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Thelma Faye Payne
November 12, 2016
Thelma Faye Payne [Beamish] of High Prairie, passed away peacefully in the presence of family on Sept. 14, 2016 after a brief illness at 88 years of age.
Faye was born April 6, 1928 in Shoal Lake, Man. and was one of 11 children. Faye met Jerry Payne in High Prairie when they were still in school. They were married in 1949 and together they raised three sons: Pat, Gordon and Marty, at their farm south of High Prairie.
Faye was known for her hard work and dedication to her family. Her cooking, canning, and apple pies will not be forgotten by any who had the pleasure of sampling them. She also enjoyed horses, her flower beds and vegetable garden.
Faye was predeceased by: her husband, Jerry; and her son, Pat.
Faye is survived by: her sister Evelyn [Jimmy] Babkirk; her sons Gordon and Marty and their families; along with numerous nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Our family would like to thank Faye’s friends and neighbours at the Golden Age Apartments in High Prairie for their caring and friendship. She valued this very much in her time there. We would also like to thank the staff at the Chapel of Memories for their assistance and professionalism during a difficult time.
Faye was adamant about not having a funeral service. At her request, her ashes along with those of her son Pat, will be buried next to her husband Jerry’s on the family farm overlooking the river valley in the spring.
Faye was a very kind loving woman who is missed by many.
Ted Crawford
November 2, 2016
Ted Crawford passed away on Sept. 15, 2016 at the High Prairie Regional Health Complex at the age of 69 years. He had a double lung transplant on Oct. 20, 2005 and after about 11 years they started to fail. Often, he did not feel very well.
Ted was born on a farm at home in the Banana Belt where his aunt Margaret Crawford attended his birth. He was born on April 12, 1947. He grew up on the family farm and went to school in the Banana Belt. It was a small one-room school with one teacher.
After many years in the Banana Belt his family decided to move to Dawson Creek, B.C. where Ted’s father was employed. Ted and the rest of his brothers and sisters went to school there. When Ted was old enough he went to school but worked in Woolworths store after school and on weekends.
As he grew older he decided to work in a sawmill where he worked one winter. There, he learned to run cats and worked on many construction jobs. He worked on a pipeline that went to Prince Rupert, B.C. After that he had many jobs and worked south of Fort Macleod, Saskatchewan and northern British Columbia.
He worked for about 15 years for Caribou Construction in Peace River. He also worked in the Northwest Territories and the Arctic where he moved camps, and hauled oil across the tundra and ice. He also made landing strips for planes to land that hauled men and freight.
He also worked on the construction of High Prairie water holding dam near the airport.
He married Maxine Graham on April 28, 1984. They had one daughter, Velda. He farmed and raised cattle in the Gilwood area for 35 years.
Ted always liked horses and liked to do riding. While he was farming he drove school bus for 12 years and after hauled logs.
Ted was predeceased by: his father, Theodore Crawford; and sisters Jean Lazarko and Beverly McDermott.
Ted leaves to mourn: his wife Maxine; daughter Velda Pearson [Dusty]; and grandsons Earl and Tyler; his mother, Marie Dayus; sisters Phoebe Stewart [Rodney], Kathy McMillan [Scott], Tammy Venini [Dale]; and brothers Bill Crawford [Emma], Dan Crawford, and Tom Crawford; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Shirley Kasinec
July 9, 2016
Shirley Kasinec passed away at the age of 78 years on Monday, June 27, 2016 in Stony Plain, AB.
Shirley was born on Aug. 28, 1937 in Birch Hills, Sask. Her family moved to the High Prairie area when Shirley was around nine years old.
Shirley married Andrew Kasinec on Sept. 29, 1955 and they had four daughters. They farmed outside the High Prairie area until moving to Stony Plain in 2004.
Shirley will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her four daughters: Arlene [Owen Ingram], Regina [Curtis Baraniuk], Shari; and Wendy [Michael Polushin]; five grandsons, Shawn [Julie], Michael [Christie], Adam [Jill], Christopher [Cailee] and Dylan; and three great-granddaughters, Taylor, Anessa and Madison; as well as her great-grandson, Wes- ton; her sisters Opal and Marjorie and their families; as well as numerous relatives and close family friends.
She was predeceased by her parents: Nels and Olia; and sisters Annie, Cora, Dorothy and Vinnie; as well as brothers Bud, Floyd, Vic, Lester and George.
Shirley was a dynamic person with interests in history, baking, reading and traveling.
The family wishes to thank everyone for their support during this difficult time with special consideration to the staff at Good Samaritan Care Centre in Stony Plain for the compassionate care they extended to Shirley and her family.
A memorial service was held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 52515 R.R. #15, Stony Plain, on July 3.
Cremation has taken place. A slide presentation and luncheon was held at the Stony Plain Senior Citizens’ Drop-in Centre July 3 following the service.
Shirley [Hayes] Banner
October 5, 2016
Shirley Belle [Hayes] Banner, born Sept. 11, 1930, and a long time resident of the High Prairie area, passed away at the age of 86 in Fairview on Sept. 13, 2016 after a brief illness.
Her family misses her deeply and cherishes their memories of her.
Shirley was born to Gordon and Margaret Hayes on the family farm north of Fairview. She was the youngest of four children and enjoyed being outdoors with all the wonders that farm life offered.
On Nov. 7, 1947, she married the love of her life, Chester Banner. They raised seven children together, while living in Peace River, Eureka River, Worsley, Fairview, Valleyview and Snipe Lake. From Snipe Lake they moved to Enilda and then Kathleen, where they resided for many years before relocating back to Fairview. They were married 64 years, until Chester’s passing in 2012.
Shirley was an avid knitter and faithful traveling companion to Chester as they put on many miles spreading the word of God. Shirley is fondly remembered as mom, grandma, or friend by many of the people she came to know on these travels. She will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
Shirley was predeceased by: her husband Chester; daughter Alice; son-in-law John Kuriga; parents Gordon and Margaret Hayes; sister Alice Dettling; and brother Gordon Cecil Lemna.
She is survived by: her children Loraine [Bud] Watchorn of Whitelaw, Alta., Audrey [Edwin] Hedrich of Faust, Ralph [Peggy] of Red Deer, Carol Kuriga of Whitelaw, Richard [Theresa] of Bonnyville, Gorden [Hydee] of Spruce Grove; son-in-law Lavern; 23 grandchildren; 41 great-
grandchilren; and three great-great-grandchildren; her brothers Archie [Betsy] Hayes of Fairview, and Doug [Gerry] Hayes of Penticton, B.C.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A service to honour Shirley is at 2 p.m. on Oct. 29, 2016 in Fairview.
Sam Peters
October 26, 2016
Sam Peters was born in Barnes Crossing, Sask., to Isaac and Helen Peters, on Dec. 30, 1944. He passed away June 15, 2016 in High Prairie. He was 71 years old.
Sam was the second in a family of 11. After Sam was born, his parents moved to Warman, Sask., where he went to school until he was in Grade 3.
At the age of 11 his parents moved to Coaldale, Alta. where his dad got him and his older brother a job milking and feeding cattle in winter and hoeing sugar beets in summer.
In 1964 he went to Saskatoon, Sask. for Christmas where he met the love of his life, Vivian. A year later they married, and moved to Taber, Alta., where he continued to farm.
Sam worked long, hard hours seeding and irrigating corn, sugar beets, and grain for low pay. In the summer months in the evening and on weekends he would hoe sugar beets for some extra money. In the winter months he fed cattle in the feed lot and fixed equipment. He always worked with scrap metal.
In 1966 their first daughter, Hayley, was born. In 1967 their second daughter, Ronda, came along, then son Gerry was born in 1970.
In 1973 he bought his first truck, a three-ton IHC. He enjoyed it so much that he bought the second truck, a five-ton IHC. These trucks hauled peas, corn, and sugar beets right off of the fields around Taber and area to the cannery and sugar factory located in Taber.
In 1975 he quit farming and started out on an adventure all his own. He bought an acreage and continued hauling produce in summer months and working on scrap metal recycling.
In 1979 he bought three new IHC gravel trucks and a huge loader. “Sam Peters Trucking” was born. He began loading and hauling gravel for MP Crushing in Lethbridge. Later on, his trucks were part of a project to repave the entire Highway 3 from Taber to Lethbridge.
On evenings and weekends he would load up the whole family, the children in the sleeper of the truck, and Vivian in the passenger seat, and would haul topsoil and gravel to other customers. He was always busy, but enjoyed taking the entire family along.
While the trucking was going on he also had an auto wrecking yard running. He had a team that would rebuild vehicles in his shop. He would take such ugly old vehicles and turn them into beautiful machines. He would do the mechanical, a friend and co-worker would do the painting, and his mother-in-law would do the interior work.
He also experimented and designed many machines designed to deal with scrap car bodies and unwanted appliances and other such metals. During the course of his life he built two car crushers, one appliance baler, three flatbed tow trucks, a couple of shears, etc. He would take trailers that were inexpensive and useless and turn them into trailers that are still working today.
It was so amazing to watch him work. He could see what he wanted to do in his mind and without a blueprint or anything he could build it. The amazing thing, no matter how impossible it seemed to us, when it was done … it worked!
In 1983 Delynn was born.
In 1986 he came to Valleyview with his gravel trucks to participate in a government stock piling project. Although everything went wrong, he fell in love with the north country.
In 1988, he organized a convoy of equipment and people, mostly family, to tour the Southern Alberta countryside cleaning up scrap car bodies from dump sites. He was in Stettler, Drumheller, Champion, Carmangay, Vulcan, just to name a few. His convey was quite the sight, about a quarter-mile long. It consisted of a crane for crushing [smashing] cars, a huge loader, semis, trailers, trucks, campers, and tow trucks. As a family this was one of our biggest adventures. We all loved it.
Then in 1990 he moved to High Prairie. He continued on with the scrap metal recycling business adventure as “Big Meadow Salvage”. He continued creating machines to do the job better and to be able to haul more.
More than anything, Sam loved his family. He treasured special occasions and just waited for everyone to be at home at the same time. He loved the noise, he loved to wrestle, he loved to laugh and joke with everyone. He did everything in his life with the intention of making it better for his family.
Sam accomplished many amazing things in his life. He wanted to accomplish so much more.
Sam was predeceased: by both of his parents; his brothers Ed and Jim; and his sister, Norma Jean.
He leaves behind: his wife, Vivian; his daughters Hayley, Ronda [Tracey]; his sons Gerry [Joy], Delynn [Richa]; his grandchildren Vivian, Troy [Shannon], Jazz, Rickylynn, Jesse, Wilsyn, Ryder, and Dax; his great grandchildren Eldon, Sierra, Serena, Daniel, Maria, Kylee; and his good friend, Shyam.
Robert O. Bruner
August 19, 2016
We have lost a part of us, it is with great sadness we say goodbye to Robert O. Bruner, on a whisper, your journey home to Hilda, you are together again. Bob passed away July 31, 2016. He was ninety- three and a half years old.
Robert Orville Bruner was born January 16, 1923; the youngest son of ten children born to Halsey W. Bruner and Enda Jane McAffee in Spooner Wisconsin. He was born nearly two months premature at two and a half pounds and was never expected to survive. His mother Edna died three weeks after he was born. With a strong will to live, family to care for him he lived the longest of all of the Bruner children. He was premature enough that he was fed the water off soaked grain; he could not yet digest milk and was carried around on a pillow. His sister Flora looked after him around the clock, though she already had a family of her own. He surprised everyone as he grew and thrived with a determination that is rare.
He was raised on a farm and his father a farmer and blacksmith with small children still at home married a teacher named Marie Hilmer. Bob immigrated to Canada when he was four with his father, step-mother and two older sisters Bell and Jennie.
They came by train from Spooner Wisconsin, for a new life with boxcars full of livestock and machinery and homesteaded one mile east of Enilda, Alberta. His father Halsey was very much a craftsman who could look at something and build it. Bob followed in those footsteps and learned from his father to respect and utilize the land and resources around them.
Two log homes, barns and other necessities were built from logs off the land they homesteaded. Bob farmed along with his father, mixed farming of livestock and grain, this over the years turned into primarily a hog operation.
They had a small saw- mill and a thresh machine and worked with their neighbours so everyone could get their crop harvested.
He walked to school to Enilda and fondly remembered his first teacher E. W. Pratt. Bob loved learning however; due to his father’s age and illness he took over the farm completely when he was fourteen therefore was unable to finish school. He went to grade seven but had always dreamed of getting his high school diploma.
Homesteading in those years was hard but Bob with a love for animals and respect for the land, persevered. Bob, Jennie and Bell went to school, worked on the farm and became an integral part of the Big Meadow and Enilda community. Growing up with values of honesty, integrity, a strong work ethic and faith he was always looking after family and friends. Bob had an interest in music and loved to dance. He played for dances in the community having a talent for many instruments; guitar, banjo, mouth organ, accordion and his favorite the violin. When he was not playing he was always dancing. He grew up with the strong responsibility of community; was on many boards and organizations; and held several positions over the years. He was on the United Church board and shippers association for many years. Probably the longest running was the United Church board which also included care and maintenance of the Big Meadow and High Prairie churches.
As he grew older he built his own house, again with the trees on the land and continued farming while looking after his parents. He had decided he would need a home to bring a bride to someday.
Many of his skills were self-taught and he had an eye for detail and a need for perfection. He was never one to sit, he was always doing something. He loved working with wood, and like his father could look at something, draw a blueprint and create it.
The necessity of building things turned into a hobby as time went on.
As a young man Bob ended up in hospital. He woke up after hernia surgery to see this blonde angel. He always said he thought he had gone to heaven; and Bob married this angel, a beautiful nurse named Hilda. Hilda came from the Gillwood area, her mother passed when she was quite young so she looked after her brother and father. This was a bond between them, coming from similar backgrounds and having responsibilities at a young age of caring for family. Hilda would travel by train to Enilda and they would visit friends and dance the night away at the many dances, socials and pot luck suppers that took place in those years. Bob would travel to High Prairie by train or horse and buggy to see Hilda as well. They were older than many of their friends when they married as they were focused on caring for elderly parents and making a living.
After three years of this and writing letters back and forth, Bob asked Hilda if she would spend the rest of her life with him. They married November 28, 1958 and had their reception at the home of a dear friend Donald Barnes. Within the year a daughter was born named Madonna.
Farm life was hard work, but full of love, laughter and happiness. Everything was done as a team from farming and chores to fishing, traveling and dancing. Square dancing, round dancing and ballroom dancing were hobbies and family time. Much time was spent within the community functions, occasionally a hockey game for Bob and Madonna to enjoy. There was skating on the creek that Bob flooded or cross country skiing to find the perfect
Christmas tree on the land that Bob cleared, farmed and passionately loved. Bob had an amazing sense of humor and was a bit of a social butterfly; Hilda however is much shyer. Bob loved to laugh and have fun; however was always making sure everyone was cared for and looked after. Holidays such as Christmas or Thanksgiving meant sharing with not only family but those around him.
There were many meals and celebrations that included neighbours or elderly people who did not have family close.
Camping was a favorite holiday and often ended up in British Columbia visiting with friends and relatives. He creatively built their first camper, and being the perfectionist he was, made sure the trim on the camper matched to a tee the color of the truck.
When Madonna graduated nursing they would travel to visit wherever she was living ; while Madonna lived in Toronto there were regular trips there and new places to see. Their travel often involved family and friends.
Bob and Hilda continued farming and the busy pace of their lives. The eighteen hours a day involved in mixed farming was tiring, Bob developed angina and decided to rent out the land and find something less stressful to do, but he also needed a way to make a living.
He had always wanted to finish high school so at the age of fifty-eight Bob went back to school at what is now Northern Lakes College to do upgrading; he received his high school diploma.
Well the learning bug had grabbed him and since he already did a lot of carpentry for himself and others and had a knack; off to challenge the apprenticeship board he went. He ended up with his Journeyman Carpentry and Journeyman Residential Electrician credentials. The new barn then turned into a complete carpentry shop. He worked for many years at that and had more work than he could keep up with; as his work was impeccable. Bob and Hilda continued to dance and travel to jamborees and go camping in the summer, and in the winter besides dancing and bowling in the community he took up cabinet making as a “hobby”. Many of the family members have complete living and bedroom furniture custom made for them. He was a perfectionist at restoring antique furniture and enjoyed bringing life back into the wood.
In 1995 Bob and Hilda sold the beloved farm and moved to High Prairie where there was less upkeep of the property. They continued to have fun and travel; and of course Bob continued to work doing carpentry and electrical until he was eighty-six years old, an amazing career.
In 2008 Bob and Hilda wanted the security of having their family close, his arthritis in his back, knees, shoulders and hands were getting bad. His daughter and her husband moved back to High Prairie to be close and help out. Sadly after getting over a bout of harsh chemotherapy to deal with prostate cancer, Alzheimer’s developed and the fun loving ball of energy found living independently more than he and his wife could manage on her own.
Bob and Hilda lived with Madonna and Derek until after three years of complete care at home, Bob moved to J. B Wood Nursing Home where they came daily to see Bob.
All of Bob’s siblings have passed away; he has numerous nieces and nephews that unfortunately do not live close. Almost all of his friends have died before him; he used to say the disadvantage of living longer was to lose those you love. His love for family and life has been instilled in those around him. Bob was a gentle loving man, full of smiles, laughter, hugs and music which played daily in his room at J B Woods. He had patience and generosity of time and love that friends and family were fortunate to enjoy. A love for nature and animals gave him peace. He had strong faith and is a true humanitarian that few could match.
Bob was predeceased by his parents Halsey and Edna Bruner, his step mother Marie, brothers Lee, Dan, and Herb; sisters Lola, Flora, Helen, Irene, Bell and Jennie; his loving wife Hilda eight months ago in November, 2015.
He leaves behind their daughter Madonna Bruner-Penner and son-in-law Dr. Derek Penner of High Prairie, Alberta. Nieces Darlene (Jim) Handschuh, Bernice (Gerald) Lang, and Jane (Juergen) Stolte all of British Columbia. Numerous cousins, great nieces and nephews from Alberta, British Columbia and through-out the United States.
As their wish a Memorial service for Bob and Hilda Bruner will be held Thursday August 18, 2016 at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in High Prairie at 1:00 pm. Reverend Sharon McRann officiating. Private family interment at a later date.
If friends so desire, donations may be made to the High Prairie Palliative Care Society as expressions of sympathy.
Richard [Keith] Stewart
September 21, 2016
Richard [Keith] Stewart was born Sept. 12, 1940 to Pearl and Jack Stewart in High Prairie. He grew up on a farm 3 1/2 miles south of High Prairie with his two sisters, Marilyn and Linda.
When he was 18 he and Bill Gustafson hitchhiked to Fort Nelson, B.C. There he got a job working for his uncle Walter Williscroft working on a bridge crew on the Alaska Highway. He worked there until 1963, then returned to High Prairie.
Soon after returning to High Prairie, he met Faye Imes from Spirit River, Alta. After a three-month courtship they were married March 28, 1964. They lived in town until 1977 when they moved to the farm four miles south of High Prairie. While living in town they welcomed three little boys into their lives: Darin Keith on Sept. 20, 1966; Kelly Dean on Aug. 27, 1968; and Kenneth Daryl on Oct. 18, 1971.
After 1964 Keith worked hauling freight for Grimshaw Trucking, and hauling drilling mud for Walter Chudoba. Then he and Murray Couch operated the BA, Gulf Oil, now Petro Canada bulk fuel station for over 20 years.
Keith then worked for the I.D. [now Big Lakes County] for several years. His last job was at the Monahan Ford towing business with Bob Langenhahn for several years. He always did a little farming on his days off so he had a very busy life. As well as his work he enjoyed many years coaching and driving his boys and many others to and from hockey games.
Keith loved his home on the farm and was always busy with his boys, work and his yard. Keith and Faye also enjoyed 17 winters in Arizona away from the cold. He did truly love his winters in Arizona. He enjoyed the warm weather and the social life. He was always happy visiting and telling his little stories.
Keith and Faye now have three lovely daughters-in-law: Valerie [Darin], Natascha [Kelly], and Jennifer [Kenny], and six wonderful grandchildren: Dean, Dallas, Seriena, Natalie, Vanessa and Rebecca.
Keith enjoyed life. After he was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer he said, “I’ve had a good life, what more could I ask?”
That was Keith, always positive no matter what the situation. His kind, caring positive way plus his big smile will be with us always.
Keith was predeceased by: his parents, Jack and Pearl Stewart; and one sister, Marilyn.
Keith passed away peacefully in the High Prairie Hospital with his wife Faye, and sister Linda, by his side on Wednesday, Aug. 17, at the age of 75 years.
A celebration of Keith’s life was held Aug. 29 at the High Prairie Elks Stampede Hall. The eulogist was Kelly Stewart, and soloist Don Imes.
Pallbearers were Darin Stewart, Kenny Stewart, Dallas Stewart, Kelly Stewart, Dean Stewart and David Kocon.
A private family interment occurred at the High Prairie and District Cemetery.
Donations may be made to STARS and/or the High Prairie and District Palliative Care Society as expressions of sympathy.
Pamela Bissell [Sproston]
June 15, 2016
Pamela Mary [Sproston] Bissell was born Oct. 30, 1924 and passed away on May 27, 2016 at the age of 91 years.
Arriving from England to Pier 21 in 1925, then traveling by train to northern Alberta to live and homestead on an undeveloped tract of land, to graduating from the University of Alberta in 1946, and being the recipient of the President’s Gold Medal in nursing, to traveling the world, and retiring to White Rock in 1997, Pamela has done it all.
Pam leaves behind: her daughter Sheila [Grant] of Surrey; son Lindsay [Arla] of West Kelowna; granddaughter Megan [Dennis] of Edmonton; grandson Mark [Alexa] of Toronto; aunts and cousins in the United Kingdom and France; and Bissell relatives in Canada, and the USA.
Pam cared deeply for others and would go about her daily activities smiling, cheery and looking for the best in everyone. She instilled in us the importance of keeping connected with friends and relatives, and the art of the handwritten letter. She loved researching genealogy on her computer and watching British shows. She was so looking forward to the arrival of her two great-grandsons.
Thank you to everyone who touched Pamela’s life in many different ways, we will not forget you.
Donations in Pam’s memory may be made to the Clinical Chair in Aging and Research, Office of Advancement, Faculty of Nursing, 3-141 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Ave., University of Edmonton, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9. Cheques payable to the U of A.
A service will be held at a later date in High Prairie.
