WEDNESDAY, October 6, 2021

By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on October 6, 2021.

Grace Adeline Dahl

April 20, 1928 – October 3, 2021

The family is very sad to announce the passing of Grace Adeline Dahl, nee Anderson, on October 3, in Claresholm Alberta. She passed away peacefully in her sleep.

Grace was born on the Peter’s family farm in Nobleford, Alberta, in 1928. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Ken in 2003, and her dear sister Doris in 1983. She is survived by her three children Brian (Judy), Ross (Cathy), and Cheryl; her grandchildren Kara, Brad, Emily, Jennifer, and Erin; her great- grandchildren Adeline, Bailey, Jacqueline, Vivien, Margot, Ruby and Hazel; many nieces and nephews; and many friends.

Grace and Ken were married in 1948, and lived on the Dahl family farm, north of Claresholm, in a house built in 1927 by Ken’s parents. There they farmed until they retired to a new house in town in 2003. After Ken passed away, and after spending a few years on her own, she moved to Cottonwood Village, and lived there ten years before finally moving to the Willowcreek Continuing Care Centre 6 months ago.

Grace lived a long and full life. She was much loved by her family and friends. She was an excellent artist, and during her life pursued pottery, photography, lapidary work, egg decorating, tailoring, needlework, furniture refinishing, gardening, and many other artistic expressions. She was a good and faithful friend to many people throughout her life, including her expanding family. Her family was the centre of her life until the end, and she provided wise and loving counsel to all of us. She will be deeply missed.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Willowcreek Centre for providing Grace with care in the last months of her life, and to thank her doctor Dr. Yonemori, for his care of her for many years. A service will be arranged when it is safe to gather again.

Condolences may be made at http://www.zentnerfuneralhomes.com

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Gavina Marie King

February 27, 1958 – September 28, 2021

Gavina passed away suddenly on September 28th on the Blood Reserve. She is survived by her sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, aunts, relatives and her many friends.

Gavina attended St. Mary’s Residential School and graduated from St. Mary’s High School. Gavina loved to work and held occupations in a wide range of areas that included Corrections and until her passing, was a heavy-duty electrician. She also joined the United States Army Reserve, and trained at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in the early 1990s; a connection to her Grandfather Nicholas King who served in World War I.

Gavina was a talented and competitive athlete and was especially proud of her time she played with the fastball team, the BTA Jays alongside her sister Carla. She was the back catcher and won various tournaments on the Blood Reserve and other Treaty 7 reserves; and as well as women’s leagues in Cardston and surrounding communities. She also played on curling teams with her sister Rhonda in bonspiels in southern Alberta. Later on, she enjoyed 8-Ball pool in the VNEA leagues in Calgary and Lethbridge. In 2010, her team won one of the Ladies Divisions in Calgary which earned them a trip to the Las Vegas International VNEA Tournament. She was also a huge sports fan, cheering on her favourite teams, the Calgary Flames and Calgary Stampeders, and was a former season ticketholder.

She also enjoyed powwows and attended many with her parents when her father, Raymond, sang with the Blood Reserve Singers. After her parents’ passing, she continued to attend powwows to support her family and friends by accompanying her Aunties, Tsuaki and Annie Davis. Her mother, Isabella, taught her how to bead at a young age and was known for her beautiful intricate work. She worked on a lot of outfits for her friends and relatives on the powwow circuit which you see today.

Gavina loved to travel and would be ready whenever her friends and family called her for a quick trip and found herself in places such as Cuba and Hawaii. Hawaii held a special place in her heart because her parents, Raymond and Isabella, travelled there and she eventually resided there for a couple of years with her sister, Thelma.

Gavina was known for her great sense of humour and her quick-witted comebacks and always found ways to make you join in her infectious laughter. Her sense of humour was due to her nature as a good observer who later told entertaining and animated stories with her own twists and funny takes. Her quiet nature held up until she would crack a joke or share a funny observation.

She led a humble life but was wealthy in her friendships and her connections she held with her relatives which was evident by her generosity. She had friends from so many different backgrounds and ages which showed how much of a people person she really was. Although she did not have children, she doted on her nieces and nephews, as well as her relatives and friends’ children. Gavina was strong-willed but was always there for us in our time of need and would help us in any way she could. She will be fondly remembered by all who knew and loved her.

Gavina will be greatly missed by her sisters: Thelma King-Murphy of Honolulu, Hawaii, Rhonda King-Blood (Charles Sr.), Carla Weasel Fat (Fred); and brothers: Klane King (Angela) and Carlton King of Toronto, Ontario; great-aunts: Mrs. Rachel Hoof, Mrs. Annie Davis; nieces and nephews: Pam (Danny), Cameron, Charmaine (Brandon), Kara, R.J., Sarah (Jermiha) and Charles Jr. (Tricia), Cherilynn (Austen), Izaiha, Brolin, Charlee, Urijah, Elijah, Alias, Jermiha Jr., Owen, Loralynn, and Aubrielle.

She was predeceased by her parents: Raymond and Isabella King; her brothers: Courtney, Raynard and Charlie; nephew, Neal; brother-in-law, Laurence; and sister-in-law, Marilyn.

She will also be missed by her extended families which include the Eagle Childs, Crow Chiefs, Eagle Plumes, Red Crows, Eagle Bears and Little Lights. Also, families from the Many Children and All Tall People Clans. The family apologizes for anybody missed.

The Wake service will be from 5:00 – 8:00 pm on Monday October 4, 2021 at Legacy Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, Blood Reserve (due to covid restrictions 50 people only). Interment to take place in St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Blood Reserve.

To send a condolences go to http://www.legacyfuneralhome.ca.

Ron Levagood

1943 – 2021 

It is with great regret and sadness that the family of Delbert Ronald Levagood announces his passing at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at the age of 78 years.  As a result of the restrictions regarding COVID-19 and the government recommendations, a private funeral service will be held at Southland Funeral Chapel on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. Due to the fact that in person attendance at the service is limited and by invitation only, those who wish to view the service may do so by visiting Ron’s obituary page on our website and clicking on the livestream link that will be available at 10:45 A.M. on Saturday, October 9, 2021. Condolences may be forwarded by visiting our website at http://www.southlandfuneral.com.  Ron is survived by his loving wife of forty seven years, Ilene; sisters Jean Kiel and family and Lorna Reese and family; sister-in-law Di Levagood. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Johnny Pecz; sisters-in-law Mary Padley and family and Ann Chapman and family. He will be lovingly remembered by many colleagues, associates and friends. His nieces, nephews and cousins will fondly remember “Uncle Ron’s Pancakes”, especially at Cornfest! Ron was predeceased by his parents Delbert and Ella Levagood, brother Richard “Dick” Levagood, brother-in-law Steve Kiel and nephew Colin Reese.  Ron was born on August 7, 1943 at the Didsbury Municipal Hospital, to parents Delbert and Ella Levagood. He was named after his dad Delbert, and his dad’s best school chum, Ronnie Lyons who was killed in a training accident at CFB Penhold. The Levagood family grew adding sister Jean, brother Dick and baby sister Lorna. Ron rode horse back to a one room schoolhouse called Clovermount where he excelled at an early age in reading. During his teen years on the farm he served as Treasurer and President of the West Didsbury 4H Beef Club showing the Reserve Grand Champion Steer in 1957.  After junior high in Didsbury, he attended Concordia College in Edmonton where he was active in all sports and Choral groups. Graduating from Grade twelve in 1962, he commenced studies at the college level towards the Lutheran Ministry. Upon graduation in 1964, he then transferred to the teacher training program at Concordia Teachers College, located in River Forest, Illinois. His studies were interrupted by the United States draft call in support of the Vietnam War. He completed basic and pre-deployment training in San Diego. He was then airlifted to Okinawa, Japan to complete a thirteen month stint forwarding casualties mail that was being shipped up from Vietnam. On return to the United States, he was stationed at Base Head Quarters, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton in California for a period of ten months as an administrative man. He was then transferred to the US Army Induction Station in Oakland, California as a Mental testing Noncom. On release from active duty on October 5, 1968 he returned to his parental home on the farm west of Didsbury to “Decompress” and pursue job opportunities in Calgary. In January 1969 he commenced a one year position as a survey director setting up X-Ray clinics and doing public relations work for the Alberta Lung Association. In January 1970 he pursued an opening for a sales rep position with Grand & Toy office products. This led to a twenty seven year career in sales and management, placing consistently in the top twenty of the national sales force. His sales calls at CIBC Regional Office Calgary led to his meeting the love of his life, Ilene Pecz. They were married on June 29, 1974 in Taber. In-laws John and Eileen Pecz (deceased) and the entire Pecz family welcomed him into their midst. With his new family decades of happy memories were created.  Feeling the urge to start their own business, he and Ilene opened a Color Your World home decorating products store in her home town in Taber. They successfully operated it for sixteen years prior to their retirement on December 30, 2011.  In retirement they continued to travel in Europe and North America. Ron’s interests outside of business included service with the Jaycees, as a police security volunteer for the 1998 Calgary Winter Olympics, ten years singing barbershop with the Stampede City Chorus (Chairman of 250 volunteers for the 1993 International Convention), four years with the Bridge City Barbershop Chorus of Lethbridge, fifteen years with the Taber Kiwanis (he and Ilene started the Christmas Shoebox Campaign), twenty years with the Taber Players theatre group, Treasurer of the Citizens on Patrol and Parkside Manor. An avid hunter, fisherman and observer of nature, he received his Alberta Field Naturalists shoulder patch in the 1990’s. In retirement, he continued to pursue his interests in writing, family history and genealogy. Concluding his volunteer activities, he functioned as a tutor for ESL students. Ilene would like to send a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Wes Steed and his great team of nurses at the Taber Hospital. Also, to the cardiac surgeons and the nurses at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary. If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Ron’s name may be made directly to Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, Box 2211, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4K7 (http://www.heartandstroke.com) or to Diabetes Canada, Calgary and District Branch, 220, 6223 – 2 Street SE, Calgary, Alberta T2H 1J5 (http://www.diabetes.ca).  Arrangements in care of Southland Funeral Chapel, Taber. Telephone: (403) 223-8778. 

MITCHELL

John Robert Mitchell of Monarch, AB, passed away peacefully at St. Michael’s Palliative Care on Oct 3, 2021, at the age of 76. At John’s request, there will be a private family service held at a later date. Final arrangements entrusted to Zentner Funeral Homes.

Condolences may be made at http://www.zentnerfuneralhomes.com

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OTT

With great sadness, the family announces the passing of our Mom, Grandma and Great-Grandma, MARY OTT, in the early hours of Monday, October 4, 2021, at the age of 79 years.

Mary leaves behind to mourn her passing, her loving husband Kurt of 33 years, her children: Doriann (Darin), Cindy (Byron) and daughter-in-law Cindy; grandchildren: Ashley (Matt), Richelle (Graham), Paige (Brady), Mackenzie (Max), Matt (Teshia), Mike (Courtney), Amanda, Ryan, Justin, Andrea and Victoria (Tyler) as well as nine great- grandchildren, five sisters and one brother.

Mary was predeceased by her son Jim, parents Martha and Victor, four brothers and one sister.

Mary Martha Catherine Krampl was born in Sarnia, ON, on February 4, 1942. She grew up the second eldest of 12 children, five brothers and six sisters. Around 1944-1945, Mary’s family moved to Onoway, AB, and after several moves over the years, eventually settled in the Diamond City / Shaughnessy area.

Mom had a zest for life matched by no other. She was always happiest when she was busy helping others or planning a party for family and friends. Mom and Kurt planned many backyard get-togethers and Oktoberfest was one of their favourites. She would plan and prepare enough food for a small army, ensuring everything was perfect and everyone was happy! Mary loved to socialize and would keep us all entertained with her knack for telling jokes. Mom had an artistic talent that shone through in all of her hobbies, such as baking, sewing, painting pictures, rock painting, flower arranging and gardening. Mom and Kurt loved attending dances at the German Canadian Club with their friends. She very much enjoyed music and dancing. Mom could and would accomplish anything she set her mind to, partly due to her stubbornness lol!

Sadly, over the years, Mom’s Parkinsons took its toll on her body, eventually leaving her wheelchair bound, and some days messed with her speech. Even through those toughest days, she would smile and manage to tell you one of her many jokes. She loved people and had a heart of gold. She would always smile and had the ability to light up any room and make those around her smile. Mom was a beautiful soul who won the hearts of all who knew her.

The family would like to thank the many home care professionals at Park Meadows Good Sams who took such amazing and compassionate care of our mom over the last four years. Lovingly naming her “Mare-Bear” and allowing her to be her outgoing self and entertaining you with her jokes.

“In love we united, in love we lived, and in love, we will be united again in heaven.” – Your loving babe Kurt

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, October 8, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Lee Loveridge officiating. The service will be live streamed and may be accessed via Mary’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.

Mary will be laid to rest in Royal View Cemetery.

To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

Robert “Bob” Prysiazny

1953 – 2021

Mr. Robert “Bob” Prysiazny, of Lethbridge passed away suddenly in his home on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at the age of 68 years.

Bob was the eldest son of Stan and Hazel Prysiazny and older brother to Brian (Shelagh) of Ridgeville, ON, Dwayne (Laurel) of Phoenix AZ and Cheryl (Carey) Kiefuik of Lethbridge. He was also uncle to Amy (Adam) Freeman and Tyler Kiefuik, Marisa (Ben) Cowie, Michael and Erin Prysiazny and great uncle to three nephews Thomas and Myles Cowie and Luca Freeman.

Bob went to Olds College to get his degree in Horticulture and maintained a career with Lethbridge Agricultural Research Station for 45 years.

If you knew Bob, you knew of his love for Collies. He leaves behind his two boys Kieran and Casey. Bob was a man of many talents. He created beautiful stained-glass artwork which many family and friends were privileged to have displayed in their homes.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm, on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610, 4 STREET SOUTH, Lethbridge, Alberta with Reverend Rodger Halvorsen, officiating.

This event will be livestreamed. To view Bob’s service, please go to, https://www.mbfunerals .com/obituary/RobertBob-Prysiazny and scroll to the bottom of his obituary.

Flowers are gratefully declined. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to MADD Canada https://madd.ca/ donation/donation-english.html.

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

WILLS

ARLENE (SIS) BROWN WILLS, beloved wife of the late Vernon C. Brown and second husband Stanley J. Wills passed away in Raymond on October 4, 2021 at the age of 97 years. “Sis” was born March 24, 1924 in Raymond, Alberta and attended school there. Her greatest love in life was her family. She is survived by her children; Richard Brown, Lorraine (Al) Byrne, Sharon Bassett, Charlene (Gerry) Olson, Nanette (Marty) Mattews, 12 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren and one brother Nick Wiggill. “Sis” was predeceased by her husband, Vernon C. Brown, second husband, Stanley J. Wills; her parents Opal and Bill Wiggill, brother Duane, daughter-in-law Sandra Brown, son-in-law Robert Bassett, sister-in-laws; Valine Wiggill, Frances Bullock, Connie Myles, Betty Krug, brother-in-laws; Lyle Brown, LaVar, Calvin, and Morris Bullock.

Friends are welcome to meet with the family on Thursday, October 7, 2021 at SALMON AND SONS FUNERAL HOME from 7 -8 p.m.

A Private Family Service will be held on Friday, October 8, 2021 with interment to take place at Temple Hill Cemetery, Raymond, Alberta.

Donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, #100 119 14 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6.

To send a condolence, please visit

http://www.salmonandsons.ca

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