October 11, 2024
By Obituaries on October 11, 2024.
HAROLD BRUCKER
HAROLD BRUCKER June 14, 1936 ~ September 4, 2024
Harold Melvin Brucker was born on June 14, 1936, in Regina, Saskatchewan. He was brought into the world by a midwife as a doctor was not available. He was baptized July 5, 1936. He lived in Regina for a few years, before moving to Fort Qu’Appelle and then to Leader at the age of 4 years old. His family moved to Medicine Hat on July 1, 1949, and he began school at Connaught Junior High. He was confirmed by Pastor Janzow at St. Paul Lutheran Church on May 13, 1951. After high school, he worked for Maple Leaf Milling Company, both on the sales desk and as a travelling salesman, working out of Edmonton for a short stint. After returning to Medicine Hat in October 1955, he worked for his dad at his grocery store and then used car lot, before starting with Alberta Linseed Oil in the Irrigation Division. It was in Medicine Hat that he met the love of his life, Betty, at a coffee shop. They were married on October 13, 1958. They welcomed their first child, Ronda, in 1959, a son, Randy, in 1961, and another son, Gary, in 1967. After three years at Alberta Linseed Oil, Harold took a job at CHAT Radio and TV in Advertising, where he would become Sales Manager and work for 25 years. He retired in 1988 at the age of 52. He started his own lawn care business, which he operated for about 7 years, and then took a part-time job in the Sport Department of Canadian Tire, where he worked for 10 years. Harold was an active member of the community in a variety of roles in many organizations: member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club, minor league baseball coach, member of the Medicine Hat Curling Club, Public Relations and General Manager with the Medicine Hat Cubs Hockey Club, member of the Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds, and an actor/singer in musical theatre. Harold was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church for over 73 years, where he served in numerous roles. He was predeceased by his parents, Karl and Hertha (nee Wenzel) Brucker; sister, Irene Schmidek; son, Randy; loving wife, Betty (nee Shears), and daughter, Ronda. Harold leaves to grieve with hope his son, Gary Brucker (Janet); granddaughters, Erin Brucker, Natalie Brucker, Claire Brucker, Karmen McNamara (Jim Rabb), Kellie Willie (Keith); great-granddaughters, Brooke and Mikah Willie; sister, Vi Olsen, as well as numerous family members and friends, including dear friend, Madeline Oliphant. Harold entered his eternal home peacefully on September 4, 2024. A Celebration of Harold’s life will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 515 Sprague Way S.E., Medicine Hat, Alberta on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 1:00 pm with Pastor Ken Edel officiating. Interment will take place at Hillside Cemetery following the reception. The service will be live-streamed. Those who cannot attend but wish to experience Harold’s service may visit the Cook Southland website and select the View Broadcast button on the homepage at service time. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Harold’s name may be made directly to “St. Paul Lutheran Church Memorial Fund” 515 Sprague Way S.E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4A7. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting http://www.cooksouth land.com) Honoured to serve the family is
Cook Southland Funeral
Chapel Crematorium &
Reception Facility
901 – 13th Street S.W.
Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4
Phone 403-527-6455
http://www.cooksouthland.com
“Locally owned & directed”
LIV HALLIN
1925 ~ LIV HALLIN ~ 2024 Liv Anna Hallin (nee Skogvang) went to be with her Lord and Saviour on October 3rd, 2024, at the age of 99 years. The funeral service was held yesterday at Saamis Memorial Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be sent through http://www.saamis.com or to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Liv Hallin. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to
SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL
CHAPEL CREMATORIUM &
RECEPTION CENTRE,
“The Chapel in the Park
#1 Dunmore Road SE,
Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1Z5
(403)528-2599
http://www.saamis.com
inquiry@saamis.com
Locally owned and directed
CGR Holdings Ltd.
GERALD GARTLY
GERALD GARTLY 1942~ 2024 Gerald Lyle Gartly passed away on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at the age of 82 years, beloved husband of Delores Gartly of Medicine Hat. Family and friends who wish to pay their respects may do so one hour prior to the service. The funeral service will be held in the PATTISON FUNERAL HOME & CELEBRATION OF LIFE CENTRE on Friday, October 18, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Ron Gartly officiating. The service will be live streamed. Those who wish to attend virtually, please visit Gerald’s obituary page on our website for the link. Interment will follow in the Hillside Cemetery. To leave a message of condolence you may visit http://www.pattisonfuneralhome.com.
PATTISON FUNERAL HOME
AND CREMATORIUM
540 South Railway St. SE,
Medicine Hat T1A 4C2
GEORGE MAHAFFY
GEORGE MAHAFFY 1930 ~ 2024 George Mahaffy of Medicine Hat passed away on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at the age of 94 years. Funeral arrangements will be announced when completed. To leave a message of condolence you may visit http://www.pattisonfuneralhome.com.
PATTISON FUNERAL HOME
AND CREMATORIUM
540 South Railway St. SE,
Medicine Hat T1A 4C2
ELIZABETH HOPFAUF
ELIZABETH HOPFAUF 1931~ 2024 Elizabeth Frances Hopfauf of Medicine Hat passed away on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at the age of 93 years, beloved wife of the late Alexander Hopfauf. Those who wish to pay their respects may do so one hour prior to both the prayer service and the funeral mass. Family and friends will gather for prayers at the PATTISON FUNERAL HOME & CELEBRATION OF LIFE CENTRE on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be celebrated at HOLY FAMILY PARISH (1451 Strachan Road S.E.) on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. with Fr. Iqbal Khurshid celebrant. The prayer service and mass will both be live streamed. Those who wish to attend virtually, please visit Elizabeth’s obituary page on our website for the prayer service link and the mass can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com@medicinehatholyfamilychurch. Interment will follow in the Hillside Cemetery. To leave a message of condolence you may visit http://www.pattisonfuneralhome.com.
PATTISON FUNERAL HOME
AND CREMATORIUM
540 South Railway St. SE,
Medicine Hat T1A 4C2
RAYMOND RUFF
RAYMOND RUFF 1941 ~ 2024
Raymond Ruff of Medicine Hat, Alberta, beloved husband of Bernie, and father to Cyndi, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at the age of 83 years.
Ray was born and raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta and was the eldest of three boys. He grew up working in the family business, Bill’s Automotive on Kingsway, with his dad Bill and his brother Vern. Bernie and Marlene rounded out the business when they took over from Bill. Ray was a journeyman mechanic trained at SAIT and could fix anything. His passion for mechanics, machines and anything that required gas power was life long. He was forever reading, putzing, listening, occasionally racing and figuring out how things worked. In addition to being a mechanic, he also earned his pilots licence and flew a little Cessna plane for fun. After selling the family business, Ray worked in the automotive program at the Medicine Hat College. However, his passion for cars outlived his retirement and he could be found with the local car guys drinking coffee at Lane’s and Friday Night Cruising. At the end of his career, he could no longer ‘do’ but the boys with the cars were delighted by his encyclopaedic knowledge of mechanics. He would tell them how to master their ride. His wife Bernie was always by his side, she learned early on if she wanted to spend time with Ray, she would need to learn the wrenches and be his co-pilot. What a great team they were, two peas in a pod, married for more than 63 years.
Ray was one of a kind. He loved his family and his cars, and the loss of his son Rob in 1983 broke his heart, but not his spirit. Ray battled against Type 1 Diabetes for 33 years and at the age of 65 received a kidney transplant. He was able to wrangle seventeen great years out of the transplant, with the love of his family and under the care of Bernie. We are grateful every day to the donor family for giving us this extra time with Ray.
Ray was predeceased by his parents, Bill and Louise Ruff; his son, Rob and his brother Vern. He is survived by so many, his wife, Bernie; his daughter, Cyndi; his brother, Bob (Lyndell) Ruff and sister-in-law, Marlene Ruff. He was equally important to Bernie’s family, brothers-in-law and sisters- in-law, Sandra and Greg Campbell, Wendell Wilks, and Darryl and Susanne Wilks. Uncle Ray equally tormented and cherished many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews who will miss his ‘ho-ho-ho’ nonsense, teasing and humor.
A come and go Celebration of Life will be held at the PATTISON FUNERAL HOME & CELEBRATION OF LIFE CENTRE on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Washed and shiny cars are appreciated, Classic Cars are adored. A private family interment will take place at Hillside Cemetery.
Those who wish to remember Ray may do so with a donation to the Alberta Diabetes Foundation or the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Please sign your donor card.
To leave a message of condolence you may visit http://www.pattisonfuneralhome.com.
PATTISON FUNERAL HOME
AND CREMATORIUM
540 South Railway St. SE,
Medicine Hat T1A 4C2
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