Friday, December 27, 2013

By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on December 30, 2013.

AUDREY (CAPEWELL) SKIBA Nee Thompson
1927 ~ 2013
Audrey was born in Calgary on May 11th, 1927 and passed away peacefully in Lethbridge, December 19th, 2013 with her loving family by her side. A Memorial Service will be celebrated at 1:00pm on Saturday, December 28, 2013, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 ­ 4th Street South, Lethbridge, with Pastor Randy Dueck officiating. Send condolences at http://www.mbfunerals.com.

CALLING LAST
(Saakoiyinaa)
It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our dear Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Uncle and spiritual leader MICHAEL ARTHUR (³Art²) CALLING LAST on Thursday, December 19, 2013 at the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge, Alberta, surrounded by his loved ones. Art was born on March 29, 1932, to the late George Sr. and Katherine (Big Wolf) Calling Last. Art leaves to mourn, his loving wife Lorette Glasheen, his three children Orland, Verna (Ron) Raw Eater, Laverna (Larry) Leather, 23 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews of Kainai, Brocket, Siksika in Alberta, and Browning in Montana. The families include the Calling Lasts, Wells, Fox, Chiefmoons, Mistaken Chiefs, First Riders, Hunts, Birds, Small Eyes, Gamblers, Bad Mans, and many others including the Bad Eagle and Provost families of Brocket, the Steven and Backfat families of Siksika, and the Kicking Woman and Bird Rattler families of Browning. Art was predeceased by his wife Violet (Raw Eater) Calling Last, son Vernon Raw Eater, siblings George Jr. (Maude) Calling Last, Annie (Billy) Bird, Fanny (John) Small Eyes, Mary (Joe) Gambler, Enid (Frank) Bad Man, Emma (George) First Rider, and Edith, Henry and Molly Calling Last. Art was born to the late Sakowa¹¹ paohk omii (George Calling Last Sr.) and Kamay (Katherine Big Wolf, known to all as Kate) on the Blood Reserve; he therefore belonged to the Many Children clan. From his birth, Art was raised by his parents and their friends in the traditional ways of the Kainai people. His father was a well-known spiritual leader and owner of the famous Kee Stah Key Oh Moh Pihsta (water pipe bundle, or as it¹s known in the English world, the³Beaver Bundle²). Art was a firm believer in Native spirituality and absorbed much of his knowledge directly from his parents and their large circle of friends. In his younger days, Art was a boxer and also enjoyed hockey. He was a tireless worker all his life, starting with harvesting on neighbourhood farms and ranches, in time hand-ploughing his own ranch with his two brothers and eventually by himself on the Blood Reserve. He grew up before there were fences, overhead transmission lines, electricity or motor vehicles. He worked on potato, sugar-beet, and fruit farms all over western Canada and northwestern U.S.A. and cattle ranches in both countries (one of which he managed for four years in Topnish, Washington). He met his late wife Violet on a sugar-beet farm in Taber. In time, they settled with their small family on the Calling Last family property, where he continued his life-long passions of horsemanship and ranching. Horse-training, horseracing, and all manner of cattle ranch activities enthralled him, and he was masterful at almost all of them. These skills made a natural transition into the rodeo world, where he thrived on the camaraderie and competition. He competed as a steer-wrestler, bronc rider, bullrider, and even a wild-cow milker and a cart-racer on the Indian Circuit in the U.S. and Canada. In 1954, Art and his two brothers brought their chuckwagon and horse team to the Calgary Stampede and competed on all 6 days of the chuckwagon heats that year. He has the distinct achievement of having trained, raced and owned racehorses for seven consecutive decades in Canada and the U.S. Last year, he had the honour of being inducted into the Rocky Mountain Turf Club ³Wall of Fame² in Lethbridge. Art was also an accomplished and well known, self-taught artist. His bronze sculptures, etchings, and drawings can be found in museums and private collections in Canada, the U.S., Germany and Australia. Art also enjoyed Native cultural events like pow-wows, and he competed in many such events in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. He was a founding member of the Bull Horn Cultural Society which hosted the annual Kainai New Year¹s Eve Powwow at Kainai, and led the Kainai Indian Days for two years. For 25 years, he also hosted twice-a year the 4-day spiritual and culture weekends on his property every Labour Day Weekend and Victoria Day Weekend, which helped many hundreds of Native.youth learn about their native cultural traditions and spirituality from elders who came from far and wide, and which were open to people of goodwill from all races and places of origin. He was also a member of the White Eagle Society of Window Rock, Arizona. Perhaps most important to Art was his spiritual life. He participated in and led 13 vision quests in the Sweetgrass Hills of Montana, five piercing sundances, 23 years in the Kainai Sacred Horn Society (from 1972 to 1985, and from 2003 to 2013). He led countless sweatlodge ceremonies, having had the rights to a healing sweat transferred to him in 1983. He was the owner of his father¹s waterpipe bundle, which he was personally responsible for finding and bringing back to the Blood people after conducting a nation-wide 3-year search to find it. That same bundle is now owned by, with others, his granddaughter Spyaki (Rose) Calling Last. Art was also instrumental in the repatriation of the waterpipe bundle of his friend Martin Hairy Bull. Art was generous in sharing his spiritual knowledge with everyone who was sincerely interested. He shared that knowledge with clients in the Canadian correctional system, at Lethbridge Correctional Centre, Maple Creek Healing Lodge, and Kainai Community Correctional Centre where he initiated the elders¹ program and worked from its inception in 1990 until his passing. Art had a huge heart and was dedicated to his children and grandchildren, often joking with them and encouraging them in their various accomplishments. He taught them the importance and value of hard work and of following their Native spiritual traditions and way of life. ³Grandpa Art² will be deeply missed by all who knew him, admired him, and loved him. A Wake Service will be held at the Senator Gladstone Hall, on Friday, December 27th, 2013 from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held at the Senator Gladstone Hall on Saturday, December 28th, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. Interment in the Calling Last Family Cemetery, Blood Reserve. E-mail condolences to: legacyfh@telus.net

Gerald A. (Jerry) Rogers II
“Then Sings My Soul”
Gerald A. (Jerry) Rogers II, beloved husband of Lily Rogers of Lethbridge, passed away peacefully at the Chinook Regional Hospital after a sudden, brief illness on Thursday, December 19th, 2013 at the age of 81 years. He leaves his five children and their families: Catherine and Lorne Marco and their children Sarah (Kevin, and their children Zoe and Cacia), Kyle (Amy) and Elise (Tyler, and their children Siren, Niya, and Trey); Dianne and Bruce Johnston and their children Brett (Julie, and their son Hamish), Bryce, and Orye; Gerald and Joan Rogers and their son Gerald; Kenneth and Christine Rogers and their children Christopher and Camille; and Margaret and Neil James and their children Riley and Kaylee. He is also lovingly remembered by his sister Jocelyn Pritchard of Vancouver B.C., and her five children and their families, and his brothers-in-law Paul Pedersen (Carol) of Camrose, and Dennis Pedersen (Donna) of Wetaskiwin and their two children and their families. He was pre-deceased by his parents The Reverend Dr. Gerald F. Rogers and Margaret Rogers, his sister Daphne Rogers, his brother-in-law Blake Pritchard, and his father and mother-in-law Bernard and Edith Pedersen of Camrose. Numbers 6:24-26: “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” Jerry was born on July 19, 1932 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. He was a proud Bluenose. In 1947, when Jerry was 15, his family moved from Halifax to Edmonton, Alberta. He loved his memories of his years in Edmonton while in high school and as a young adult. Jerry and Lily’s life together began in Camrose sixty years ago. As a young couple with a growing family, Jerry and Lily made many good friends in Camrose, Wainwright, and Lethbridge, where they settled in 1972. With a background in lumberyard management, Jerry joined the City of Lethbridge Assessment Department, and enjoyed his work there until his retirement in 1997. In his retirement, Jerry enjoyed travels with Lily, and extra time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was an active lifelong member of The United Church, and his deep-rooted love for music and singing was expressed through more than 60 years of continuous membership in church choirs. Jerry and Lily were founding members of the Lethbridge Alzheimer’s Society, to which they devoted many volunteer hours. Jerry lived his life with integrity and honour, supporting his family with love, strength and confidence. Jerry¹s family is grateful to the staff at CRH Intensive Care Unit for their loving care. A Celebration of Jerry’s life will be held at MCKILLOP UNITED CHURCH, 2329 15th Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB., on Friday, December 27th, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. with The Reverend Trevor Potter officiating.

GRACE HART
1944 ~ 2013
Mrs. Grace Hart, of Lethbridge, beloved wife of Mr. Thomas Hart, passed away at the Chinook Regional Hospital on Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at the age of 69 years. A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Monday, December 30, 2013, at ST. AUGUSTINE¹S ANGLICAN CHURCH, 411 ­ 11th Street South, Lethbridge, with Canon James Robinson officiating. Send condolences at http://www.mbfunerals.com.

GRIER
Joseph Bradford Grier of Brocket, AB passed away on December 22, 2013 at the age of 66 years. A Family Service will be held at 2:00 P.M., on Friday December 27, 2013 at EDEN¹S FUNERAL HOME 2424 5th Ave Fort Macleod AB, followed by a wake service at 5:00 P.M. at Joe¹s House. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 A.M., on Saturday December 28,, 2013 at ST. PAUL¹S CATHOLIC CHURCH, Brocket AB, with Father Freddy Valdivia Officiating. Interment to follow at Brocket Cemetery.

KING-BROWN
STEPHEN RICHARD, beloved son of Robert and Jenny King-Brown, died unexpectedly on December 23, 2013, at the age of 36. Funeral arrangements to be announced when completed.  Send condolences at http://www.mbfunerals.com.

LOW
DONALD RICHARD (DICK) LOW, beloved husband of Elaine Stevenson Low, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2013 in Cardston, Alberta at the age of 89 years. Dick is survived by his loving wife, Elaine, their six children and spouses, Donald and Susan Low, Gary and Wendie Low, Cathy and John Swendsen, Gordon and Laurie Low, Murray and Nadine Low and Carolyn and Coy Beaton, his sister Helen Usevitch and his brother and his wife, John and Coleen Low, 25 grandchildren and their spouses, 40 great grandchildren and many cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews. Dick was a man devoted to his wife, Elaine, and to his children, to his profession, to his church and to God. He was an outdoorsman and a musician. He is known for his wonderful sense of humour and his friendly and caring way. He was admired by and touched the lives of his family and his many friends and acquaintances. Dick was born in Cardston, Alberta on October 17, 1924 with his twin brother, Bob, to Joseph Smith Low and Margaret Newton, the second of five children. His father, Joe Low, was a rancher and Ford dealer through the depression and as a youth Dick experienced the demands and rigours of his father¹s ranching and automobile businesses. His early adult years were characterized by his education at the University of Alberta as a civil engineer, his military service in the Royal Canadian Engineers near the end of WW2, and his service as a Maori missionary in New Zealand for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he learned their language and came to love the Maori people. Dick loved to sing, had excellent pitch, and traveled southern Alberta to sing in a barbershop quartet, the Temple City Four. Dick and Elaine were married in 1951 in the Cardston temple. In 1957, Dick moved his young family to Calgary to work as a civil engineer, eventually becoming a partner in the firm, Strong Lamb and Nelson (acquired by Stantec), where he planned and managed the development of several subdivisions in Calgary and communities in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. In 1977, Dick moved to Lethbridge, where he planned and supervised the construction of irrigation and water projects in southern Alberta with the engineering firm Underwood McLellan (UMA). He and Elaine moved back to Cardston in 2002. Dick was a keen outdoorsman, and was active throughout his life in hiking, mountain climbing, biking, and downhill, water and cross country skiing. He was both scout leader and involved in scouting for much of his life. Dick was dedicated to his church, and served as a missionary, a teacher, a bishop and in many other leadership capacities throughout his life. In 1991 he served his second mission to New Zealand, this time with Elaine. He was also a member and former president of the Rotary Club in Cardston. Dick was predeceased by his sister, Elizabeth Stubbs, his twin brother Bob and his grand-daughter Emily. He was a remarkable man who was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by family, friends, and the caring staff at his Lee Crest home. The Funeral Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Temple Street Chapel (355 – 3rd Street West in Cardston, on Monday, December 30th, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Friends may meet the family from 1:00 to 1:45 pm prior to the service. Interment in the Cardston Cemetery. Email your condolences to: legacyfh@telus.net

MAASAKKERS
DONNA LEE MAASAKKERS, of Magrath, AB., passed away suddenly at home on Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at the age of 65 years. Funeral arrangements to be announced when completed.

SCOTT
Charles Leslie Scott passed away peacefully at the Pincher Creek Hospital on December 23, 2013 at the age of 64 years.  A Family Service will be held at 2:00 P.M., on Sunday December 29, 2013 at EDEN¹S FUNERAL HOME 2424 5th Ave Fort Macleod AB, followed by a wake service at 5:00 P.M. at Charlie¹s Residence A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 P.M., on Monday December 30,, 2013 at the BROCKET COMMUNITY HALL, Brocket AB, with Father Freddy Valdivia Officiating. Interment to follow at Brocket Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 317 ­ 10th St S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 2M7.

TAYLOR WILLIAM ELLIOTT
1991-2013
“To remember is to love and celebrate the life of our Taylor.”
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Taylor Elliott. Taylor was the beloved eldest son of Michelle and James Elliott and devoted older brother to Alex Elliott. Also left to mourn are his Grandmother Mavis Davidson, Grandparents Donna and Bill Elliott, Aunt Jill (Joe) Chamberlain, Cousins Emma and Hayes Chamberlain, Aunt Cheryl Davidson (Dominic Sylvain), Uncle Bryan (Kim) Elliott, Girlfriend Jenna Koshney, many aunts, uncles cousins and loving friends. Taylor was predeceased by his Grandfather Mike Davidson in May 2013. Taylor was born in Pincher Creek on February 24, 1991. He loved life and there were not enough hours in his day to accomplish the things important to him. He loved the outdoors and the mountains; hiking with his family, hunting with his dad and brother, snowshoeing, skiing, camping, riding his horse Raz, biking, running and playing baseball. He was a gifted natural athlete. He was an exceptional hockey player who played in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Olds Grizzlys and then the Brooks Bandits. This fall he helped coach the Southwest Rockies hockey team. Taylor was a natural leader and role model who had a smile for everyone and was always willing to lend a hand. He lived life to the fullest. We thank God for Taylor¹s presence in our lives. He was truly a caring and loving inspiration for all. “To remember is to honour Taylor who will always be a light in our lives and our hearts.” A Memorial Service will be held at 1 P.M., on Monday December 30, 2013 at the PINCHER CREEK COMMUNITY HALL, 287 Canyon Drive, Pincher Creek, AB. Memorial donations may be to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation ­ Prairies/NWT Chapter, c/o In Memoriam Program, 700, 10665 Jasper Ave., Edmonton, AB, T5J 3S9 or to the Alberta Children¹s Hospital Foundation, 2888 Shaganappi Trail N.W., Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8.

VAN DER LEE
MR. HARMEN VAN DER LEE, of Lethbridge, passed away at the Chinook Regional Hospital surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, December 24th, 2013 at the age of 66 years. A Prayer Vigil will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge, AB. on Sunday, December 29th, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2405 – 12th Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB. on Monday, December 30th, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. with Father Nathan Siray celebrating. Interment will follow at MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Harmen’s name to the ALS society of Alberta, #250, 4723 – 1 Street SW Calgary, AB Canada T2G 4Y8 or at http://www.alsab.ca

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