In Memoriam – 2016
Anna Marie Maier
1924 – October 19th, 2016
Anne Marie Maier of Medicine Hat passed away on Wednesday, October 19, 2016, at the age of 92 years, beloved wife of the late David Maier. She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Gerry (Elaine; two grandchildren, Shane and his children, Ryder, Madelyn, and Deaken; and Keith and his children, Caige, Cassie and Carson; one brother, John (Mary) Chuckry; two sisters, Gertie (Ken) Jones, and Lil McNichol; sister-in-law, Bea Chuckry and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, David on September 3, 2000; one great grand daughter, Kyrsten; three brothers, Philip, Jack and Al and five sisters, Helen, Jean, Alice, Vickie, Bernice.
Ralph Roth
1936 – October 13, 2016
Ralph Roth of Medicine Hat, beloved husband of Grace Roth passed away the evening of Thursday, October 13, 2016, in the presence of his wife and daughters, at the age of 80 years. Ralph leaves to cherish his memory, his daughters, Margaret (Darrell) Bollinger and Bernice (Evan) Bonneau and two grandchildren, Amanda and Tyler Bollinger; one sister, Margo (Lorne) Yanke; one brother-in-law, Garry Lentz as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Sam and Frieda Roth.
Ralph was born north of Irvine at his grandfather Streich’s farm. In 1961, he married Grace Lentz. Ralph was a mixed farmer in the Clearwater district most of his life. He and Grace moved to Medicine Hat in 1995 and he retired in 2014.
Ralph was active in many organizations; 40 Mile Coop Seed Plant, Unifarm Region, Irvine and District Lions, Clearwater Unifarm, Cypress Rural Electrification, Many Island Grazing Association, and Irvine Recreation Board. He also served on the boards of Memorial Salem and Fifth Avenue Memorial United Churches.
While growing up on the farm, Ralph developed his love for farming, working with animals and being outdoors. He was an avid curler and an active Lions’ member. Anyone who met Ralph remembered him for his winning smile, pleasant manner, great sense of humour and his helpful nature. Spending time with family was always very important to Ralph. He will be missed by all who knew him, especially his family.
Leota Irene Steele
1920 – October 6, 2016
Leota Irene Steele, beloved wife of the late Stanley Steele of Medicine Hat, passed away peacefully, with family by her side, on Thursday, October 6, 2016 at the age of 96 years. She leaves to cherish her memory her children, Dr. Thomas (Barbara Palmer) Steele and Donna (Dr. Sue Higgins) Steele and son-in-law, Joe Minor; her grandchildren, Dr. Heather (Dean Darwent) Steele; Erinn (Tim Keating) Steele and her children, Alison and Madison and their father Stephen Cosgrove; Amy (Travis) Peter and their children, Calden and Annie; Dr. Patrick (Jody) Minor and their children Hayden, Izabel and Sullivan; Jason Minor and his children, Toryn and Morrison (their mother, Leann Minor) and Phoenix and Broxx (their mother, Jodie Greer); Andrea (Thorin) Cenek and their children, Christian, Cassandra, Caitlyn and Caleb; and Neil (Susan) Palmer; one sister, Ilene (Fred) Peterson; one sister-in-law, Mable Hunter; one brother-in-law, Rev. Harry (Barbara Gregg) Steele as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their families. She was predeceased by her parents, Bert and Bertha Collier; her husband, Stanley on April 11, 2004; one grandson, Aldon Minor; her brothers, Cliff, Ray, Glen, Harold, Herb and Edgar and two sisters, Millie Gilchrist and Louise White.
Mom and Dad were married in 1946, and during their working lives lived in Rosetown, Saskatchewan, Edmonton, Alberta, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and St. Albert, Alberta. In 1992, they relocated to Medicine Hat to be near their daughter Donna. They had purchased a new condo “Park Meadows”, and enjoyed 12 years socializing with their new friends, and took an active part in the condo association. Mom loved singing in the condo choir, playing cards, baking buns and working on the social committee. Mom and Dad throughout their lives were active in the United Church everywhere they lived, including Medicine Hat. At the same time our parents continued to travel in their motor home up until Dad’s death in 2004. For the next 9 years, Mom carried on her busy life including travelling with her family to Hawaii, Cuba, Ireland and a cruise on the Pacific coast as well as Alaska.
In 2013, she reluctantly moved a few blocks away to “Meadowlands” assisting living. Mom was trained as a hairdresser and throughout her life she was meticulous about her hair. Her hairdresser was located at Meadowlands, so it was a natural fit to choose this facility. From 2013 until September 2016, Meadowlands was her home, which she learned to love. The family owes a big “thank you” to Margaret Jensen, who helped Mom adjust to assisted living. Here she particularly enjoyed the music volunteers who frequented their dining room to entertain. She was always in the front row, and always early. (Thank you to all those music volunteers! Please keep up the good work.) Mom was also an avid Medicine Hat Maverick’s fan and went to as many ball games as she could, travelling with family or Joe and Alice Meier or Carol and Steve Vandenbroek. She continued following her family’s activities, attending concerts, great grandkids sporting events, visiting her son Tom, at Christmas time in St. Albert, and attending as many family reunions as possible from Saskatchewan to BC. In September 2016, she was admitted to St. Joseph’s Carmel Hospice. Mom and her family were so fortunate that this facility exits in Medicine Hat and that she was able to be one of the benefactors of the outstanding care and compassion that the staff provided. On Thursday evening, Oct. 6, 2016 Mom drifted away peacefully with daughter Donna and daughter-in-law Sue at her side.
Larry L Henderson
1930 – August 24th, 2016
Dr. Larry L. Henderson, beloved husband of Vera Lenore Henderson, passed away at the age of 86 years on Wednesday, August 24th 2016 at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. He will be remembered, with love, by his son, Dr. Scott Henderson (Nadine Yeo), daughter Kim (Harvey) Bernbaum, and the apples of his eye, granddaughters Piper and Talia Bernbaum (Fiance Robert Birrell). He will also be deeply missed by his brothers Dub (Gwen), Al (Donna), Bob (Patty Johnson), Jerry (Theresa) and sister-in-law Vi Henderson, as well as honorary brother Dr. Ken (Valerie) Sauer. He also leaves behind a legion of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews whom he loved and thought were very, very special.
He was always available to talk and lend advice about life, love and their personal pursuits. Larry was predeceased by his grandson Matthew Henderson and daughter-in-law Patricia Henderson, as well as his sister Margaret and her husband Lyle Smith, brothers Ron and Ed, sister Vernette and her husband Les Allison and sister-in-law Lynne Henderson. His chosen career was as an educator, ultimately achieving his Doctor of Education in 1985. Larry taught and administrated in schools in Saskatchewan and Alberta, spending the body of his career in Medicine Hat. In 1976, he was appointed the Principal of Southview Community School. With the assistance of his willing and supportive staff, Larry championed and executed the new community school concept at Southview and then later assisted in integrating the concept into schools in other districts. Upon his retirement in 1993, Larry accepted a volunteer position to raise capital for enrichment activities that were not being funded by the Department of Education. This seemingly short-term task led to a very successful twenty-one year term as one of the directors of the Medicine Hat Public Schools’ Education Foundation. He also served on the Board of Directors for St. John Ambulance, was a long time volunteer for the many summer and winter games held here, and was a member of Toastmasters, the Medicine Hat Lions Club, and the Medicine Hat and District Retired Teachers Association.
Larry’s list of accomplishments and honours were many, but the highlights were the 2005 Alberta Centennial Medal, the 2009 Civic Recognition Award for Community Service, the 2012 Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the 2015 Medicine Hat College Honorary Applied Baccalaureate Degree. He was so pleased to be recognized by a city and community that he loved and championed to everyone and anyone he met. Despite his life’s rich body of work Larry left us all too soon. He will be deeply missed.
Dick Noon
1924 – August 1, 2016
Dick Noon of Medicine Hat, passed away on Monday, August 1, 2016, at the age of 92 years. He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife Shirley Reid-Noon of Houston, Texas; his children Jim (Orla) Noon of Medicine Hat and Judith (Frank) Boehm of Calgary; two grandchildren, Corissa (Guillaume) Audren and Jeff (Tamara) Noon all of Medicine Hat; three great grandchildren, Kai, Halle and Annie; one brother, Bud (Reina) Noon; one sister-in-law, Marie Noon; Shirley’s daughter Diane (Larry) Spence and their family as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his first wife Dorothy on October 12, 1999, and his daughter Susan in infancy; two brothers, Bill and Elmer and three sisters, Marge, Emma and Rose.
Florence Gardner
1923 – July 22, 2016
Mrs. Florence Gardner (nee Schielke) beloved wife of the late Kenneth Gardner, passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Home – Carmel Hospice in Medicine Hat on Friday, July 22, 2016, at the age of 93 years.
Florence is survived by one sister, Isabel Ehlert; sister-in-law, Marie Schielke; son, Brian (Pam Bouman) of Medicine Hat; daughter, Joy (Randy) Walker of Cranbrook, B.C.; three grandchildren, Jennifer Gardner (Aaron Rodatz), Josh Gardner (Nicole) and Christina Walker; four great- grandchildren; Emerson, Beckett, Whitley and Asher. Florence was predeceased by her parents, Dan and Paulina Schielke; husband, Ken (1984); brothers, Oscar (Muriel), Ernest (Louise), Edgar (Verna), Arnold (Betty), Allen (Marie), Elmer (Mildred) and sister, Ester Black (Ernest).
Ken and Florence managed and then became the owners Green’s Shoes, a very successful downtown retail store, until the late 90’s. Florence was very proud to show off the latest shoe styles through various fashion shows with other downtown businesses and community groups. Florence loved her grandchildren and she always welcomed an after school visit to Gram’s which was very common. Family was most important to her and she loved hosting Sunday dinners. Florence was a proud woman who was always open, honest, gracious and kind.
Gladys (Rath) Schlenker
December 13th, 1931 – July 1, 2016
Gladys (Rath) Schlenker of Medicine Hat, beloved wife of the late Elmer Andrew Schlenker, passed away on Friday, July 1, 2016, at the age of 84 years. She will be dearly missed by her daughter Marilyn (Jim) Gill; son Gary (Jo) Schlenker, both of Medicine Hat; daughter Janice (Clay) Wilson of Cranbrook, B.C.; and daughter Carla (Reese) Klaiber of Medicine Hat; nine grandchildren, Kevin (Richelle) Gill, Amanda Schlenker (Robert Schmidt), Melissa Schlenker (Jason Schmidt), Lane, Taylor and Carlie Wilson, Morgan, Hayden and Autumn Klaiber; three great grandchildren, Brayden and Jayce Gill, Katie Schmidt; one sister Verna (William) Stuber; one brother Marvin (Ruth) Rath and one sister-in-law Jean (Lawrence) Pfeifer as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Fred and Emma (Rieger) Rath.
Gladys was born on December 13, 1931 in Medicine Hat and was raised on the family farm in the Tothill area southeast of Medicine Hat. Gladys attended Gros Ventre School and worked very hard on the family farm.
On November 30, 1951, Gladys married Elmer Schlenker. Together they farmed, ranched, and raised four children, and with hard work and determination expanded their place. Gladys took much pride in the farm and her home. She was well known for her delicious German cooking, huge branding meals, and baking thousands of Kuchen at the Irvine New Horizons Club. A big part of her life was bowling for 30 years in league, as well as being a long time member of the Co-op Women’s Guild, Women of Unifarm, the Elkwater Community Association, and Westminster United Church. Gladys and Elmer retired from farming to Medicine Hat in 1981. Together they enjoyed camping, travelling, and gardening. She always enjoyed her many coffee groups around town, and will forever be remembered by her grandchildren for her chocolate bar stash.