FRIDAY, February 24, 2017

SINGER

ADELINE MARY SINGER – Matsistaotoikamoosaakii has gone to be with our Lord Jesus Christ at the age of 98 years on February 17, 2017.

Adeline is survived by her brother Mervin Brave Rock, Louise Brave Rock (Jackson); her loving daughters: Loretta Eagle Tail Feathers, Maria Stimson of Siksika, AB, Arlene (Campbell) Eagle Child of Standoff; one adopted daughter Lenore Stiff Arm of Rocky Boy, Montana; adopted sons Tommy (Mildred) Carpenter from Lodge Grass, Montana, Frances (Butch) Wolf Leg from Siksika, AB. She has 29 grandchildren, 48 great grand children, 31 great great grand children.

Adeline was born in Browning, Montana to Parents George and Maggie(Little Skunk) Night Shoot. She lived in Browning with her grandmother – attended school in Browning and Cut Bank. She later resided at the St. Paul’s Anglican Residential School. On November 2, 1936, she married Billy Singer .(Matsiisikapiohkitopi ) She moved to Moses Lake to care for her mother Maggie during her illness of cancer. Mom enjoyed Pow Wows and Indian Days. Mom always kept a garden and was a good home keeper. She had her training with Nechi and later worked as a dietitian and Councilor at St. Paul’s Treatment center for a number of years with Sylvia Tail Feathers. She joined the Four Worlds Health program at the U of L by Phil Lane. Mom was very active she swam, rode horse back, walked a lot to visit at her adopted Mother Helen Crochrane, and to her friend Eva Mill’s. She loved preparing native traditional food, and she was an awesome seamstress and sewed native regalia, her trademark was making her broach moccasins she gave away. Mom later resided at the Kainai Continuing Care Facility until her passing. We would like to thank all the HCA’s and LPN’s and Registered Nurses who took care of Mom.

Predeceased by her Husband of 63 years William Billy Singer; her brothers; Ted and Wilfred Brave Rock; sisters: Gladys Buckskin, Alvina Crop Eared Wolf, Ruth Lafrance, Kay Brooks, Pearl Grant , Gloria Eagle Tail Feathers; children: Karl, Merold, Clarence, Eldon, Burton, Pierson, Peter, Theodore, and Florine.

The Family Service will be at Legacy Funeral Home, Cardston on Friday, Feb. 24th at 5:00 p.m. followed by the Wake Service at the Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be at the Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve on Saturday, Feb. 25th at 11:00 a.m. Interment in St. Paul’s Cemetery. Family Feast will be at the Tanner Center in Cardston.

Condolences may be sent to: http://www.legacyfuneralhome.ca

Gary Stoffer

1948 – 2017

It is with sadness that we announce that Gary Stoffer passed away in Lethbridge on February 21, 2017 at the age of 68 after bravely battling cancer. He is survived by his loving wife, Gillian Watkinson; daughters Karly (Brant) Bond and Michelle (Bob) MacOdrum; grandchildren Madeleine, Luke, Bridget, and Bram; siblings Henka (Curt) Campbell, Hennie (Terry) Webster, Jane (Wally) McGarty, Marian (John) Voogel, and Hank (Tara) Stoffer; and many nieces and nephews. Gary was predeceased by his father, Harm, in 1978 and his mother, Mary, in 2000. Gerrit “Gary” Stoffer was born March 23, 1948 in Meppel, Drente, Netherlands, the third child and first son of Harm Jan and Margje “Mary” (Dekker) Stoffer. At age 5, Gary immigrated to Canada with his family, crossing the Atlantic on the S.S. Waterman and landing at Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Stoffer’s traveled first to Birch Hills, Saskatchewan, where the family lived for one year. In 1954 Gary’s dad and uncle bought a truck, put the box that their belongings had been shipped in onto the back of the truck, filled it with the two families’ furniture, cut a window in the side and the family rode all the way to southern Alberta, where they settled near Kipp and later Picture Butte.

The Stoffer family moved to the Lethbridge river bottom area in 1956, and there Gary and his sisters and brother enjoyed skating on the frozen backwash in the winter, and swimming in the river in the summer. On Friday nights, the whole family would go the neighbours’ house to watch Stampede Wrestling. Gary worked at the river bottom gas station and took the school bus to Coalhurst, where he graduated from high school in 1966. He graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1970. Upon graduating he worked for a time in Calgary, but the draw to family and his father’s milling company, Four Star Millwork, brought him back home to Lethbridge. Whether it was motorbiking, hill climbing, camping, or racquetball Gary always liked to be active and have fun. He was an avid golfer and member of the Henderson Lakes Golf Course, and enjoyed many golfing trips with friends. Gary had a great sense of humour and quick wit, and always had a groaner of a joke ready to share. He loved to woodwork, read, keep up on current events, make cabbage rolls and croquets with his sister Henka, and barbecue for family and friends. A devoted friend, Gary was always there to help and had many good times with friends old and new. Gary met his sweetheart Gill early in 1998 and he won her over with his Super Bowl chili. They have spent the last 19 years building a wonderful life together. Gary and Gill loved to take drives, exploring every corner of southern Alberta and particularly enjoying the beauty of the McIntyre Ranch. They enjoyed dinners with friends, camping, barbecuing, trips to Calgary, watching Street Wheelers from Georgio’s restaurant, and traveling to BC, Montana, and Seattle. Gary enjoyed family traditions with his children and grandchildren like Saturday morning Dutch pancake breakfasts, summer trips to Waterton, Christmas tree hunting, oliebollen at New Year’s, and exchanging a real lump of coal from the river bottom at Christmas. Through these traditions and memories, Gary will live on in the hearts of his family. The family would like to thank the staff at Coaldale Medical Clinic, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Home Care and the Palliative Care Unit for the wonderful care Gary received. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. A gathering to celebrate Gary’s life will be held from 2:00-5:00PM on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at the HENDERSON LAKE GOLF COURSE CLUB HOUSE, 2727 South Parkside Drive, Lethbridge, AB.

Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a private condolence.

SUGIMOTO

FUMIKO ROCY SUGIMOTO, beloved wife of the late Naomichi (Nim) Sugimoto, passed away peacefully February 12, 2017, at the age of 92 in Lethbridge.

Fumi was born in Sapperton, a neighourhood in New Westminster, B.C., January 17, 1925 to Kohei and Hide Nishiyama.

Known lovingly to her childhood friends as “Rocky,” Fumi had fond memories of picking berries and hops, or going clamming and hauling buckets of fresh seafood home on the train, which stopped right outside the family home.

In 1946, she and her family were relocated to Raymond, Alberta, where she worked the sugar beet fields and as a housekeeper. It was occupational training for her life as a tireless farm wife and mother of eight. She married Nim Sugimoto Dec. 7, 1949. They spent the next 57 years together.

The middle child of five, Fumi was always a loyal, responsible caregiver whether to her siblings, her parents, or her own children and grandchildren. A talented seamstress, baker, cook and gardener, Fumi’s large family never wanted for clothing, amazing meals or fresh vegetables and flowers. She could revive even the saddest plant, and once grew a pomegranate from a seed just to see how it would turn out.

She was a humble, quiet woman who took pride in every task, enjoyed a hearty meal and found the positive in every situation.

Fumi is survived by her children Harry (Yvonne) Sugimoto; Kei (Ken) Sampson; Naomi (Joe) Plausteiner; Mark Sugimoto; and Akemi Dawn Sugimoto (Randy Jensen), all of Lethbridge; June Sugimoto of Brooks; daughters-in-law Ann Sugimoto of Raymond and Yvonne Sugimoto of Victoria, B.C.; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was grateful for the love of her extended family: sister Betty Tanigami of Brooks; brother Mac (Reyko) Nishiyama of Lethbridge; lifelong friend and sister-in-law Kaz Sugimoto; and siblings-in-law Brem (Wendy) Sugimoto of Waterloo, Ont.; Tomiko Sugimoto of Lethbridge; Sak Saruwatari of Taber; Takako Sugimoto of Calgary; Teiji Nakamura of Lethbridge; and dozens of nieces and nephews who shared love and laughter with her throughout her life.

Fumi was predeceased by her parents; husband, Nim; sons Chris and Doug; brother Jack Nishiyama; sister, best friend and shopping companion May Saruwatari; and numerous in-laws.

A service to honour Fumi’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, February 27, 2017 at the BUDDHIST TEMPLE OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA, 470 – 40 Street South, Lethbridge, with Reverend Y.Izumi officiating.

To send condolences, please visit http://www.generationsfh.ca

WILLIAM DOUGLAS ROLLINGSON

Bill, beloved husband and best friend of Kathy, passed away Thursday, February 16, 2017 at the Chinook Regional Hospital. Loving father of Bill Jr. of Lethbridge and Pat (Dave) Olson of White Sands, AB., he was the only child of Bill and Florence Rollingson. Working in Bill’s Esso Service for his dad during his teen years, he attended college in Bozeman, Montana, and then returned to the service station. Eventually he took a job at Automatic Electric where he met Kathy. Married and settling down in Lethbridge in 1964, he began working for AGT. As Installation and Repair Supervisor, he was transferred to Taber in 1981, residing there until 1988 when he was transferred back to Lethbridge. Bill took early retirement in 1991, but kept in touch with many of his co-workers. Twice a week he met the guys for coffee at Smitty’s, where they were determined to solve all of Telus’ and the world’s problems. Bill lived for those coffee sessions. After surviving electrocution while on the job in 1965, Bill became plagued with many illnesses. He accepted what life dealt him with nary a complaint, and never let his health problems stop him from doing what he loved. Co-founder of the Lethbridge Coulee Kruzers Jeep Club, he spent many weekends jeeping or working on jeeps. He found golf too frustrating to enjoy, but was an avid hunter, fisherman and camper. With his partner Dave Spurgeon, he participated in many walleye tournaments. One of Bill’s passions was tying fishing lures. Bill always treated the family with wonderful holidays. A trip to Hawaii was a highlight, but more to his liking was becoming a snowbird in Arizona. The cruise to Alaska was the last major holiday, but there were many camping trips to his favorite spots at Ridge Reservoir, St. Mary’s and Kalispell, Montana. Bill leaves to mourn his passing, his wife and children, grandchildren Lucas, Eloura and Paul, extended grandchildren Brady (Jess) Olson, Taylor (Lauren Brus) Olson, five great grandchildren, sister-in-law Barb (Marv) Thom, special young friend Chace Wiley and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Bill was pre-deceased by his parents Bill Sr. and Florence, grandparents Matt and Mary Sweda, uncle Larry Sweda and most recently his aunt Ursula Sweda. Bill has requested there be no funeral, but agreed a Celebration of Life would be “okay”. Please join us in celebrating his memory on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at the Eagles Hall, 631 – 13th Street North, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.

To send condolences, please visit http://www.generationsfh.ca