Salange was always an upbeat person, she was always well-dressed, and she always had a friendly ‘hello’ to all she met. She was an avid painter who produced many beautiful works, and anyone who was privileged enough to own one of her paintings, was indeed fortunate. Only her close friends and family knew that Salange had a great love of horses, but working hard on the land and time did not permit her to pursue her love for them. Salange entered the Sylvan Lake Lodge in 1989, moving to the Rimbey Care Centre in Rimbey in 2004, where she resided until her passing. The care she received from both of these facilities was excellent, and extended into lasting friendships by residents and staff alike. A special thank you is extended to Salange’s many close friends that she came to love and cherish.
With respect for Salange’s wishes, no formal Funeral Service will take place. Each is asked to celebrate Salange’s life as they see fit in their own quiet way. A Private Graveside Service took place at the Sylvan Lake Cemetery, Sylvan Lake on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.
Burial Arrangements for the Late Salange S. Dath were entrusted to the care of
Oberhammer Funeral Chapels Ltd.
Rimbey, Alberta
Telephone (403) 843-4445

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February 15, 2007

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father and grandfather Nickolas at the Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre on Friday, February 8, 2008 at the age of 91 years.
Nick, formerly of Bentley is survived by two sons; Bradley (Ena) of Red Deer, Randy (Alexis) of Bentley. Nick is also survived by six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his loving wife Annie, daughter-in-law Cheryl and grandson Jay, 3 brothers, John, Mike & Peter and his parents Moses & Paraska (Polly) of Nampa, Alberta.
If friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Rimbey Hospital And Care Centre, Palliative Care P.O. Box 440 Rimbey, AB T0C 2J0 or to the charity of the donors choice.
At Nick’s request there will be no funeral. A private family interment will take place in the Vig Cemetery. A memorial service will be held in Nick’s honor in April.
Wilson’s Funeral Chapel and Crematorium serving Central Alberta with locations in Rimbey and Lacombe in charge of the arrangements. Phone: (403) 843-3388 or (403) 782-3366.
“A Caring Family, Caring for Families”

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