MOENCH: Betsy Locke (Mossop)  1920 - 2006

Betsy Locke Moench (Mossop) passed away peacefully with her family by her side in the Hanna Hospital on Monday August 21, 2006 (her 86th Birthday). Betty a twin, was born to James & Janet Mossop, August 21, 1920 in Calgary Alberta. She spent all her early life in the Handhills. On March 28, 1941 she married the love of her life, Albert Moench. From this marriage they had five children. Betty loved to garden, sew, knit, crochet and teach her children to cook all the old Moench dishes. She also milked a lot of cows (even in the nursing home). Betty was Albert’s right hand man all through their lives together. Betty was a very active member of the Handhills Community. Card parties, turkey suppers, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and church kept her active in the Handhills until she moved to Hanna in the 1990’s.

Betty will be remembered by her children: Don (Karen) of Millarville, Doug (Dee) of Hanna, Son-in-law Zane Veno of Calgary, Stan (Marge) of Handhills, Greg (Annette) of Handhillds; Twelve grandchildren: Sean, Aaron, Brad, Terri-Lee, Ryan, Duanne, Cam, Stuart, Rod, Clark, Kelly and Brady; Eighteen great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Betty was predeceased by her husband Albert in 1997; daughter Doreen in 2001; parents James and Janet; twin brother Bill and her sister Mary.

Funeral services for the late Betsy Locke Moench (Mossop) were held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, August 25, 2006 at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hanna, Alberta with Pastor Gary Buckley officiating. Interment was held in the morning at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, Handhills, Alberta. If friends so desire, donations can be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, The Palliser Nursing Home or to a Charity of the Donor’s Choice in care of Coronation Funeral Home, Box 35, Coronation, Alberta, T0C 1C0.  Cathy Watts of Coronation Funeral Home entrusted with the funeral arrangements. For further information please call Coronation Funeral Home  1-888-578-2928. “Knowledge, Experience  And Professionalism  With A Personal Touch”

MOLYNEUX: Alfred “Allie” Gordon  1931 - 2006

Alfred “Allie” Gordon Molyneux was born September 28, 1931 at the family home in Nacmine, and passed away August 29, 2006 at the Drumheller Hospital due to heart complications. Allie would have celebrated his 75th birthday on September 28. Allie lived in Nacmine all his life, working in the Red Deer Valley Mine until it closed in the early 1950’s, and then worked in the Alexander and Whitehouse hotels as a bartender. He then worked for the provincial government in Drumheller as a building superintendent until his retirement in 1990. Allie’s lifelong passion was baseball at all levels, and was a well-known pitcher throughout Alberta, throwing a perfect game in 1957. He was especially proud of his career with the Rosedale Midways, who won the provincial title eight years running. Watching the Toronto Blue Jays on T.V. he often said, “I should warm up my arm and go down and give them a hand.” He was very proud of his flower and vegetable garden and his lawn and home were his pride and joy. The famous Molyneux Christmas light display was an annual treat which drew onlookers every year past the family home in Nacmine. Allie suffered heart problems in the early 1990’s and subsequently became very involved with fundraising efforts for the Drumheller Heart to Heart Society. Funds raised stayed locally to benefit the Cardiac Rehab Unit.

He is survived by his wife Frances of 55 years; children Rick (Dale), Terry (Dale), Jackie, Allie (Pinky), Debbie, Gordon (Sherry), Kim (Randy), Jo-Anne (Frank); 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Allie is also survived by two brothers, Jack (Ruth) and Joe (Rosemary). He was predeceased by his parents Mary and Jack, an infant brother, sister Ethel, and daughter Sandra in 1980, and two great-grandchildren, Tyler and Brandon. A funeral service will be held at the Knox United Church on Friday, September 1, 2006 at 2:00 PM. with Rev. Harold Hunter officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart to Heart Society of Drumheller. Courtney-Winter’s Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

SCHOWALTER: Walter  1916 - 2006

Walter Henry Schowalter of Willow Creek Lodge in Stettler, Alberta, passed away peacefully on 18th August 2006 in the Stettler Auxiliary Hospital at the age of 90 years. Walter was born on the 21st of February 1916 to Christense and Edward Schowalter on the family farm near Rosenheim, Alberta, south east of Provost. He was raised on the farm and attended Rosenheim and Maypole Schools. He completed his education at Vermilion and Olds Agricultural Colleges.Walter married Eva Carter, who was to be his wife for nearly 59 years, in 1944. They farmed near Rumsey, Alberta, and raised 4 children there. In 1969, he accepted a position as a technician at the Alberta Horticultural Research Station at Brooks. In 1981, he retired and Eva and he moved to Big Valley where they resided until moving to Stettler in 2000.

Walter was always actively engaged with the world and, to an unusual degree, pursued the interests of his youth through his entire life. He was an early and frequent contributor to the Young Co-operators’ page in the Western Producer and he continued writing for local and family histories until the last few years. Walter’s great hobby and pursuit was horticulture, an activity that engaged him to the end of his life. While at Willow Creek Lodge, he maintained a large rose garden that was enjoyed by other residents and visitors alike. During his life, he exchanged newly bred plant varieties and correspondence with leading plant breeders on the Canadian Prairies and kept virtually all of his records and correspondence. Those records are proving valuable to those investigating the development of horticulture in Western Canada and the lives and activities of the most prominent plant breeders here.

Walter had a strong commitment to the communities he lived in. He was a long-time member of Board of Directors of Red Deer River Garden Club, Scout leader, church pianist, and was active in drama productions and choirs. He was very musical – being an able pianist and accordion player. In his last years, he learned to play the xylophone and entertained his grandchildren and others by playing the mouth organ. Walter was also artistic. He was a capable painter who not only painted pictures but also prepared drama props and did technical drawings of plants. However, he was best known for his cartoons which were often wry commentaries on co-workers and activities in his workplace. Walter had a great interest in natural history and had detailed knowledge of plants and animals of the regions he lived in. His collection of native artifacts is now housed in the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton and many of his fossils are in the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Drumheller. He also had a strong interest in family history. His book on genealogy and family history of his grandfather’s descendents is valued and enjoyed by his many relatives.

Some of the accomplishments and awards Walter was most proud of were his Governor General’s Medal for Academic Achievement, those occasions when he won the prize for the most points at the Red Deer River Garden Club Show, the recognitions for life-long contribution by both the Western Canadian Society for Horticulture and the Alberta Horticultural Association, and recent naming of the Walter Schowalter rose after him. The rose can be seen at the Devonian Gardens near Devon, Alberta.

Walter was predeceased by his much loved wife Eva, brother Gilbert and sister Ruth Wilhart. He was also predeceased by son-in-law Mike Davis, brothers-in-law Hank Wilhart, Reg Newton, Allan Auburn, Jim Carter, and Leo Carter and sister-in-law Rose Carter. He is survived by his children Ed (Inge) Schowalter, Mary Davis, Tim (Laraine Hess) Schowalter, and Margit (Grant Willis) Schowalter; his grandchildren Bill (Barbara) Avramenko, Peep (Ken) Bengert, Angie (Richard Dyck) Proulx, and Quinten (Leah-anne) Schowalter; as well as 11 great grand children and 3 great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Clifford (Ardell) Schowalter and Howard (Audrey) Schowalter and sister Elsie Newton as well as in-laws Ruth and Rudy Hanke, Bill Carter, Alice Carter, and Irene and Bob Graham and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Family Interment took place at the Big Valley Cemetery at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 with the Funeral Service following in the Heartland Chapel of Stettler Funeral Home at 2:00 P.M. with Pastor Karl Faltin of St. Peter Lutheran Church officiating. Al Gerdung gave the tribute. Soloist Bruce Johnston sang “Beyond The Sunset” and was accompanied by Doug McKay who also played for the congregational hymn “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” and the recessional music “The Entertainer”. Family and friends gathered in the Heartland Fellowship hall following the service for a time of sharing and for light refreshments provided by Bill’s Catering.

If friends so wish, donations in Walter’s memory may be made to the Alberta Horticultural Association, 4410 50A St., Red Deer, AB, T4N 1Z2 or c/o Stettler Funeral Home & Crematorium, Box 1780, Stettler, AB T0C 2L0, who were entrusted with the care and arrangements. Sympathies may be forwarded to the family by signing the guestbook at www.stettlerfuneralhome.com. Stettler Funeral Home & Crematorium entrusted with the care and arrangements. For further information please call 742-3422.