Earl: Dorothy Kathrine

It is with deep sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Dorothy Earl on December 25, 2004 at the age of 92. She will be greatly missed by son Ted (Pam) Earl of Drumheller; daughter Lyn (Peter) Barnes of Sangudo; grandchildren, JoAnne Earl and Eric, Jackie (Jason) Ray, all of Yakama, Washington, Geoff Barnes and Allison and Gary Barnes, all of Edmonton; two great-grandsons, John and Michael Ray; as well as many nephews and nieces and friends. Dorothy was employed for many years by the Calgary Public School Board as a substitute teacher and full time teacher at Elboya Elementary School.  In retirement she and beloved husband Charlie travelled wherever and whenever possible, covering most of the world. Dorothy was predeceased by her loving husband of 57 years, Charlie; her parents Arthur and Eva Hobbs; her sister Hilda; two brothers, Bill and Sid, and many in-laws. A memorial service was held December 30, 2004 at Christ Church, 3602- 8 Street S.W., Calgary.

Fraser: Kenneth Earl  1920 - 2005

Earl was born December 27, 1920 at the Karas farm, a mile from where he and Bertha raised their family, and passed away quietly at home on January 1, 2005 with Bertha at his side. Earl is survived by his loving wife Bertha of 61 years; his four daughters Carol (Al), Linda (Jim), Diana (Bill), and Bonnie (Bev); his nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; also his sister Isabelle and her
family of Hinton, AB, and his sister-in-law Mavis of Lacombe, AB. Earl was predeceased by his only son, Allan Wayne; his parents Ross and Rebecca, and his younger brother, Russel. Earl was in the Canadian Army Internment Camp in Medicine Hat, AB from 1942 - 1944. He and Bertha were married in 1943. They returned to farm in the Hesketh area and farmed for 45 years. Earl worked in the coal mines during the winter. In Earl¹s later years he worked as a Commissionaire at the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the Drumheller Penitentiary. He was an Elks member for close to 50 years and was on the patrol team for 16 years. He was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Masons. Earl enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid reader. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 7, 2005 at 2 p.m. from Carbon Community Hall. Donations may be made to the Purple Cross (Elks). Courtney-Winter's Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Simpson: Almira (nee Dutka)  1932 - 2004

It is with deep sadness the family announce the passing of Almira Simpson on December 22, 2004 in Red Deer, AB at the age of 72 years. Almira was born in Shaughnessy, AB on August 28, 1932 to William and Angelina Dutka. She grew up in East Coulee, AB and received her education at the East Coulee School. Almira was part owner/operator of the then very popular Royalite restaurant and then in 1970 began employment at the T.R. Ross Nursing Home and Auxiliary Hospital. She also worked in the physio therapy department of the Drumheller Hospital before her retirement in 1994. The Christmas season was Almira¹s special time of year where she was well known for her superb pyrohy, studenetz, holupts, and various pastries which she enjoyed sharing with her family and friends. Almira was also known for her unusually hard work in her labour intensive home renovations and kept an
extremely well manicured home and yard where she was happy to host two separate family weddings. Almira spent many hours in the skies being flown by her brother in various airplanes of his to and from weddings and family visits in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and on occasion, ³just for coffee²! Her last trip was in a Lear jet bringing her home from St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, AB to the Red Deer Regional Health Complex in Red Deer, AB. Almira leaves to cherish her many fond memories, her loving daughter and best friend, Bonnie Freeman of Red Deer, AB; her loving daughter Karen (Dwain) Johnson of Sylvan Lake, AB; her daughter Leslie Ann Craig of Drumheller AB; her loving brother and pal Edwin Dutka of Calgary, AB; eldest brother Peter (Doris) Dutka of Edmonton, AB; and loving sister Helen Moses of Champion, AB. Also left to mourn her passing is her loving grandson Jimi (Michelle) Freeman of Calgary, AB; loving granddaughter Nita (Michael) Nelson of Sylvan Lake, AB; also four other grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; Almira¹s very special cousin Leona Hrom of Dauphin, Manitoba; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Two very special couples are left to mourn: Lynn and Blaine Zacharuk of Drumheller, AB, and Bill and Mary Dickson of Canmore, AB. Almira was predeceased by her father William in 1963, and mother Angelina in 1962; brothers Adam in 1944 and Martin in 1989; and sister Jessie Anderson in 1998. A very special service will be planned for the spring of 2005 - announcement to follow - with a tree planting at the East Coulee Museum. Should friends so desire, expressions of sympathy may be made by contributions to the charity of one's choice. Wilson¹s Funeral Chapel of Lacombe, AB had care of cremation arrangements.

Szmydt: Emmi  March 19, 1923 - January 1, 2005

Mrs.  Emmi Szmydt of Drumheller went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 1, 2005 with her loving family by her side.  Emmi was born in Kubelki, Poland on March 19, 1923 to Lydia and Emanuel Distelberger.  Emmi was the third eldest of seven children (three sisters,  three brothers). Emmi came to Canada at the age of 26 and lived in Barrhead with her aunt and uncle Frohlich, this is where she met and married her husband Edward Szmydt in 1950.  The couple then moved to the Drumheller Valley where Edward was employed in the mines and the C.N.R. and they  raised their family of five children; Eileen, Anita, Irving, Erika and Randy.  Emmi was a woman of great faith in the Lord,  she took pride in passing her beliefs on to her children.  Her church life and community in the Grace Lutheran Church were very important to her.  Emmi¹s husband Edward passed away at the age of 44 years, leaving her to raise her five children on her own.  Her  life revolved around her children and she enjoyed every minute of homemaking.  In Emmi¹s later years she enjoyed crocheting and babysitting, she  received recognition for her fine handy work and various fairs at farmers markets. She traveled around Alberta to visit her family, and loved to go out for coffee with her many friends in town.  Over the years Emmi often made cabbage rolls and donuts and thought nothing of it to go and deliver her homemade goods to people in town to enjoy.  Her soft spot for little children found her sharing candies with them at every opportunity.  She was
so thankful for the support of her friends during the past twelve years while she lived at Maple Ridge Manor 2.   Emmi leaves to cherish her memory her loving children, Eileen (Remi) Boisvert, Anita (Don) Bruce, Irving (Dale) Szymdt, Erika (Randy) Newsham, Randy Szymdt, grandchildren, Sheri (Bob) Tegart, Michelle (Bryan) Kincheloe, Mark Boisvert, Angie (Mirza) Delibegovic, Heather Bruce, Pamela Bruce, Matthew Bruce, Shannon Szmydt, Cory Szmydt, Ryley Newsham, one brother Eric Distelberger, sister Martha Baron, and her Grace Lutheran Church Family.  Funeral Service for Emmi will be held on  Friday, January 7, 2005 at 2:00 P.M. at the Grace Lutheran Church with interment to follow in the Drumheller Cemetery.  If friends so desire memorial donations may be made to The Memorial Fund Grace Lutheran Church in memory of Emmi Szmydt.  Courtney-Winter's Funeral Homes are in
care of the arrangements.