FRIDAY, March 12, 2021

By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on March 12, 2021.

ALDER

FRED PHILLIP ALDER, beloved husband of Verna Alder, passed away peacefully in the St. Michael’s Health Centre – Palliative Care Unit, on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at the age of 79 years. His long and valiant battle against illness ended with sadness but relief at last.

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, March 12, 2021 at 11:00 AM with Pastor Keith Dangerfield officiating with Interment to follow. The Funeral Service and Graveside will be live streamed and may be accessed via Fred’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.

To send a condolence, please visit

http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

BROWN

SANDRA GAIL BROWN, wife of Richard Vernon Brown, passed away on March 10, 2021 in Lethbridge, Alberta.

Sandra is survived by her son Jay (Brigitte) Doolittle, grandson Ryan (Samantha) Doolittle and great grandson Grayson Doolittle; granddaughter Jaycee (James) Johnston, and great granddaughter Amelia Johnston; daughter Gay (Warren) Lagler, granddaughter Carlee Lagler and granddaughter Haley Lagler.

Sandra was predeceased by her mother Annette Ruth Manning, her father Stanley “Rusty” Manning and her cousin Ruth Olsen.

A Private Graveside Service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery, Lethbridge Alberta.

To send a condolence, please

visit http://www.salmonandsons.ca

Patricia Louise Combs nee Kipp

March 31, 1929 – March 8, 2021

On the afternoon of Monday, March 8, 2021 our beautiful, creative, funny, and brave mother died. How can it be that time has passed so quickly? It seems like yesterday that she was sewing clothes for our brother’s teddy bear, making matching mother/daughter dresses, kissing our wounds, and wiping away our tears while cradling us in her arms.

Mom was born in Concord, California but grew up in the coastal town of Morro Bay. She loved living by the sea, fishing with her dad, buying ice cream on the beach and learning how to dress with style from her mother. One Christmas Eve her father lifted her to the kitchen window so that she could see Santa and his sleigh being pulled by his reindeer as they flew across the sky. From that moment on, she knew he was real and never failed to tell us so. Mom adored her father, Frank, US Navy submariner in WW1, and her tall and elegant mother, Hazel. She was raised as an only child as her older sister died at birth.

Mom married our father, Wesley, in August 1950. All she wanted was to raise a family and live in a house surrounded by a white picket fence, but life had more exciting plans for her. Our family moved from Laramie, Wyoming to Edmonton in 1962 where Mom became a proud Canadian, made many friends, volunteered at a local hospital, and set about discovering a love for design. After the kids were grown, Dad worked in many exotic places, Ghana, Lesotho, Greece, Nepal, Peru, China, Iran, Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica, China, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and the Philippines. Of course, Mom went too and everywhere she went she made friends and created beautiful homes.

Mom was an artisan. She knit, hooked rugs, made her own vegetable dyes and cross-stitched beautiful samplers which she designed herself. She was interested in archaeology, family history, watching golf and loved the Toronto Blue Jays. Ice cream was her treat of choice. Favorite recipes were her mother’s spice cake and delicious green Jello salad, which was always served in the blue bowl she had received as a wedding gift. Mom was a midcentury housewife, who also loved reading Pliny the Elder and Charles Dickens, was fascinated by the ancient Bog People in Europe, was a top-notch typist and stenographer and had mastered the mystery of shorthand. Mom had deep blue eyes, long slender fingers and her tiny wrists were always adorned with a selection of sterling silver bracelets. Most of all though, Mom was Love.

Mom was predeceased by her parents and our father, Wesley. She is survived by her children: Stan Combs (Holly Morgan), Cindy Combs, Mary Combs, and Sandy (Vince) Ballinger. Grandchildren: Heather (Joly) Travis, Laurel Combs, Matt (Phyllis)Ballinger, and Nate (Lindsey) Ballinger. Great grandchildren: William Travis, Alexander Travis, Katelin (Seth) Williams, Trevor Ballinger, Lauren Ballinger, Ryder Ballinger, and Max Ballinger.

Special Thanks go to the staff at West Highlands Good Samaritans for the love and care they gave to our mother. Over the years, they became our family too and we will miss them.

Flowers gratefully declined. A private service will be held at a later date.

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

Larry Halter

“Big Lar”

– Tougher Than Cougar

S#!t Rolled In Gravel

– Master of the Side Hustle,

Jack of All Trades, and

Neighbourhood Handyman

October 5th, 1952 – March 6th, 2021

Larry George Edward Halter of Lethbridge, Ab passed away peacefully at home on March 6th, 2021.

Born in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan. Larry was predeceased by his parents Joseph Alphonse Halter & Ruth Olive Halter.

He is survived by his wife Sharon Halter and his children: Ryan Halter (Kayla), Jason Gounden (Kim), Jheri Cook (Ryan) & his favourite fur child Chico. His Grandchildren: Courtney, Creedin, Cohen, Dhillon, Dillon, Harmony, Greysyn and Keira. As well as one Great Grandchild Rohyn. His brothers Leonard Halter (Elsie), Richard Halter and Brent Halter (Ernie). As well as many other family and friends who cared for him deeply.

Larry grew up in Dodsland, Saskatchewan and helped work on the grain farm with his parents and 3 brothers. He built his first car when he pulled one out of his Grandpa’s scrap pile in his early teens and fixed it all up. He drove around town until the police pulled him over and told him to park it until he had his license. This started his love of old cars and mechanics. When Larry turned 16, he hit the road on his own and headed to Edmonton, Ab looking for work, he found it the day he arrived. He spent a couple years there before returning back to Dodsland, Saskatchewan where he met his first wife Leona and they had their son Ryan. Fast forward a few years and some life changes Larry found himself in Calgary, Ab where he met his current wife Sharon at the Town and Country. Larry’s lifelong friend Ron Moser chaperoned their first date (it’s a good story) where Larry promised Sharon she would never be bored, he kept that promise! (Their song was Ghostbusters). A short time later Sharon moved to Kindersley, Saskatchewan with their son Jason. They were married in Taber, Alberta on a short visit to Sharon’s family. Their daughter Jheri was born during the time they lived in Kindersley. Larry, Sharon and all 3 of their children moved to the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia where they resided for about 8 years before moving to Lethbridge, Ab where Sharon, Larry and Jheri settled, while the boys continued on their own journeys living in various places. Throughout his life Larry learnt many skills, such as when he apprenticed to be a mechanic. He became a professional painter as his continuing career, painting everything from houses to heavy equipment. He was in reality a jack of all trades and the neighbourhood handyman, whether it was where he lived or just visiting someone, always willing to help someone that needed something fixed. Larry was always up for a good BS session, had a crazy story to tell, or an inappropriate joke at the ready. He had so many interests and hobbies, he was never done learning. He loved hunting, camping, fishing, taking photos, watching nature, working on old cars (specifically Oldsmobiles), making jewelry from stone and spending time with his kids and Grandchildren. Throughout his life Larry travelled and worked in varying places such as Singapore, Baffin Island and his last big holiday with Sharon to Mexico. The joy of Larry’s life were his kids and Grandchildren. He was always at the ready to give advice, to fix our s#!t, or put something goofy on his head to make his Grandkids giggle. He will always be lovingly remembered. Forever in our hearts and our laughs. You will be missed.

A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

Cremation entrusted to Martin Brothers Funeral Chapels.

Flowers are gratefully declined. For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to Crohn’s and Colitis foundation of Canada, 600-60 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto, ON M4T 1N5.

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

Doris Jang

1931 – 2021

Doris Jang of Lethbridge, beloved wife of the late Henry Jang, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 8, 2021, at the age of 89 years.

Doris is survived by her daughters Mae, Fawn (Mark), and Sue; sons Ken (Margaret), and Ming (Phi); Grandchildren Ashley, Braden, Marleea (Aaron), Ethan, Nolan, Rylee, and Mathias. She is also survived by her younger sister, Mrs. Sim Yip Wan of Calgary.

Doris was born on September 23, 1931 in Guangdong Province, China. She grew up in a rural farming community, during the great famine. She had also witnessed the Japanese occupation of China, during the second world war. After the war ended, Doris relocated to Hong Kong where she met her future husband, Henry. They welcomed their first daughter, Mae before Henry immigrated to Canada.

In 1958, Doris and Mae joined Henry who settled in Lethbridge, Alberta. There they expanded their family with four more children.

Doris was an exceptionally hard-working individual. Together with her husband, they had managed to operate a successful grocery store business, and several restaurant ventures. One of her most notable accomplishments, was her perseverance to continue running Henry’s Restaurant for 32 more years with the support of her children, after her husband’s passing.

Family was everything to Doris. In particular, her grandchildren were the apple of her eye, she loved spending time with them. Her passion was cooking and sharing food with family and friends. Doris also enjoyed travelling, especially to Hawaii and Las Vegas. We were blessed to have one last family trip with her to Las Vegas and Disneyland for Christmas in 2019 where she was able to enjoy one last flight on Peter Pan with her grandkids.

A special thanks is extended to the staff of Bridge Home Care, and her family physician Dr. Stephenson, who provided exceptional care and kindness to Doris in her later years.

A Viewing by appointment only, will be held from 6-8 p.m., on Monday, March 15, 2021, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610-4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta. To book a time slot, please go to http://www.mbfunerals.com and click on Doris’ obituary.

A private family Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. The family invites those who wish to watch the service via livestream at http://www.mbfunerals.com and scrolling to the bottom of Doris’ obituary.

Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery.

We would like to gather with many of Doris’s friends and extended family at a later date once restrictions are lifted. More details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, memorial donations may be made to a charity of their choice.

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

Hisako (Esther) Kitaguchi

1919 – 2021

In her 102nd year, Hisako “Esther” Kitaguchi passed away on February 25, 2021, peacefully and with much grace, to be reunited with her beloved family.

Esther was born in Mill Creek B.C. (later called Woodfibre) on October 19th, 1919, to Chiyoye (a nurse) and Tokugoro Sato (a former boatbuilder and head carpenter at the mill). The second of five siblings, Hisako was raised and educated there. An outstanding student, she skipped two grades, finishing high school at fifteen. She aspired to follow in her mother’s footsteps, but was denied entrance to nursing school, her tender age working against her. On July 1, 1939, she married Tadashi Kitaguchi, an Evansburg boy who had moved to the coast a few years earlier. In mid-1942, a few months after the birth of her daughter Keiko, the entire family along with everyone of Japanese descent living on the coast was forcibly moved east of the “hundred-mile line”; Hisako, Tad and their infant daughter ended up in Raymond where they initially lived in a converted granary and laboured in the beet fields, and later, under better circumstances, at Hancock Dairy. When restrictions on movement were somewhat relaxed in 1944, Esther and family moved to Summit Lime Works just west of Crowsnest Lake where Tad had found employment as a heavy equipment operator. There she was joined by her parents and later, her brother. At one time the extended family numbered six, spanning three generations, all housed in a tiny two room log cabin. In 1954, Esther and Tad moved to Lethbridge as part owners and operators of Jack’s Coffee Shop. They settled into a small bungalow, raised their daughter and cared for the extended family, staying until late 2001, when Esther and her brother moved to Calgary to be closer to family. Throughout most of that time Esther was employed at Canada Safeway, ending up as head cashier.

Esther was an active participant in community life: she ran a small kindergarten at Summit Lime Works, taught Sunday school and worked as a teacher’s aide in Coleman, taught Sunday school at Southminster United Church, subsequently joined the Southern Alberta Japanese United Church in Lethbridge and later was a member of Bowness Seniors Centre in Calgary.

Esther lived a significant part of her life through difficult times, under harsh conditions that few can even imagine today, yet like many of her compatriots, adopted the pervasive “shikata ga nai” philosophy and was buoyed up by an inner strength that carried her forward with optimism. She never dwelt openly on the misfortunes of life, but remembered and was thankful for the good times and kindnesses that were bestowed upon her. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be remembered always in our hearts.

Esther is survived by her daughter Keiko Evelyn (Gerry) Raham, two grandchildren, Chris (Laura) Raham of Scotch Plains NJ and Patrick Raham of Victoria BC and two great-grandchildren, Parker (Chris) and Kazuo (Patrick) as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, both here and abroad. She was predeceased by her husband Tad in 1996, her parents Chiyoye and Tokugoro, her siblings Ayako, Toshiko, Fudeko and Tokue.

The family is grateful to those staff at Brentwood Care Centre who cared for Esther from October 2019 and showed her much kindness and attention, in particular Dr. Barbara Smyth, who was especially compassionate.

A private family service will be held at 1:00 pm, on Saturday March 13, 2021. The family invites those who wish to watch the service via livestream at http://www.mbfunerals.com and scrolling to the bottom of Hisako’s obituary.

Flowers and koden are gratefully declined. If desired, friends can make a donation to the Southern Alberta Japanese United Church (821-9th Ave. N., Lethbridge, AB T1H 1E8) in memory of Esther.

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

Geraldine Parker

1946 – 2021

Ms. Geraldine Parker of Lethbridge passed away at home on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at the age of 74 years.

In keeping with Geraldine’s wishes, she will be privately remembered by family and friends.

Cremation has been entrusted to Martin Brothers Riverview Chapel.

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

SCHOLTEN

1931 – 2021

DIRK WILLEM SCHOLTEN, beloved husband of Hantzen for 53 years, was called Home on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at the age of 89 years.

A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, March 15, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. The service will be live streamed and may be accessed via Dirk’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.

To send a condolence, please visit

http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

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