Westminster United Church

Wallace was born on September 7, 1934 in the Norton, Alberta district. He grew up with one brother on the family farm south of Dunmore. He married Elma Enslen and they started their family in that area. They continued to farm for a few years and in his spare time he loved to fish and ice fish. Wallace decided he wanted a trade so he gave up farming and moved his family to Lethbridge where he went to college to study welding. They moved back to Medicine Hat and he was employed with a couple of welding shops before starting his own business "Farm and Industrial Welding". With the help and support of his family the business flourished and is still a thriving local business under the ownership of his former employee. Wallace was a dedicated and hard worker. Work was always first and foremost in order to grow the business and provide for his family, leaving not much time for hobbies. Following retirement, he thoroughly enjoyed driving in the area and touring the homestead reminiscing about the good old days. He loved to relate stories of his school days in the one room schoolhouse and Saturday night barn dances of his teenage years. He started woodworking, gardening, making lawn ornaments and tinkering in his garage. Wallace was creative and could make an idea into reality. He created water gardens from a washtub, cream cans, tubing and a pump. He made many bird feeders and lawn ornaments for his work shop. During his welding shop days he was well known for making any size "heavy duty"!! Custom trailer for whatever purpose. In the summer months he fussed and worried about his vegetable garden and took great pride in having a lush lawn. In his later years he liked visiting with his small, close circle of friends. To relieve stress in his younger years he loved to motorbike.

Martha Stickle

March 10, 1906 - February 7, 2004

Martha was born on March 10, 1906 at Goodrich, North Dakota and came to the Fox Valley area with her family at the age of 5 in 1911. A few years later they moved to Medicine Hat where Martha received her education. She married Christof Stickle in 1925 in Medicine Hat and has lived here in the Hat all of her life since. Martha was a stay at home wife and mother, devoting her life to caring for her family. In her younger years she enjoyed baby sitting her grandchildren. She was a wonderful cook and baker of many goodies, but will be remembered by family and friends for her kuchen. She always had a big garden full of flowers and vegetables that she shared with family and friends. Martha blessed us all with her love - God be with you till we meet again.

Dobias Doering

July 12, 1923 - March 2, 2004

Dobias was born on July 12, 1923 in the Robinson district near Dunmore, Alberta.

Louise S. Perkins

March 1, 1936 - February 29, 2004

Louise S. Perkins began her career as a Steno for the CNR in Edmonton; became a writer/editor for radio then moved on to newspaper and television writing. Louise married "Bill" on August 19th, 1961 in Edmonton. Upon moving to Medicine Hat in 1967, Louise became Secretary to the Manager of the Unemployment Insurance Commission; Bookkeeper at the Medicine Hat High School; Dental Assistant for twenty-three years; and a Pastry Chef at a local hotel for five years before retirement. She was active in the Canadian Cancer Society, the Life After Breast Cancer Support Group and the Pendancers Calligraphy Guild. In her youth, Louise loved to sing and dance; she appeared in several musical productions in Edmonton theatres. She developed the choreography for a couple of local high school musicals; was involved in local musical theatre productions and enjoyed singing in the church choir. Cooking and entertaining friends was one of her true pleasures and reading was a life-long passion. Louise often regaled friends with her hilarious writing. She will be remembered for her "twinkly" smile, her loving and generous nature and above all, her sense of humour. Her inquisitive mind was always seeking to learn new things and improve herself and believed that no one should ever stop learning.

Stanley Joseph Steele

February 11, 1924 - April 11, 2004

Stan being of Irish decent was raised in a household full of Irish wit and storytelling. He was educated in a one-room country school down the road from their farm, and walked to school in all kinds of weather. Stan left home at the tender age of 14 years old, to help support the family when hard times hit and his dad was ill and took a farm hand job with the Ingram family near Taber. He also worked on a construction site in Regina and it was during this time that he met Leota when she was attending Cosmetology School with her sisters. They eventually started the Primrose Beauty Salon in Rosetown. In 1945, Stan also completed a Cosmetology course in Saskatoon, and joined the business. On July 31, 1946 Stan and Leota were married in Gull Lake, SK, in a double wedding with Leota's sister, Ilene (and Fred Peterson).

Stan was a projectionist at the local theatre, salesman for Singer sewing machines and a photographer's helper, then in 1955 he started with the Co-op (Edmonton & Saskatoon). He was very active in the United Church, as well as a life member of the I.O.O.F. lodge and enjoyed curling, golf and square dancing After 29 years with Federated Co-op, Stan retired. In retirement Stan & Leota ran a small traveling business called "Tot Mobiles" (small battery operated cars) with brother Ken. In 1992 Stan and Leota moved to Medicine Hat. Stan's health began to fail, and following heart by-pass surgery in 1998, pacemaker, and finally cancer in recent years, he still kept a positive outlook on life and rarely complained about his less than proficient body. Stan's physical heart may have let him down in the end, but his purpose here was simple; and that was to listen to others with his spiritual heart and respond with love.

Mary Lou Halderman

March 4, 1932 - May 16, 2004

Mary Lou was born in Climax, SK and grew up in Claydon, SK. She was the youngest of eight children. She attended school in Claydon and completed her high school in Frontier, SK. After working for a short time at the post office in Vidora, she married Douglas Halderman on Oct. 2, 1950 and moved to the family farm where she started a long career raising her six children. She was actively involved in community service, the ‘skating rink’ being one of many groups. She was a member of the United Church in Frontier, teaching Sunday school and took part in the UCW. She followed her children as they participated in baseball, hockey, figure skating, school sports, and music. She especially enjoyed the Cabin at Cypress Park, where all of her family and friends would visit every summer. In Oct. 1992, after retiring from the farm, she moved to Medicine Hat where she enjoyed the many visits from family and friends. She enjoyed her grandchildren visiting her, and was especially overjoyed by her great grandchildren. While in Medicine Hat, she became involved with fundraising for the ALS society (Lou Gehrigs Disease). Her favourite pastimes were reading and doing crosswords.

Shirley Roslyn Bell

May 11, 1943 - May 29, 2004

Shirley was born in Montreal, Quebec. She happily raised her family in Medicine Hat and became an active volunteer in her community. Shirley operated a day home for fourteen years until she retired to become a full time grandma. Her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren. Shirley never missed a field trip, fun day, hot lunch, play, tea, science fair or fundraiser. At CAPE school, where she proudly participated on the school Board of Directors as a Community Representative and attended Parent Council Meetings, Shirley believed she was just fulfilling her role as ‘Mom’ and ‘Grandma’. Receiving the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award from CAPE school was not only an honor but a proud accomplishment to Shirley. She felt blessed and honored to have the opportunity to work with such dedicated and amazing professionals. As a life long music lover, Shirley attended community concerts and nightly musical entertainment as a resident of the Teeota Lodge. As a member of Westminster United Church for over twenty years, Shirley found great comfort in attending Sunday service. Shirley loved music, watching hockey games and socializing with friends and family.

Winnifred Ellen "Gerry" Vanclieaf

August 25, 1922 - June 18, 2004

Gerry was born on August 25, 1922 in Wolseley, Saskatchewan where she was raised. On June 8, 1942 she married Terrance Vanclieaf. She then enlisted in the Air Force, serving in England during world War II. After the war, Gerry and Terry moved to Medicine Hat where she worked for a number of years at Adams Jewellery and School District # 76, retiring in 1990. Gerry was involved with the Legion for many years. Her family and her grandchildren were an important part of her life.

William Edward Chapman

January 24, 1924 - June 20, 2004

Bill was born in Medicine Hat and lived here all his life. He attended Alexandra, Earl Kitchener and Connaught schools. In 1942 he joined the Navy. The Chapman family covered all aspects of the military with Bill and his brother, Roy, in the Navy, his brother, Dick, in the Air Force and his father, Victor, in the Army. Bill travelled overseas, where he met Lillian Rose Johnson. They were married on August 2, 1945, and afterwards Lillian came to Canada as a War Bride. They had two daughters. On May 15th, 1967, Bill married Mary Crews. Bill worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway, retiring from his role as conductor in 1984 at the age of 60. Bill enjoyed the outdoors, camping at Elkwater and golfing at the Elkwater Golf Club where he was president for a period of time. He was a member of the Pistol Shooting Club and competed in the rapid fire competitions of the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton in 1978. He was a longtime member of the Legion. Bill always had a pet - beautiful golden Labradors, and Persian and Siamese cats. Once when he was young he even had a monkey.

Gottfried Henry Welz

March 14, 1928 - September 3, 2004

Gottfried was predeceased by his parents Ida and Isreal Welz, three brothers and one sister. Gottfried farmed in the Bullshead Butte area for 30 years. In 1983 he retired from farming and in his later years lived in Medicine Hat. He enjoyed bowling and going out to the farm.

Connie Margaret Carstensen

January 13, 1936 - September 11, 2004

We watched you suffer, we watched you sigh, but all we could do was just stand by.

When the time came, we suffered too, for you never deserved, what you went through.

God took your hand and we had to part, He eased your pain, but he broke our hearts.

If you could have spoken before you died, these are the words you would have replied.

"This life for me has truly passed,

I have loved you all, 'til the very last.

Weep not for me, but courage take.

and love one another, for my sake."

Mina Ann Petersen

August 26, 1919 - October 17, 2004

Mina was born in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan on August 26, 1919. At the age of three her family moved to Medicine Hat. Mom’s life was her home and family, she dedicated her life to enrich and support all her family. She was a very private and selfless women who was loved and respected by all who knew her. Mom loved reading, knitting, and doing crossword puzzles up until the last years when she lost her eyesight. Mom was always cheerful with a positive attitude and had a great sense of humor. Being the matriarch of the family, she will be missed.

Jacqueline "Jackie Mary Ellis

August 6, 1925 - December 5, 2004

Jackie was born at the farm on August 6, 1925. On June 11, 1949, she married Oral Ellis in Swift Current and they began their life together farming in the Verlo district. They continued to farm until retiring to Medicine Hat in 1997. Jackie was very active in their small farming community. She loved to cook and nobody ever went away hungry. Her hobbies included quilting, crocheting and gardening. She enjoyed being part of the condominium community, playing cards, bingo and visiting with neighbours.

Irene Dorothy Michalezki

December 20, 1926 - December 10, 2004