Friday, March 13, 2026
By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on March 13, 2026.
BATES, Bryan BATES BRYAN KEITH BATES, of Lethbridge, AB passed away peacefully at Chinook Regional Hospital, surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at the age of 76 years.Bryan is survived by Diane Bates, his devoted wife of 56 years; daughter Penny (Jamie) Balfour, and son Keith (Amber); grandchildren: Cass, Treyvis (Lindsey), Branton (Danielle), Jorden (Haley), and Justin (Elizabeth); great-grandchildren: Bowie, Mick, Hunter, Noah, Toby, Pyper, Roman, Riley, Harlee, Kase, and Oaklen; his brothers, Lyle (Colleen), and Morley (Ruth); as well as many nieces, nephews, and special uncles, Lyle Wiltshire & family and Elgin Wiltshire.
Waiting to welcome him are his parents Stewart & Florence Bates.
Bryan was born on December 1, 1949 in Birch River, Manitoba. Grandma used to say she had to be strict with him, because if she gave an inch, he took a mile. That became the theme of his life; he lived it to the fullest and always on his terms. In 1959, the family moved to Lethbridge and from there, Bryan built a full life.
A Celebration of life will be held at HUNGARIAN CANADIAN SOCIETY, 410 2 Ave S, Lethbridge, AB, on Saturday, March 21 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Please wear your best worn-out blue jeans.
For those that would like, a donation can be made to a charity of your choice. A few that Dad would be fond of – NOKA: lethbridge.noka@gmail.com or Chinook Regional Hospital Association: https://crhfoundation.ca
To honour the way, he lived – fully, boldly, and without hesitation – in the words of Hunter S. Thompson:
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a ride!'”
To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
DOW, Wilda Dow, Wilda Elaine October 2, 1930 – February 23, 2026 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our deeply loved and cherished mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Wilda Elaine (nee Nelson) Dow, on February 23rd, 2026, at the age of 95.
Wilda is survived by her three daughters, Stephanie Phillips, Barbara Pickering, and Kristine Dow. She was predeceased by her precious son James in 1990 and her beloved husband, Kay in 2015, as well as by two dear sisters (Loree Brewerton and Lois Sugden) and one dear brother (Laurence Nelson). She also leaves behind nine grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.
Wilda was born to Ivan and Madeline Nelson on October 2, 1930, in Cardston, Alberta and grew up in Southern Alberta, where she eventually met and married her sweetheart, Kay. Upon their marriage, Kay and Wilda moved to Calgary Alberta where they stayed and raised all their children. A significant part of Kay, Wilda, and their children’s lives was the joyous time they spent at their cabin on Shuswap Lake, which Kay and Wilda built together. There, they spent many glorious weeks and months enjoying the sun, the water and their close connection to the family of Roy (Kay’s brother) and Flo Dow, who had also built a cabin right next door. Words cannot express how much that beautiful place, and the wonderful time spent with family there, meant to all of us. Wilda had nursing training and also trained as an OR technician at the Foothills Hospital where she worked for some time. In addition, after devoting many years to the loving rearing of her children, Wilda worked for the Calgary Board of Education at Viscount Bennet School for several years before she and Kay retired. They then moved to British Columbia where they spent many wonderful years golfing and travelling, both across the continent and across the ocean. In retirement, they were also honoured to serve a mission for the LDS Church in Samoa and Australia. Kay and Wilda eventually returned to Cardston, Alberta where they enjoyed renewing many close friendships and, of course, lots more golf! After Kay passed away, Wilda moved back to Calgary to be closer to her family and lived independently at a seniors residence for her remaining years. There, she lived life to the fullest and enjoyed her final chapter forming many new and valued friendships.
Wilda was also an avid reader, belonging to two book clubs, a vibrant member of her seniors’ community, and an integral part of her children’s, grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s lives. She loved to play games of all kinds, and she knew all the rules, all the time. Her humour was quick and subtle so you needed to pay attention or you might miss the witty quips. Wilda modelled courage and conviction to all her family as she navigated some of life’s most difficult challenges. Her generous heart and spirit were boundless. She was beautiful inside and out and, although her parting leaves a great chasm in our days, she will always fill, and live on, in our hearts.
Throughout her life, Wilda’s sparkling wit, charm and truly engaging personality have drawn people to her and she has very much cherished the close and meaningful relationships she has enjoyed with all her extended family and friends wherever she went. Wilda will be deeply missed by all who loved her.
We will celebrate her life and memory at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 17 Avenue Stake Centre (2021 – 17 Avenue SW, Calgary) on Friday March 20th, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with Bishop Brent Bieber officiating. Interment will take place in Eden Brook Memorial Gardens.
Messages of condolence may be made at http://www.piersons.ca
STOLK, Rob Rob Stolk
1974 – 2026
Robert John Stolk, beloved father, son, brother, uncle, nephew and friend, passed away in Calgary surrounded by an abundance of unconditional love from his family on Friday, March 6, 2026 at the age of 51 years.
Left to cherish Rob’s memory are his daughter Hayley Stolk (Taylor Wall); devoted mother Jenny Stolk; siblings Ed (Terry) Stolk, Jim (Wendy) Stolk, Judy (Ron) Stolk-Ingram and Diane (Blair) Rombough. He will also be lovingly remembered by his nieces, nephews, a large extended family, and many dear friends.
He was predeceased by his father Harry Stolk, whom he dearly missed every day.
Rob will be remembered most for his sincere love for his family, his big heart and beautiful smile. He was always willing to lend a hand. His dogs Reefer, Rowdy and Rose brought him a great deal of joy.
Rob had the gift of connection. His warm and ever-present smile made others feel special and people of all ages were drawn into his orbit. He was a kind, thoughtful and generous man whom everyone loved.
Rob grew up and worked on the farm, in the oil patch and was a truck driver. He was a hard worker and enjoyed learning new skills. At his core, he was a farmer and loved all seasons of farm life. Like his dad, he had a green thumb and a great love of land. This showed in his yard, as he took great pride in his lawn, trees and flowers. He also took meticulous care of our mom’s yard for many years.
As a final act of generosity, Rob donated his kidneys and because of him, two people received a life saving transplant last week. Please consider signing your donor card and discuss your consent with your family and friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to meet with the family at the Royal Canadian Legion, 5205 – 48 Avenue, Taber on Sunday, March 15, 2026 between 2:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. Condolences may be forwarded by visiting our website at http://www.southlandfuneral.com.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Rob’s name may be made directly to STARS Donations, 1441 Aviation Park NE, PO Box 570, Calgary, Alberta T2E 8M7 http://www.stars.ca or to the Calgary Health Foundation (Foothills Hospital ICU Unit), 1500 – 333 11 Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2R 1L9 (www.givehealth.ca).
Arrangements in care of Southland Funeral Chapel, Taber. Telephone: (403) 223-8778.
WINGFIELD, Caroline “Carrie” WINGFIELD CAROLINE “CARRIE” EDNA WINGFIELD (née Crozier), passed away peacefully surrounded by family at St. Michael’s Health Centre Palliative Care Unit on the morning of Monday, March 2, 2026 at the age of 80 years.
A Celebration of Carrie’s life will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Monday, March 16, 2026 at 12:00 noon with Reverend Trevor Potter officiating. The Celebration will also be live-streamed and may be viewed through Carrie’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.
To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
COWARD, Frederick COWARD FREDERICK WILLIAM COWARD, beloved husband of the late Gail Coward of Lethbridge, passed away at St. Michael’s Health Centre on February 22, 2026, at the age of 90 years.
Fred was born on October 14, 1935 and raised as an only child in Winnipeg. In his youth he was extremely active in the Boy Scouts of Canada, even representing Manitoba at a jamboree in Jamaica in 1952. His work ethic was second to none, whether it was selling shoes at Eaton’s, lifeguarding at local pools or manning the mosquito fogging trucks down the streets of Winnipeg. But the work started in earnest when Fred entered law school in 1958.
Fred’s impressive legal career spanned almost 60 years. He graduated from the University of Manitoba law school in Winnipeg in 1963. While attending law school he articled at Swift, Macleod, Deacon, Kirby and Gregory. He was called to the Bar in 1963 and subsequently practised law at Doak, Buckingham, Pressey and Coward. He then joined the legal department for the Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg and just one year later became a partner in the law firm of James and Coward. In 1966, at just 30 years of age, he was appointed as a magistrate for the northern part of the Western Judicial District at Minnedosa, a position he held until 1972 when he became a judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba. In 1978, he was asked to apply for an appointment to the Provincial Court of Alberta. He did so and shortly thereafter moved to Lethbridge. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Fred then accepted a 2-year appointment in Ottawa as a special advisor to help develop the former Young Offenders Act in 1981. He returned to Lethbridge in 1983 to resume his position in the Provincial Court of Alberta. Starting in 1997, Fred also travelled to the Northwest Territories a few times a year to supervise justices of the peace and develop an education program for them. From 1998 until his retirement from the bench in 2014, Fred worked as a supernumerary, covering when there was a surplus of work. He was often praised and admired for his keen knowledge of the law, fairness, compassion and integrity. He was known to be strict but fair and to be fastidious about courtroom decorum.
It wasn’t only about the law. Fred met and married Gail in 1963 and they celebrated 60 years of marriage. Together, they adopted and raised Bill and Beth and although Fred was older when he became a grandfather to Roshan and Arman, he participated with great enthusiasm. He often attended recitals and sports events and could frequently be heard proudly recounting one or the others achievements.
Fred and Gail travelled extensively all over the world but if he had his druthers, Fred would spend his downtime at the family cabin in Minaki, Ontario. He referred to the area as “God’s Country” and never tired of maintaining and improving the cottage, hosting friends on the deck overlooking the lake and finding innovative ways to keep the mosquitos at bay.
Fred had a keen mind, a fine sense of humour and was a consummate professional. He took his duties very seriously but always had time to laugh at himself. He will be dearly missed by Bill, Beth, Reza, Roshan, Arman and all those whose lives have been enriched by his presence.
A Celebration of Fred’s Life will be held at ST. AUGUSTINE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH – 411 11 Street South, Lethbridge, AB on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. with a reception to follow. The Celebration will be live-streamed and may be viewed through Fred’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
PYLYPIUK, John PYLYPIUK With love and sadness, we announce the passing of John Russel Pylypiuk, a devoted husband, father, and papa, on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at St. Michael’s Palliative Care at the age of 83.
John is lovingly remembered by his wife of 63 years, Sheila Pylypiuk; his daughter, Leigh Pylypiuk; his daughter and son-in-law, Marla and Calvin McCulloch; his grandchildren, Lyndsey Olsen and Kyle McCulloch; his great grandchildren, Elysse, Chanelle, and Laurenne Olsen; and his furry great granddogs, Toby and Cassie.
John is also survived by his siblings, Gordon Pylypiuk (Joanne), Doreen Wasylyshen (Darren), Jean Wemp (Bill), Dianne L’Heureux, and Debbie Kobzey (Barney); sisters-in-law Sandra Pylypiuk and Betty Stevens-Guille; as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews.
John was predeceased by his parents, Mary and John Pylypiuk; his mother- and father-in-law, Ethel and Bert McDonald; his brothers, Tom, Mitch, and David Pylypiuk; and his niece, Kara Pylypiuk.
John was born on May 8, 1942 in Athabasca to Mary and John Pylypiuk, the oldest of nine children. Raised on a farm, John was responsible for many chores, which instilled a strong work ethic throughout his life. John graduated from high school in Athabasca. He excelled academically, especially in math. It was there that he met Sheila, and their life together began.
Sheila and John loved going to dances together in rural communities, the jive being their favourite dance. John played baseball during this time with the Athabasca Aces, then coached baseball for a number of years following his playing days. His love of baseball continued throughout his life, cheering mostly for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Toronto Blue Jays.
John and Sheila married in 1963 and had two daughters, Leigh and Marla. At this time, John began his lifelong career in the building supply industry. Moving up the ladder quickly, John managed several building supply businesses, which resulted in moving his family to many small towns along the way. John was an avid curler in all the communities they lived in. In 1975, John’s dream of owning his own business became a reality when they purchased Windsor Plywood in Lethbridge.
John was a smart, successful businessman. He worked tirelessly, yet always made time for family and friends. He eventually owned three other Windsor Plywood franchises in Alberta and British Columbia. John was highly respected in the Windsor Plywood community and was commonly known as a great mentor, leader, and teacher. He was often referred to as “Johnny P”, “The Godfather”, or “Minister of Finance” within the Windsor family. To recognize John’s many achievements, his picture hangs on the Windsor Plywood Wall of Fame.
John retired in 1997. Soon after, he discovered some new hobbies that his family and friends gratefully benefited from. Some of his favourite time was spent at their cabin at Little Bow Resort (his happy place) making jams, jellies, pickles, and soups; watching sports; working in the yard; and visiting with friends and neighbours. John loved cheering on his favourite sports teams, the Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton Eskimos. He enjoyed travelling to Arizona to watch baseball spring training and attending major curling events when taking place close by.
John will fondly be remembered for his kindness and genuine care and concern for others. He was loved and respected by everyone. John was not a flashy person and took great pleasure in the simple things in life. He had a unique sense of humour and used funny words and sayings that we will miss.
Special thanks to John’s medical teams on 4B at Chinook Regional Hospital and St. Michael’s Palliative Care. Heartfelt thanks as well to the family and friends from near and far that visited John before his passing.
A gathering will be held in John’s honour at a later date and shared in a future announcement.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to KidSport Canada (kidsportcanada.ca), which was one of John’s favourite charities.
To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
HALL, Judi JUDI HALL 1950 ~ 2026 HALL, Judi (Suni) October 24, 1950 – March 8, 2026 passed away peacefully in the Chinook Regional Hospital with her husband Don by her side after a three-month battle with lung cancer.
Judi was born in Lethbridge and raised in Foremost, the only child of Agnes and Hugo Suni. After graduating from high school, Judi entered the University of Lethbridge and soon met her future husband Don in a math class. Don and Judi married second year and enjoyed 55 years of marriage together.
After graduating from the U of L with great distinction, they were off to Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, with prestigious National Research Council postgraduate scholarships to study physics. Judi obtained her PhD in 1980 and is believed to be the first female PhD in physics from Queen’s. From Queen’s, it was on to the Chalk River Laboratories of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., where Judi was the first female research and development professional.
A promising career was cut short by a mysterious debilitating illness, and Judi and Don decided to return to southern Alberta in 1989 to be close to family and friends.
Despite her physical limitations, Judi was able to explore her creative side, getting into poetry, art, jewelry making, and writing. She and Don authored seven science fiction novels with an eighth not quite completed. More recently she got into AI art and was completing an AI-art-illustrated children’s book.
On December 14, 2025, Judi was admitted to the hospital with what turned out to be severe pneumonia. A CT scan of her lungs revealed a mass, which was found to be cancerous. This was a complete shock, as Judi had never smoked.
Judi was predeceased by her father Hugo in 1957 and her mother Agnes Markert in 1995. She is survived by her husband Don.
No funeral is planned. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Judi’s name to the charity of your choice.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.
EICKHOFF, Henny HENNY EICKHOFF 1936 ~ 2026 Mrs. Henny Eickhoff, of Lethbridge, wife of the late Heinz Eickhoff, passed away peacefully at the Chinook Regional Hospital on Monday, March 9, 2026, at the age of 89 years.
Henny’s family would like to thank the caring staff of Chinook Regional Hospital, Unit 3A.
A Celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Cremation has been entrusted to Martin Brothers Funeral Chapels.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.
OSBERG, Gerrit “Gary” GERRIT “GARY” OSBERG 1941 ~ 2026 Mr. Gerrit “Gary” Osberg, of Lethbridge, passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the Chinook Regional Hospital.
Gary will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Lavina Osberg, as well as numerous other family members.
Cremation has been entrusted to Martin Brothers.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.
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