Friday, January 23, 2026

By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on January 23, 2026.

PASSMORE, Trent PASSMORE A little reminder a Celebration of Life will be held for Trent Passmore on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at the Picture Butte Seniors Centre (607 Hwy Ave. N. Picture Butte) starting at 5 p.m. – Food will be served between 5:30 – 6:00 pm. We are licensed, BYOB.

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DELONG, Maureen Maureen Francis Wynn DeLong February 16, 1957 – December 30, 2025 Following a tragic accident, Maureen DeLong of Coaldale, Alberta, breathed her last at the age 68 on December 30, 2025, in the Knoxville University Hospital in Tennessee, with her loving family by her side.
She leaves behind Larry, her husband of 49 years; their two sons Neil (Amber) and Eric (Angela); grandsons Brogan and Emmett, whom were her pride and joy. She is also survived by: her father, Jim Harris; siblings Pack (Dianne) Harris; sisters Darlene McLeod, Shaun (Doug) Wayland, and Denise (Norbert) Bohnert; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews; and a mother-in-law, Trudy DeLong. Maureen was predeceased by her mother, Betty Harris; her sister, Janene Harris; her brother-in-law, Rod McLeod; and her father-in-law, George DeLong.
Her love of God and Jesus Christ and in serving the brethren in their church was utmost in her life. She is going to be sadly missed by many. A memorial service in her honor is planned for late spring, with further details to be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, we request that donations be made in memory of Maureen DeLong to Streets Alive Mission, Lethbridge, Alberta.

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PEDERSEN, James James Morgan Pedersen Feb. 1, 1934 – Jan. 13, 2026 At 91 years of age, James Morgan Pedersen passed away peacefully in the early hours of January 13, 2026. He leaves behind his wife, Shirley Pedersen; brothers Charlie (Cheryl) Pedersen and Garry (Lorraine) Pedersen; children Brian (Carol) Pedersen, Reta (Jeff) Kerr, and Leslie Glimsdale; grandchildren Elizabeth (Travis) Trofimenkoff, Jarvis (Sade) Kerr, Jordan Kerr, Jayce (Keltie) Kerr, Barry (Amber) Toone, and Morgan (Dylan) Glimsdale; and great-grandchildren Jayla Kerr, Jones and Jethro Kerr, and Carter, Buck and Casey James Toone. Jim leaves big shoes to fill as he was a pillar of the Claresholm community, winning the citizen of the year award in 1980, and devoting over twenty-five years of his life designing, building, and maintaining the Claresholm Community Center, along with being a dedicated member of the Claresholm Lions Club since 1972, and the Sons of Norway since 1960.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Zentner Funeral Homes – 4079 1st Street West – Claresholm, Alberta on February 14, 2026 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the Claresholm Lion’s Club be made in Jim’s memory. Box 222 Claresholm, Alberta
Photos, cherished memories and condolences may be shared at http://www.zentnerfuneralhomes.com 1-844-ZENTNER

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MARTIN, Ella ELLA ELSIE MARTIN 1935 ~ 2025 Ella Elsie Martin passed away peacefully with family by her side on Friday, December 26, 2025. Her journey on this earth was marked by love, compassion, and an unwavering faith in God, and her absence has left an immeasurable void in the hearts of her family and friends. We ask that you remember her not for the burden of Alzheimer’s in her last years, but for her true nature and the beautiful impact it had on all those whose lives she touched.
Ella was born on January 3, 1935, in Eatonia, Saskatchewan to Tobias and Emilie Klein. She grew up on the family farm together with her cherished siblings: Anne, Helmut, Alfred, Alma, Hilda and Irvin. As a devoted Nurses’ Aide at the local hospital, she was known for her “magic touch” – especially with sick children. After exchanging 223 letters during a courtship of just over a year, she married the love of her life, Reverend Harold Martin, on June 20, 1956.
Ella dedicated her life to working side by side with Harold in a ministry that spanned 8 Lutheran congregations over 40 years. She volunteered with numerous organisations, served as church secretary and a team captain for the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen, taught Sunday School, initiated Women’s service groups, hosted social events, won awards for designing church banners, sang in the choir, and meticulously cleaned every inch of the church. Her creativity, organisation, gracious manner, and sense of humor together with her tireless work ethic, were skills for which she was admired. When asked for her most significant accomplishment, however, she wrote: “I gave birth to 2 wonderful daughters!” While Lori and Lynette grew up to appreciate many of Ella’s own hobbies of reading, camping, travelling, singing, and live theatre, their greatest gift was their mother’s boundless love, time, and guidance. In later years, Ella continued her support by amazing her grandchildren with her ability to create things from scratch, treating them to personalised adventures and thematic lunches, and babysitting with gentle joy.
Ella is survived by her daughters, Lorelle Cholka (David), Lynette Kostiuk (Raymond), grandchildren Tamara Kostiuk and Aleah Paterson (Scott), and great-grandchild Grayson Paterson. She was predeceased by her husband of 69 years, Harold, her parents and parents-in-law, 6 siblings, 4 brothers-in-law, and 2 sisters-in-law.
Believing that “whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8), Ella now rests in the eternal grace of God.
Many thanks to those who helped to care for Ella during her illness: Dr. Walsh, Maggie Wall, Bonnie Quinn, Bridge Home Care, and the staff at Cedar Creek.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at CHRIST TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 416 12 St S, LETHBRIDGE, AB., with Pastor Olivier Ravelojaona officiating.
A Graveside Service will be held at ROYAL VIEW MEMORIAL CEMETERY following the Funeral Service.
Flowers are gratefully declined. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations may be made to Christ Trinity Lutheran Church. (e transfer – christ.trinity2020@gmail.com).
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.

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FERGUSON, Suzanne “Susan” FERGUSON SUZANNE “SUSAN” ROBERTA FERGUSON, of Lethbridge, the beloved wife of the late Harold Ferguson, passed away in St. Michael’s Health Centre – Long Term Care on Tuesday, January 13th, 2026, at the age of 101 years.
A Prayer Service will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Friday, January 23, 2026 at 7:00 P.M. with Deacon Bruce Barnett officiating.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ST. MARTHA’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 355 Columbia Blvd. West, Lethbridge, AB, on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. with Father Valentine Suum celebrating. Both the Prayer Service and Funeral Mass will be live-streamed and may be viewed through Susan’s obituary on the Cornerstone website at their respective times.
Following the Funeral Mass, Susan will be laid to rest in Mountain View Cemetery.
To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

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