Saturday, October 11, 2025
By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on October 11, 2025.
WATKINSON, Gillian GILLIAN MARY WATKINSON 1958-09-14 to 2025-09-23 Gillian Mary Watkinson, beloved spouse of the late Gerrit (Gary) Stoffer, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2025 at the age of 67 years.Gill was born and raised in Lethbridge; she fell in love with English, earning a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree from the University of Lethbridge in 1986. She spent her career surrounded by books, first at the Lethbridge Public Library and then at Chinook Arch Regional Library System. She loved to meet with her writer’s group, exchanging thoughts, and sharing pieces.
Gill met Gary, the love of her life, in 1998, spending the next 19 years exploring, entertaining, and sharing family traditions. They loved to take drives throughout southern Alberta and BC to admire the beautiful views, camp, dine with friends, or simply be in each other’s company. They kept one another anchored through both calm and stormy waters. Gill cherished the home they created together; it was her haven for reflection and rejuvenation.
She has been there for all of us; soccer games and recitals, weddings and divorces, loves and losses, pumpkin-carving, Christmases, Easter gatherings, a glass of wine, dinner dates, a listening ear, and a safe space to run to. She always had exactly the right thing to say, and her laugh would light up a room.
Gill had a deep connection with the earth, and all things that grow from it. She welcomed all the birds and other critters to her garden, sharing the peaceful moments, with those she loved, often over a good cup of tea.
Gill is mourned by Kate Dyson, Sarah (Trevor) (Gavin and Bailey) Sheets, Kyla (Stephen) (Teddy and Ellie) Calvert, Sydney (Noah) (Walker and Colter) Gapp, Bev (Alan) Jackson, Karen Kay, Pat (Barrie) Lewis, Linda (Norm) McElravy, Wendy Merkley, Susan Nowell-Watkinson, Deirdre O’Connell, Julie (Gary) Pike, Aimee Brooke (Alex) St. Pierre, and many friends and family.
Gill is predeceased by her parents, Leonard and Carol Watkinson, and her soulmate, Gary.
Special gratitude to the staff at St. Michael’s Palliative Care for providing such compassionate comfort; she felt safe and loved in their care. She wished to thank her work family at Chinook Arch Regional Library System for all their support. She was also very humbled by the kindness shown by family and friends over the last months.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, 411 11 St S, Lethbridge, Alberta, with a private internment to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lethbridge & District Humane Society or any charity that reflected her spirit.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.
SHOUTING, Louisa SHOUTING LOUISA EVE GRACE SHOUTING, passed away on September 29, 2025 in Stand Off, AB at the age of 21 years. A Wake Service will be held at Legacy Funeral Home Cardston, AB on Friday, October 17 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm continuing all night at the late Eddie Shouting’s residence in Stand Off. The Funeral Service will be held at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Church, Blood Reserve on Saturday, October 18 at 11:00 am. Interment will take place in St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Stand Off.
To send a condolence please visit http://www.legacyfuneralhome.ca
MOULTON, Carol CAROL ANNE MOULTON (nee McNeilly) Carol Anne Moulton (nee McNeilly), of Coaldale, passed away peacefully after a long illness on July 18, 2025 at Good Samaritan Society Park Meadows Village. A come-and-go memorial reception will be held from 1:00-4:00pm on October 18, 2025 at the Army, Navy & Airforce Veterans Club of Lethbridge, 517-5th Avenue South, Lethbridge, Alberta.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.
SAMESHIMA, Chris CHRIS SAMESHIMA 1951 ~ 2025 Christopher (Chris) Sameshima, of Coaldale, passed away on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at Chinook Regional Hospital at the age of 74 years.
Left to mourn are his mother Kay, nephew Michael, and many other relatives and lifelong friends, including Henry & Elizabeth Warkentin, Brian & Helen Mantler, and Fred & Kristopher Mikado.
He was predeceased by his father Sam, sister Eileen, and his brother Terry.
Chris was a long-term, dedicated employee of Duncan Industries where he devoted 40 years of hard work. He also volunteered at the Coaldale Fire Department from 1981 to 1987.
The family would like to extend many thanks to the staff and management of Sunny South Lodge. He developed many close relationships with the community during the 8 years he resided there.
No formal funeral services will take place at this time, but the family and close friends will celebrate his life together in the future.
Cremation has been entrusted to Martin Brothers Funeral Chapels.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.
RIRIE, Edward RIRIE EDWARD SHELTON RIRIE passed away on September 4, 2025 in Lethbridge, Alberta.
His memory will be cherished by his wife of 33 years Carol Beswick. He was predeceased by his wife Jeannie, his parents and sister Cheryl.
He leaves his children, Shellie Grisham (Shannon), Anne Malmberg (Patrick Holland), Robert Malmberg (Diana Zasadny), and grandchildren T’aime (Jeremy), Evan (Devyn), Alec, Brittney (Adam), as well as brothers Rod and Bruce, and sisters Joanne and Ann.
Ed was born in 1944 to Audrey and Shelton Ririe then grew up in Magrath. Asthma plagued him through his youth until he left the farm to begin a career in Mechanical Engineering in the United States. He returned to Magrath for the last 34 years and finally retired to Lethbridge.
His enthusiasm for life will be remembered by all who knew him.
Join us to celebrate his life at the Galt Museum and Archives, 502 1st St South on Tuesday, October 14, at 4 PM.
To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
BORGGARD, Del Del Borggard
1936 – 2025
Clarence Delwyn Borggard, beloved husband of Ethel Fritz, passed away in Taber on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at the age of 89 years.
The Funeral Service will be held at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 – 48 Avenue, Taber on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. with Life Celebrant Shelly Bassett officiating. A private burial service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery, Lethbridge. Condolences may be forwarded by visiting our website at http://www.southlandfuneral.com.
Those who are unable to attend and wish to view the service online may do so by visiting Del’s obituary page on our website and clicking on the livestream link that will be available at 10:45 A.M. on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Barring any technical difficulties, the livestream will begin at 11:00 A.M.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Del’s name may be made directly to Lion’s Club International, (Lions of Canada Fund for LCIF), c/o Peter Oswald, 22 Dundana Avenue, Dundas, Ontario L9H 4E6 (www.lionsclubs.org).
Arrangements in care of Southland Funeral Chapel, Taber. Telephone: (403) 223-8778.
BIRD, Jason BIRD JASON WAYNE “BEANS” BIRD passed away on October 3, 2025 in Lethbridge, Alberta at the age of 43 years.
A Wake Service will be held at Moses Lake Community Hall, Blood Reserve, Alberta on Friday, October 17 from 6:00 – 11:00 pm. The Funeral Service will also be held at Moses Lake Community Hall on Saturday, October 18 at 12:00 pm. The interment will follow in Blood Band Cemetery, Blood Reserve.
To send a condolence please visit http://www.legacyfuneralhome.ca
ADAMSON, Jean JEAN ADAMSON 1952 ~ 2025 Our dear Jean passed away on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the age of 73 years. A rare and beautiful soul, she will forever be remembered for her quiet yet powerful presence, her intelligence, and the joy she brought to all who knew her.
A come and go Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00pm to 3:00pm on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at MARANTHA CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH, 260 McGill Blvd W, Lethbridge, AB T1K 4C6.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.
GILLIES, Stephen “Steve” GILLIES STEPHEN “STEVE” ARTHUR GILLIES, of Lethbridge, beloved husband of Marilyn Gillies, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at Edith Cavell Care Centre on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at the age of 84 years.
Arrangements will be announced once completed.
To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
REYNOLDS, Steve STEVE REYNOLDS 1946 ~ 2025 Mr. Steve Reynolds of Lethbridge, good friend to Sylvia Eagle Child, and father to Mark and Cory Reynolds, Radford and Marcella Eagle Child, passed away at home on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at the age of 79 years.
Cremation entrusted to Martin Brothers Funeral Chapels.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.
KLEISSEN, Herman HERMAN KLEISSEN 1949 ~ 2025 Herman Kleissen, beloved father of Nina (Dennis) van den Munckhof and Tessa Kleissen passed away Friday, September 26, 2025 while at home on his farm north of Chin, Alberta.
Herman was born January 21st, 1949, in Albergen, Tubbergen, Overijssel, the Netherlands, to Herman and Hermina Kleissen. Raised on a dairy farm with his 7 siblings, Herman learned to handle the large draft horses, cows, dogs and other animals with a gentle touch that continued through his life. Motorbikes, friends and a job collecting milk samples were highlights of his teenage years. After completing school, Herman received the opportunity to travel to Canada through a farming exchange program. He arrived in Canada on May 23, 1968 and began his career as a Canadian farmer. Herman worked for many years in the Vauxhall area, eventually purchasing a property northeast of Coaldale in the early 70s. Sugar beets, beans and wheat were the primary crops he focussed on over the years. He made time to travel, visiting family in Holland and exploring New Zealand, Australia, and North America with friends, regaling us with tales of chasing bears in California, seeing Elvis perform live in Vegas, and many other adventures.
In 1983, he moved his young family north of Chin, becoming the owner and operator of Beaver Pioneer Farm, the property he proudly farmed until the day he died. Herman was constantly innovating and improving farming equipment and methods. In the nineties, he became known for his “No-Till” innovation for growing sugar beets, improving crop production and field integrity with his methods. His beloved daughters were raised on the farm, riding along in the tractors and trucks, checking pivots, hoeing weeds, picking rocks, and learning their Dad’s patience with animals. Herman’s many nieces and nephews share memories of the green back yard, farm pets, times on the trampoline, and learning to drive his favourite John Deere tractors.
As his daughters grew older and moved away from home, he continued farming. He was always there for a chat and to hear the latest updates from his daughters, whom he adored. The birth of his twin grandchildren, Anna and Nathan, in 2015 brought him immense joy, and opportunities to travel to BC. Visits with Opa Herman on the farm meant digging up potatoes and carrots, learning how to move irrigation pipes, feeding the cat, and walking the dogs around the property numerous times a day. Snowball fights and water fights with irrigation hoses are bright memories of giggles and shrieks of glee when the twins would “win”! Herman’s ever innovative mind created ziplines and tire swings, much to the joy and delight of his grandchildren.
Herman was predeceased by his parents Herman and Hermina Kleissen; sisters Anne-Marie (Wim) Schepers, Herma (Wietse) Engwerda, and brother Johan (Truus) Kleissen.
Herman is survived by his daughters Nina (Dennis) van den Munckhof and Tessa Kleissen; grandchildren Anna and Nathan van den Munckhof; siblings Riky (Hennie) Booijink, Ine (Rene) Wiggers, Ben (Jose) Kleissen, and Gerry (Riet) Kleissen, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Herman will be missed by many neighbours and friends throughout Canada and the Netherlands. He was known for always having the correct tool or part needed on hand and offered his help when he was able.
Herman’s family politely declines flowers as well as donations or gifts in lieu. Instead, they wish to thank Herman’s friends and neighbours for enriching his life.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00am on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at ST. BASIL’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 604 – 13 Street North, Lethbridge, Alberta. Please bring stories to share at the reception to follow. A Private Graveside Service was held prior with Herman’s close family and friends.
To watch Herman’s mass via recording following the service, please visit our website at http://www.mbfunerals.com and click on Herman’s obituary.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.
MENZAK, Heidi HEIDI MENZAK 1944 ~ 2025 Mrs. Heidi Menzak, of Lethbridge, passed away peacefully at Chinook Regional Hospital on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the age of 81 years.
A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00pm on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at MARTIN BROTHERS FUNERAL CHAPELS, 610 – 4 St. S, Lethbridge.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.
KNOCH, Suzanne KNOCH SUZANNE ELIZABETH KNOCH, of Raymond, AB, beloved wife of Dave Knoch, passed away at the Foothills Centre Health in Calgary, AB, on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at the age of 59 years.
Funeral arrangements will be announced once completed.
To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
BLUEWINGS, Lavern LAVERN LOUIS BLUEWINGS Lavern Louis Bluewings (nee: Scout) took his last breath on October 9, 2025 at St. Michaels Health Centre, Lethbridge, AB.
A Wake will be held at 5:00pm on Wednesday October 15, 2025 at Salmon and Sons Funeral Home (433 Stubb Ross Rd S, Lethbridge AB). A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00am on Thursday October 16, 2025, at St. Marys Parish Church on the Blood Reserve, AB.
To send a condolence, please visit http://www.salmonandsons.ca
SALMON, Melvin SALMON MELVIN THOMAS SALMON, beloved husband of the late Patricia Salmon, passed away peacefully at the Raymond Health Centre on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at the age of 87 years.
Funeral arrangements will be announced once completed.
To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
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