Thursday, December 5, 2024

By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on December 5, 2024.

DONISON, Don DON DONISON 1953 – 2024 Our hearts are broken with the peaceful passing of our beloved, Don Donison, on November 26, 2024, at 71. Don was at home surrounded by his loving family.
Don leaves a legacy of life and love to his beloved wife and soul mate, Heather, our so loved children Angela (John) and their daughter Taylor (Dylan) and soon to be great grandchild, Lucas (Sara) and Sicily; Don (Trish) and their children Wesley, Walker, Chloe and Shaylee; Melissa (Rich) and their sons Cameron and Jasper; Lindsay (Nigel) and their daughter Bexley; siblings Karon Blaylock, Alice (Larry) Funnel, Barb (Allan) Hunt, Wayne (Leanne) Donison; by many nieces and nephews and by his bonus Belisle/Thompson family.
Don was predeceased by his parents Audrey and Wesley Donison, his sister and brother-in-law Glenda and Dale Dyck and by his parents-in-law Jack and Irene Thompson.
Don was recently honored with a Legacy award by Overhead Door Corp. for exemplary contribution to the Ribbon brand for which he has been the Lethbridge and Southern Alberta distributor since 1975. Don was also the past President of the Homebuilders Association, a past member of the Exhibition Board, a Kinsman and K40 member and he is a long-time member of the Lethbridge Country Club. Don worked tirelessly at building a successful business for his family and his work family. Don’s dedication and passion for his family was evident in everything he did.
Don’s has been a life well lived and he has touched and helped many on his journey. He faced his illness with the same stoicism, practicality and acceptance as he did all things in his life – a gift and legacy that he gives us all. Hold your loved ones close and spoil them with love and time.
At Don’s request there will be no funeral or memorial service. As we cherish our time, love and memories of Don and keep him in our hearts we hope for good memories for those of you whose lives he touched.
In lieu of flowers, if so you wish, please honor Don’s memory with a donation to Pancreatic Cancer Canada, https://pancreaticcancercanada.ca/, the Canadian Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, https://cnets.ca/, or the Canadian Liver Foundation, https://www.liver.ca/ Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.

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DAVID, Michael MICHAEL DAVID 1958 – 2024 Michael Robert David of Lethbridge, beloved husband of Pam David, passed away on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at the age of 65 years.
Michael was born in Eastend, Saskatchewan and raised on a farm in that area. He was employed by AG Canada (Research Station) for 30 years. He and Pam enjoyed many years of camping with family and friends. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting and making homemade sausage.
Left to celebrate Michael’s life are his loving mother, Maryanne; sisters Kathy David (Bob Reum), Sharon (Lonnie) Thorson, Tammy (Keith) Ekman. Also mourning his passing are Pam’s sisters Emma Kerner, Delores McMullan, Val Vucurevich; brothers Randy Garrecht, Rob (Darlene) Garrecht as well as sister-in-law Dianna Garrecht and numerous nieces and nephews; and his fur baby Dixie.
He was predeceased by his father Stanley David; mother-in-law Florence Garrecht; father-in-law George Garrecht; and brothers in law Harvey Garrecht, Nick Vucurevich, Cecil McMullan and Andy Kerner.
A Celebration of Michael’s Life will be held from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at LUIGIS STEAKHOUSE, 1119 MAYOR MAGRATH DRIVE SOUTH, Lethbridge, Alberta
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.

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HOUGEN, Isabella HOUGEN ISABELLA HOUGEN, of Bow Island, passed away peacefully at the Bow Island Health Centre – Long Term Care, on Monday, December 2, 2024 at the age of 92 years.
Arrangements will be announced once completed.

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

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GANGUR, Mary GANGUR MARY ELLEN GANGUR (nee O’Shea), of Lethbridge, beloved wife of the late George Gangur, passed away at St. Therese Villa on Monday, November 25, 2024, at the age of 95 years.
Mary Ellen was born in 1929 near Mayerthorpe, Alberta to J.A O’Shea (Alvin) and Bridget Agnes Kelly (nee Bridie), Mary Ellen had three sisters Lily McCabe, Patricia Letendre and Colleen O’Shea and one brother Neal O’Shea.
In 1946, Mary Ellen married Arthur Wallace Meilicke, a local returning solider and began farming in the Greencourt area. She also worked the switchboard and the post office; their house was a gathering place for all.
After Art passed away in 1968, Mary Ellen moved to the Mayerthorpe area and began working in the post office, she spent a year in Quebec and purchased with her brother Neal the Allen’s Lakeshore Motel in Waterton, Alberta.
In 1975, Mary Ellen married George Andrew Gangur. Their summers were spent at their resort camp-along in Penticton and later at the Spruce Grove Resort in Fairmont. Their winters were spent in Arizona, and they took many breaks for travelling and fishing in Alberta and BC.
In each place Mary Ellen lived she was an active community member. She belonged to many different organizations including the Catholic Women’s League, Ladies Auxiliary to the Legion, the Eagles Lodge, 4-H, Royal Purple, and Red Hat groups. In her home over the years, hundreds have been shown hospitality and enjoyed wonderful meals.
She became known for creating hilarious shows and plays, it always left her audiences wanting more. Her own children and grandchildren and many nieces and nephews loved the stories she imagined and told.
Mary Ellen is survived by her daughters, Phyllis (Bob) Hodges of Saskatoon, Barbara (Brooks) Allisen of Nanaimo, Shauna (Richard) Sharp of Lethbridge and Step-Daughter, Val (Shane) Pinnock of Calgary.
Mary Ellen was especially proud of her Grandchildren, Darcy and Paul Matras, Kerry Ellen Allisen, Colin Willdig, Brian, Mark, and Nicholas Wynder, Spencer and Allison Pinnock. She loved to sing to her Great-Grandchildren and beamed at the arrival of the great-great-grandchildren.
Mary Ellen was predeceased by her first husband Arthur Meilicke and her second husband George Gangur.
A Prayer Vigil will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:30 P.M. with Sharon Hagel officiating.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2405 – 12 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB, on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 12:00 P.M. with Father Kevin Tumback celebrating. The Prayer Vigil and Funeral Mass will be live-streamed and may be viewed through Mary Ellen’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada (alzheimer.ca).

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

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HELGESON, Sydonie “Syd” SYDONIE “SYD” HELGESON 1940 – 2024 Mrs. Sydonie “Syd” Helgeson nee Fitzgerald of Lethbridge, formerly of Del Bonita, and beloved wife of the late Mr. Terry Cecil Helgeson, passed away peacefully with her family by her side at the Raymond Health Center on Thursday, November 28, 2024 at the age of 84 years.
Syd was born in Calgary, Alberta on October 15, 1940 to Walter “Fuzzy” Bradley Fitzgerald and Eileen Gertrude Ann Fitzgerald nee Waters. Syd attended school in Coutts, Alberta after which she attended Olds College, taking Home Economics and played basketball with Olds first girls basketball team. After one year at Olds, she rekindled her old flame with Terry (her cowboy) and marriage plans were eminent.
They married later that year on October 9, 1958 in Del Bonita at the United Church. After a brief stay at the Chinook Motel, they continued their honeymoon in Bassano, Alberta where for the first time she met her new mother-in-law. After the honeymoon they returned to Del Bonita and moved into their cozy new shack (mom’s words), where they started their family on December 2, 1959 when Kelly was born. Brad followed on May 28, 1961 and then Street was born on July 25, 1972.
Syd was very active in the community, playing many years on the ladies softball teams and was active in all the local ladies clubs.
In the early 1970’s, Terry and Syd started driving school bus and if you’re from Del Bonita and were born in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s, you rode on Syd’s bus.
After retiring from the farm, Terry and Syd moved to Lethbridge where she resided until her passing.
Besides her loving husband Terry, Syd was pre-deceased by her parents Walter and Eileen Fitzgerald and her sister Marianne Thompson.
Syd was survived by her daughter Kelly (Eric) Patterson; sons Brad (Vynet) Helgeson; Street (Kim) Helgeson; grandchildren Chad (Cheryl) Patterson, Wayne (Leanne) Patterson, Kelsey (Jessi) Helgeson, McKensi Helgeson, Casidy (Brandon) Helgeson, Chase (Megan) Helgeson, Kayley (Casey) Powlesland; great-grandchildren Alexia, Aries, Mati, Mason, Merek, Daxx, Lilee, Beckham, Banks, Aspen, Wells, Bodie; great-great grandchild Ellie Rose; brothers Jack Fitzgerald, Jim Fitzgerald; sister Jane (Bill) Anderson as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their families.
A special thanks to the Doctors and staff of the Raymond Health Center for the kind and compassionate care our mother and family received.
A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00pm, on Friday, December 6, 2024, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 – 4 STREET SOUTH, Lethbridge, Alberta. To watch Syd’s service via livestream, please go to https://www.mbfunerals.com/obituary/Sydonie-Helgeson and scroll to the bottom of the obituary page.
Interment will follow at Magrath Cemetery, Magrath, Alberta.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.

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