The CAMROSE BOOSTER, August 31, 2021 – Page 33
Jens Christian Jensen August 26, 1932 ~ August 22, 2021 Jens Christian Jensen of Camrose passed away on Sunday, August 22, 2021, four days shy of his 89th birthday. He was predeceased by his first wife of 43 years, Mavis in 1997, and then by Ingrid in 2018, whom he married in 2000; his parents, Semine (Minna) and Christian (Chris) Jensen, and a brother, Andreas. He is lovingly remembered by his four sons Dan (Helga), Gordon (Brenda), Grant (Kathleen), and Alan; and by grandchildren Aaron, Jason (Dezy), Jonathan (Anna Clara), Graham (Jannaya), Lesley (Tony Diep), Robyn, Eric (Sydney); along with three great-granddaughters Solveig Lilja, Sylvan, Maren; and four siblings Anna, Ken, George and Elisabeth, and countless other relatives and friends. Dad has always been a master storyteller. Some of us recall our small children climbing up onto Grandpa’s lap to hear about his antics growing up on a dairy farm outside Cochrane, Alberta. He also recorded the farm tales on cassettes for the grandchildren living far away. All would listen attentively as he regaled them with tales of how he teased a bull, performed acrobatics on the windmill, built human-bearing kites, and other adventurous stories. He was always creating stories, even as a blacksmith, a welder, and a machinist. When he built things, he built them extra strong, meant to last … and last … and last. When Mom wanted new kitchen cabinets, he wanted to make them out of steel plate so they would never need replacing. We teased him that there was more metal plate on his property than in the whole Canadian navy. And Dad was also an inventor. This led to the filing of many patents at the pipe mill where he worked and his own personal patent for a hot water tank shut-off. His inventions came about because of his natural curiosity, always asking himself, “why?” or “what if?” or “suppose …” He loved to read and learn. He also had a great love for the Donalda coulees and often “camped in the hills.” When his first wife, Mavis, died in 1997, he turned to writing poetry and stories to deal with his grief and with the reality of being on his own. Among other things, he developed a manual on cooking for all hardworking men who had become single, including advice on judging the temperature of a pan: “if you spit on it and the droplet flattened out and sizzled, it was about 200 degrees.” Dad remarried in 2000, and his new bride Ingrid provided him the companionship and love he needed. But the poems and stories continued, especially when her Alzheimer’s required her move to a care facility. The stories and poems explored his pain, grief, and loneliness, but also his strong trust in God’s grace in the midst of everything. The poems also portray a dedicated father who instilled in his children the importance of helping others and doing the “right thing.” He has shared his time and abilities with the church, the Scouts, the community, Habitat for Humanity, Camrose Men’s Shed, the Camrose and District Museum, and countless other groups and individuals. Pallbearers are his grandchildren, and honorary pallbearers are the Camrose Men’s Shed group. The celebration of Jens Christian Jensen’s life and faith was held on Saturday, August 28 at 10 am at Messiah Lutheran Church, 4810 50 Street, Camrose, AB. Inurnment of ashes followed at the Edberg Cemetery. A special thanks to all the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital for their wonderful care and support for dad in his journey. Thanks also to Jim Brager for the artwork, and Harvey and David Vikse, Jeff Fox of Evraz, and Jeff Fox of Pioneer Crane for fabricating the urn. Donations to commemorate Jens’ life can be made to Habitat for Humanity, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, or Canadian Cancer Society. To send condolences, please visit www.burgarfuneralhome.com.
Phone 780-672-2121 “Dedicated service since 1906”
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Kenneth Roger Midbo April 15, 1930 ~ August 25, 2021 Ken was born April 15, 1930, on the family farm near Daysland, Alberta. His father, Knut Midbo, emigrated in 1894 from Telemark, Norway, with his brothers and sisters and parents Olav and Åsne. His mother, Svea Olofsson, was born in Alberta; her parents Oskar and Anna emigrated in 1904 from Ångermanland, Sweden. Ken was baptized and confirmed at Scandinavia Lutheran Church by Pastor Jacob Stolee. He attended Camrose Lutheran College for three years and sang in the college choir. Ken was a longtime member of Golden Valley Lutheran Church in Viking, Alberta and in later years attended services at Messiah Lutheran Church in Camrose. Ken married Marion (Myrehaug) on July 12, 1958, at Trinity Lutheran Church near Lougheed, Alberta. He’d worked for several years for Atlas Lumber Company and by 1956 was manager of the Lougheed store. Ken and Marion eventually settled in Viking, where Ken managed the Revelstoke business for nearly 30 years, followed by the Home Hardware business until 1996. Ken contributed to church and community through work on church and town councils, singing in choirs, attending and participating in church and community events, and in later years, delivering meals and working with others to maintain church buildings and properties. He maintained a keen interest in local, provincial and federal politics, and enjoyed observing and studying the unfolding of world history. When his mother returned the Midbo family land near Daysland to Ken and his brothers and sisters, Ken and brother Gordon teamed up to raise cattle and grow grain on their combined two quarter sections for nearly 20 years. Ken also replaced the original Midbo family home, which had been destroyed by fire; the new home became a family meeting place, with Ken and Marion hosting and entertaining their grandchildren, children, extended family and friends. Over the years, Ken and Marion enjoyed many trips to Norway and Sweden, visiting with relatives and returning to ancestral homes and regions. Their travels took them to Moscow, where Ken met Mikhail Gorbachev, an event he recalled even as Alzheimer’s symptoms reduced his working memory during the last years of his life. Ken is survived by his wife Marion; son Kevin, daughter Kathy and her husband Gordon Sellin, daughter Tracey and her husband David Thompson; grandsons Zachary Lepak and Orran Lepak, granddaughters Rae-Lee Sellin and Julie Sellin; brother Gordon Midbo and close cousin Eileen Cramton. A private funeral will be held within the coming days. Memorial donations are gratefully accepted to The Bethany Group Foundation in support of chaplaincy, education on seniors’ care, and to fund improvements to resident care (www.thebethanygroup. ca/donate).
Louida Mae Reil (Stauffer) Louida Mae Reil (Stauffer), daughter of William and Katie Stauffer was born April 4, 1928. She passed away on August 26, 2021 at the age of 93 as the result of COVID-19. Louida was raised on the family farm one mile west of Salem Mennonite Church. Her teen years to a large degree were spent looking after her mother, who was ill most of the time. Louida married Dennis Reil on June 30, 1948. They resided on Grandpa Stutzman’s farm where they were blessed with Derrill, Kathy and Greg. They later moved to Tofield where Ken joined the family. After moving to Tofield, She worked as a waitress at Charlie’s Place and a cashier at a local grocery store. she later became a business woman after purchasing “The Elizabeth Shoppe”, a local clothing and shoe store. After selling their acreage and business in 1981 they moved to Newbrook, Alberta where they operated a hog farm for a number of years. Dennis and Louida moved back to Tofield where they took up residence at the Tofield Lodge. Louida resided there until her final move to Tofield Long Term Care. She is survived by Derrill (Theresa), Kathleen, Greg (Ellen) and Ken (Kelly); nine grandchildren Curtis (Tammy), Jordan, Tarina, Michael, Christopher, Jean-Paul, William, Kellan; six great-grandchildren Paige, Aiden, Kennedy, Cameron, Joshua and Madison. She is also survived by two brothers Merlin (Betty) Stauffer, Harley (Gloria) Stauffer; two brothers-in-law Joseph Voegtlin and Glen Reil and three sistersin-law Dorothy Juhns, Vivian Eyster and Diane Reil. Louida was predeceased by her husband Dennis; three sisters Grace Buschant, Pearl Yoder and Florence Voegtlin and one great-grandaughter Hanna Cardinal. Memorial donations may be made to M.C.C. or to the Alzheimer’s Society.
