August 17, 2015

By Obituaries on August 17, 2015.

1927 ~ PEDERSON ~ 2015

Mrs. Olive Beth Pederson of Medicine Hat, beloved wife of the late Mr. Verne Pederson, passed away on Friday, August 14th, 2015 at the age of 87 years. Olive leaves to cherish her memory her children, Larry (Grace) Pederson and Dianne (Jim) Gogolinski; seven grandchildren, Erin Gogolinski, Jenna (Jason) Ranger, Drew Gogolinski, Mason Gogolinski, Tye Gogolinski, Ruairidh Pederson and Zachary Pederson; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Olive was predeceased by her husband, Verne; her parents, Fredrick and Evelyn Thompson; two brothers, Angus (Kae) Thompson and Alex (Magda) Thompson; and one sister, Jean (Frank) Eger. Olive was born on August 25th, 1927 in Coronach, Saskatchewan and was also raised and educated there. She trained at the Regina General Hospital as a nurse from 1946 graduating in 1949. Olive married Verne Pederson on September 27th, 1949 in Coronach and they moved to Medicine Hat in 1950. She worked at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital nursing in one capacity or another from 1950 to 1984 at which time Olive retired. Nursing was a profession that she loved and was a true passion and calling for her. Upon her retirement, her children had a pair of her old nursing shoes bronzed and mounted, with the inscription “To the Greatest Nurse Since Florence Nightingale on Her Retirement”. So great was her impact as a nurse that even 30 years after retiring, former patients would recognize her when out and about and give her a big hug of thanks for the loving care and attention they received from Olive. Olive was first and foremost a wife, a mom and a nurse. Her loving and accepting nature always saw the best in others, and she was always the first person to offer help to any who needed it. She loved to laugh and sing and dance whenever she had the chance, and enjoyed many good times with family and friends near and far. She faced every challenge and obstacle with a sense of acceptance and optimism, and displayed amazing grace and composure even in her final battle with cancer. She will be greatly missed by her family and many former nursing colleagues, as well as residents of her seniors’ complex in Medicine Hat. Her family wishes to acknowledge the wonderful compassionate care and support Olive received in her final months in the Carmel Hospice St. Joseph’s Home. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request donations be made in Olive’s memory to Carmel Hospice, St. Joseph’s Home, 156 – 3rd Street NE, Medicine Hat. Alberta. T1A 5M1. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL, #1 Dunmore Road SE, on Tuesday, August 18th, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and on Wednesday, August 19th, from 12:30 to 1:25 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held at SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL on Wednesday, August 19th, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. with Gary W. Goran officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery. Condolences may be sent through http://www.saamis.com or to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Olive Pederson. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to
SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORIUM & RECEPTION CENTRE, "The Chapel in the Park", locally owned and directed. Should you wish any additional information, please telephone (403)528-2599

---

1932 ~ GIESE ~ 2015

Gerald Lawrence Giese of Medicine Hat, beloved husband of Freada Giese of 62 years, passed away on Thursday, August 13th, 2015 at the age of 83 years. Gerald also leaves to cherish his memory his children, Melinda (Paul) McNie, Vivian (Douglas) Fox, and Calvin (Leila) Giese; eight grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; his brother, Vernon Arndt; aunts, nieces, nephews and special friends. Gerald was predeceased by his mother, Helene; step father, Richard Yates; brother, Armond Arndt; and Freada's parents, Adam and Ida Schmidt. Gerald was born on May 6th, 1932 in Edmonton and grew up in Stony Plain, Alberta. From 1957 – 1979 Gerald worked with Northwest Nitro Chemicals in Medicine Hat and relocated to Brooks, where he worked for oilfield rig moving companies until 1996 when he retired and moved back to Medicine Hat. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation, 124 – 430, 6th Avenue SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 2S8, or to the Tom Baker Cancer Clinic, 1331 – 29th Street NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N2. The Funeral Service will be held at SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL, 1 Dunmore Road SE, on Wednesday, August 19th, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. with Donovan Mutschler officiating. A Private Interment will follow at Saamis Prairie View Cemetery. Condolences may be sent through http://www.saamis.com or to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Gerald Giese. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to
SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORIUM & RECEPTION CENTRE, "The Chapel in the Park", locally owned and directed. Should you wish any additional information, please telephone (403)528-2599

---

1938 ~ IVARSON ~ 2015

Marlene Lorna Ivarson of Medicine Hat, passed away on Tuesday, August 11th, 2015 at the age of 77 years. The Funeral Service was held Saturday at Saamis Memorial Funeral Chapel. Memorial gifts in Marlene's name may be made to Canadian Diabetes Association or to the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation. Condolences may be sent through http://www.saamis.com or to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Marlene Ivarson. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to
SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORIUM & RECEPTION CENTRE, "The Chapel in the Park", locally owned and directed. Should you wish any additional information, please telephone (403)528-2599

---

LEDENE

Anne Ledene of Medicine Hat passed away on Saturday, August 15, 2015, at the age of 92 years, beloved wife of the late Art Ledene. Funeral arrangements will be announced when completed. To e-mail an expression of sympathy, please direct it to: pattfh@telusplanet.net subject heading: Anne Ledene, or you may visit http://www.pattisonfuneralhome.com and leave a message of condolence.
Funeral Arrangements are by the PATTISON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM 540 South Railway St. SE, Medicine Hat T1A 4C2

---

REYNOLDS

Bonnie Jean Reynolds, beloved wife of Rob Reynolds of Medicine Hat, passed away on Saturday, August 15, 2015, at the age of 66 years, after a valiant journey with brain cancer. A Celebration of Bonnie’s life will be announced when completed. In lieu of flowers sympathy donations may be made to the Carmel Hospice (St. Joseph’s Home) c/o 156 – 3 St. NE, Medicine Hat, T1A 5M1. To e-mail an expression of sympathy, please direct it to: pattfh@telusplanet.net subject heading: Bonnie Reynolds, or you may visit http://www.pattisonfuneralhome.com and leave a message of condolence.
Funeral Arrangements are by the PATTISON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM 540 South Railway St. SE, Medicine Hat T1A 4C2

---

SUB NISHI

1926 – 2015
Saburo Nishi, beloved husband of Kimino Nishi, passed away in his sleep, at home on his Bow Island area farm, on Thursday, August 13, 2015 at the age of 88 years.
Relatives and friends are invited to meet with the family at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 – 48 Avenue, Taber on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 between 7:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.
The Funeral Service will be held at the Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta, 470 – 40 Street South, Lethbridge on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. Reception to follow.
The Burial Service will be held at the Bow Island Cemetery on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at 3:00 P.M. A reception will follow at the Golden Age Club, 206 – 5 Avenue East, Bow Island. Condolences may be forwarded by visiting our website at http://www.southlandfuneral.com.
Saburo will be dearly missed by his children Joyce Nishi of Medicine Hat; Susan Nishi of Burnaby, British Columbia; Vivien Nishi of Vancouver, British Columbia; John (Mika Sutherland) Nishi of Millarville and their daughter Maiya; Audrey (Justin Miles) Nishi of Vancouver, British Columbia. He will also be fondly remembered by his brother Hideo’s wife, sister-in-law Mitsuko Nishi of Bow Island.
Saburo will be remembered by an assorted crew of nieces and nephews. His brother Yoshinori’s five children, Priscilla Thomas and children Tamiko and Andrea; Ron Nishi; Grace Devaux (her late husband Garth Collins) and children Melanie, Keiko and Quentin; David (Joy Williamson) Nishi; Keith Nishi, daughter Miya and her mother Debbie Nishi. His brother Hideo’s five children, June (John) Chin; Linda Harris (her late husband Bob Harris) and children Scott and Angela; Gary Nishi; Ken (Mary) Nishi and children Jordan, Carly and Kevin; Sharon Nishi. His sister Akiye’s two children in Kaseda, Japan, Noriko Miye and Toshihiro Tagashira.
He was predeceased by his father Taichiro Nishi and mother Eda Nishi (nee Shikaze); brothers Yoshinori (his wife Hideko) Nishi and Hideo Nishi; sisters Sode (her husband Masao) Gonomaru and Akiye (her husband Keizo) Tagashira; his infant daughter Bonnie Masako Nishi and his niece Diane Nishi.
Saburo was born on November 8, 1926 in Takeda-Kami, Kaseda City, Kagoshima, Japan. He was the third son to Taichiro and Eda Nishi. Saburo immigrated to Canada in 1937, with his seventeen year old brother Hideo. They boarded a steamship in Yokohama and arrived ten days later in Victoria, British Columbia and joined family on their berry farm in the Hatzic area east of Mission, British Columbia. Saburo attended Ferndale Elementary School, Hatzic Public School and Mission Junior High School, where he tried to stay out of trouble with the local Nisei (second generation Japanese Canadian) boys who labelled him an “FOB” (fresh off the boat) immigrant. With the outbreak of the Pacific War and subsequent evacuation, the Nishi family (as were all Japanese Canadians living in Mission) were moved to Southern Alberta in the spring of 1942. The Nishi family left the berry farm, a half tonne truck and a horse named Prince and boarded a train at the Mission Station. They travelled under Mountie guard and arrived in Lethbridge with the baggage restriction of two suitcases per person whereupon they were assigned as sugar beet laborers to the D.E. Quist Farm in Shaughnessy. It was an inauspicious beginning for life in Southern Alberta where they started with few possessions and little money. Despite the gruelling ‘widow-maker’ work of forking harvested sugar beets on to trucks, the Nishi brothers managed to survive the harsh conditions and eventually started farms of their own.
Saburo moved to the Bow Island area in 1960 and Kimino joined him in 1961. Saburo and Kimino enjoyed life as successful bean farmers, although Sub was a potato growing ‘king’ at heart. Echoing the sentiments of Scarlett O’Hara in ‘Gone With the Wind’, Sub liked to articulate… “I have a tremendous affinity for the land, which is ultimately what sustains life.” Sub enjoyed fishing and hunting and in his retirement he preferred travelling by bus or ‘chauffeured’ vehicle over air travel, watching local news and NHK Japan on satellite TV, reading ‘hot, juicy novels’ by James A. Mitchener and socializing with family and friends, acquaintances and any friendly passers by whom he would often engage in conversation.
No Koden or flowers by request. If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Saburo’s name may be made directly to the Bow Island Health Centre, Bag 3990, Bow Island, Alberta T0K 0G0 or to the Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta, 470 – 40 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 3Z5.
Arrangements in care of Southland Funeral Chapel, Taber. Telephone: (403) 223-8778.

---

13
-12