TUESDAY, April 19, 2022

By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on April 19, 2022.

BEEBE

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our mother, ALVINE BEEBE (Aaka’pioyiaakii) on April 10, 2022 at the Cardston Hospital.

She passed away peacefully surrounded by family.

Alvine was born in Fort Macleod, Alberta on June 30, 1939 and is survived by her children, Patty (Evans) Shade, Sandra (Marvin) Shade, David Shade, Thora Shade, and Wayna Beebe; brothers: Barry (Ronni) Shade, Donald (Marie) Shade, and Hank Shade; sisters: Harriet (Leroy) Heavy Runner, Colleen (Calvin) Crow Child, Christine Shade; grandchildren: Sonya Shade, Jobi Shade, Andee Wells, Shelby Wells, Kyra Wells, Lacey Wells, TC Wells, Kash Shade, Kiley Shade, Brooke Fox, Jim Bob Day Rider, Rumuer Shade, and Cierra Frech. She had many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She always had a special bond with her grandson Kessler Shade. Mom had many nephews and nieces who she took as her children and their children became her grandchildren.

Alvine is predeceased by her father Harry Shade, mother Agnes (Night Gun) Shade, granddaughter Cari Rose Wells, brother Ervin Shade, and daughter in-law Jolayne Shade. Nephews: Stephen Heavy Runner, Austin Shade, and Tyson Shade. Nieces: Marilyn Shade and Chelsea Shade and her dedicated dog “Patches”.

Mom went to school at St. Paul’s Residential School, Crowfoot Catholic School and Cardston High School. She worked at the Cardston Clinic for twenty-three years. She also worked at the Blood Tribe Administration for eleven years where she became like a mother figure and supported and nurtured the staff when needed.

Alvine would help her brothers, Ervin and Barry with their farm and ranch work rather than helping her mom with household chores. She was a great horsewoman and tractor operator. Due to their father Harry’s health issues, Alvine and Barry had to start driving the tractor at a very young age. They were too young to drive the tractor all day long so they alternated. They would each drive for one hour then switch. When work had to be completed on a weekend, her and Barry had to plow the fields while the rest of the family went to the Saturday afternoon matinee movie in Cardston. On one occasion they wanted to go to the matinee, so they put a handful of dirt in the gas tank, but the ole John Deere D tractor just kept chugging along.

Alvine trained her favorite horse, Lady, to run the barrels. Many hours were spent barrel racing in the stubble field behind the house. All the young horse riders from the Tall Timber area would come and have barrel racing competitions.

She was the greatest supporter of her rodeo family. She would follow the rodeo trail to make sure her cowboys and cowgirls were taken care of. She made many trips to the Indian National Finals Rodeo. At the local rodeos she would pack a cooler full of fresh home-made food. Once at the rodeo she would make sure the hungry were fed and she would spend time visiting with everyone. Mom made time for everyone, family was very important to her. She enjoyed visiting with family and was often on the phone with friends for hours. Right to the end, she kept up with everyone’s well-being and would never put herself first. She never complained about her health and would always ask about how others were doing. She enjoyed life, found humour in everything and had an infectious laugh. She made sure her home was always welcoming.

She made a point of attending every graduation, ceremony, and family function of every kind. Family was her passion.

The children and family of Alvine would like to thank the medical teams who cared for her at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital, the Calgary Foothills Hospital and the Cardston Hospital. A special thank you to the Fort Macleod Diaylsis Unit with a special mention to Tory who mom spoke of fondly of. It gives the family great comfort to know the special care she received.

The Wake Service will be held on Wednesday, April 20 at LDS Stake Centre, 338 5th Ave E, Cardston from 6:00 – 11:00 pm. The Funeral Service will follow at Legacy Funeral Home on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 11:00 am with Father Pawel Andrasz officiating.

Interment to follow at the Shade Family Cemetery.

To send a condolence please visit http://www.legacyfuneralhome.ca

Dean Blair

March 27, 1932 – April 8, 2022

On Friday April 8, 2022, Dean passed away peacefully in Victoria at the Sunset Lodge. He was 90 years old. He is predeceased by his wife Mimi and survived by his four children (Jeff, Ed, Bill and Rebecca), eight grandchildren and eleven great- grandchildren.

Dean Blair lived a rich life filled with family, music and teaching. He earned a Bachelor of Music at Stetson University followed by a Masters of Music in Composition from the Eastman School of Music in 1958. Upon graduating, Dean joined the music faculty of Wisconsin State University at Stevens Point. It was there he met and married the love of his life, Mimi.

In 1970, he and the family relocated from Wisconsin to Alberta to accept an associate professor position in music theory and composition at the newly-established University of Lethbridge. Over the next 25 years, Dean dedicated himself to teaching, composing and served as department chairperson for nine years. He was loved by his students and was nominated twice for the University of Lethbridge’s Distinguished Teaching Award. Dean wrote over 200 musical compositions (many on commission) covering nearly all instrumental and vocal media. A composition of his was also performed for Queen Elizabeth during one of her Canadian tours.

In 1995, Dean and Mimi retired to Victoria where they enjoyed walking nature trails, gardening and spending time with their grandchildren. Dean will be remembered for his everlasting humour, kindness and happy spirit. “I’ve lived a good life,” he often stated. He will be dearly missed.

A celebration of life will be held mid-July in Victoria. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Land Trust Alliance of British Columbia https://ltabc.ca/

Condolences may be offered to the family at http://www.mccallgardens.com

CLARKE

CYRIL D’ARCY CLARKE, beloved husband of Ngawati Clarke, passed away in Cardston on Sunday, April 17th, 2022 at the age of 94 years.

The Funeral Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Cardston Alberta West Stake Centre, (846 -1 Ave West), Cardston, AB., on Friday, April 22nd, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. Friends may meet the family from 12:00 noon to 12:45 p.m. prior to the service.

Interment to follow in the Leavitt Cemetery.

To Watch the Service Later or send Condolences please visit: http://www.legacyfuneralhome.ca

COOMBES

JOHN COOMBES, beloved husband of Valerie Coombes of Coalhurst, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, April 14, 2022, at the age of 91 years.

A Celebration of John’s Life will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME – 2825 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Monday, April 25, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. with Pat Siedlecki officiating.

Following the Celebration of Life, tributes, words of remembrance and some storytelling will be shared at a Reception in John’s Honour at the COALHURST ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION – 5205 6 St, Coalhurst, AB.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart Function Clinic, c/o Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation, 960 – 19 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 1W5.

To send a condolence, please visit

http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

PAVAN

After a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s we’re sad and a little relieved that Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma Berniece passed away peacefully on April 15th with her family by her side. We’re happy that she’ll be reunited with Benny (1934-2011) the love of her life.

Mom was born and raised in Lethbridge and was the third eldest of eleven Soltys kids. When she married Benny in 1955, he was one of seven children so both families grew considerably. Mom was always busy whether it was cooking up a storm on the farm, raising kids, golf, adventures with Dorothy and Robert Olshaski, visiting her sister Jean Gillie, knitting, Knights of Columbus activities and adventures, the CWL, fishing and family time at Duck Lake, making Ukrainian Easter eggs, reading, cross stitch, travelling with the Old Timers hockey team or just having a coffee and watching humming birds at the Lake.

Mom was never happier than when she was around her children, grandkids and great grandkids. Even in her last days when she had little recognition of others the boisterous sounds of great grandkids on FaceTime got her attention. Her grandkids knew that Grandma always loved spending time with them whether for their yearly birthday date, one on one time at Duck Lake, camping in the River Bottom on Labour Day weekend or making them spaghetti on Halloween.

Our family always looked up to Grandma and Grandpa for living their best lives, never shying away from a trip or an adventure. As empty nesters they made sure they had no regrets.

Mom is survived by her children Linda, Leroy (Sandra) and Lorne (Teri “Scooter”), her grandchildren Alix (Tyler) Hirsche, Arin (Bub) Lathen, Aric (Micah), Alison (Allan) Schneider, Alan (Britnee), Andin (Kenzie), Ariel (Rob) Olsen, Hannah (Lucas) Neufeld, Devin (Mac Karl), 23 great grandchildren, her sister Jean Gillie and brother Danny Soltys.

We are thankful for the staff at Good Samaritans, Park Meadows for all they did for Mom during her long stay. We are especially grateful for the care givers in Cottage 6 who looked after Mom with such care and dignity. Your kindness will not be forgotten.

If you knew Mom, take a moment today to reflect on a happy memory of her that makes you smile.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ST. BASIL’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 604 13th Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Wednesday, April 20th, 2022, at 10:00 am with Father Kevin Tumback celebrating. The Mass will be livestreamed and available to view via Berniece’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Alzheimer Society and let’s eradicate this disease that steals our loved ones twice.

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

SANTONI

BARBARA SANTONI, of Lethbridge, beloved wife of the late Danny Santoni, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home, on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at the age of 73 years.

Arrangements will be announced once completed.

To send a condolence, please visit

http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

Wanda Szutarski

1925 – 2022

Our beloved Mom, Grandma, Great-grandma and Great-great-grandma passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at Adaptacare Lethbridge at the age of 96 years.

She will be deeply missed by her two sons Richard Szutarski of Coaldale, Zbigniew (Helen) Szutarski of Hinton; grandchildren Tammy (Barry) Ellis of Lethbridge, Jim (Kim) Szutarski of St. Albert, Tracy (Steve) Waldo, Deborah Szutarski of Hinton; great- grandchildren Steven (Debbie) Ellis, Chelsea Ellis both of Lethbridge, Brittney, Bradey, Skyler and Joshua Szutarski all of St. Albert, Ethan and Riley Szutarski, Jada, Quinn, Tayla Waldo and Trevis Prince all of Hinton; great-great- granddaughters Brynlee, Haisley Ellis of Lethbridge and Jessie Aardema of Hinton; one sister-in-law Krystina Blajet and one niece Wanda (Peter) Szmanska of Poland.

Besides her parents, Wanda was pre-deceased by her husband Leon; one daughter-in-law Bonnie Szutarski and one grandson Jesse Szutarski.

Wanda was born on December 5, 1925 in Nowiny Kreis Warsaw, Poland. Wanda immigrated to Canada in 1957.

Wanda was a kind, humble lady who loved to garden and was an amazing cook. She loved all of her grandkids, great-grandkids and great-great granddaughters. She loved her visits by all of her family and she especially enjoyed her many weekend shopping trips with her granddaughter Tammy.

Wanda will be dearly missed by all.

Wanda will be remembered by her family in a private funeral service.

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

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