BRINKMAN
Roberta Joyce

1924 - 2021

With profound sadness we announce that our beloved mother, Roberta Joyce Brinkman passed away peacefully in Hanna Long Term Care at the age of 97.
Joyce was born in 1924, and raised on a farm near Delia. She helped plow and seed the fields, then harvest the grain with teams of horses. Joyce graduated from Normal Teaching School in 1943 and began teaching in Creekside, a one room school close to Three Hills. In 1944 she married Alfie Brinkman, a union that would last 40 years, until his passing in 1985.
They moved into “The Little House” on the family farm near Craigmyle. Joyce continued being involved in the farming operations, learning to seed and harvest with machinery. She lived on that homestead for 76 years. She enjoyed her home, living independently on her own until she was 96.
Joyce was a long-time member of the Princeton Community Group, a source of entertainment and socializing for her neighborhood. Joyce learned to
operate a computer, and spent many hours playing on her iPad. She was a motivator for her family to learn to text message. She was an avid gardener, and shared her produce. Joyce enjoyed flowers, having colorful raised beds all around her house. Volunteering at the library once a week kept her busy for close to 30 years. Joyce was very good at cards, games and puzzles, and enjoyed assembling 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles. She was still working on a jigsaw puzzle a week before her passing.
The most important thing to Joyce, though, was her family, being a mother of 7, grandmother of 17 and great grandmother of 12. She loved our family events and was thrilled to have family attend her birthday celebrations on the May long weekend in East Coulee. Joyce will be remembered for her love and compassion for everyone.
Joyce was predeceased by her husband, Alfie, as well as her parents, Glenn and Lotta Thompson, her siblings, Beulah, Lois, Rex and Charlie, and her sons-in-law Danny, Mike, and John. Left to cherish her memory are her brother Harvey, and her children, Glen (Sandi) Brinkman, Shirley Chostner, Bev (Don) Falkenberg, Don Brinkman, Ed (Lynn) Brinkman, Edna (Harvey) Stankievech, Janice Walsh, and their families.
A celebration of Joyce’s life is being planned for the long weekend in May 2022. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to The Delia School Enhancement Society, Box 73, Delia, AB, T0J 0W0, STARS, The Heart and Stroke Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

Hanna Funeral Services Ltd, has been entrusted with the care and arrangements, 403-854-5956, www.hannafuneral.ca.

DEIMERT
(Barreth)
Irene Grace

December 4, 2021

We are sad to announce the passing of Irene Grace Deimert (Barreth), wife of Ralph Deimert on December 4, 2021, at the age of 94. She is survived by son
Elroy Deimert (Dania), and daughters: Harriet Raugust, Donalda Breitmeier (John) and Melody Deimert; along with 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Beulah (Garry) Sawyer, her brother Glenn (Laura) Barreth and sister-in-law Audrey Barreth. She is pre-deceased by parents Alexander Barreth and Mary (Maggie) Barreth nee Stregger, brother Allen Barreth, husband Rudolph (Ralph) Deimert and son-in-law Darryl Raugust.
Mom grew up on the farm outside of Macoun, SK, the eldest of four, where her enjoyment of softball was only matched by her love of music and her piano prowess. Their first home was more than a mile from town, so young Irene had a long walk to get to Macoun during her first 2 years in school. Her father, Alex, would drive her to school by horse and wagon on cold days.
Her early years were lived during the dirty ‘30’s and she experienced the fears of WWII, but she was able to put herself through Bible College and from 1949-1956, she travelled in the eastern United States as the piano player and harmonizer for the Harmony Gospel Singers.
She then became a teacher and Dean of Women at Hillcrest Christian College, also working at the Medicine Hat radio station occasionally even preaching.
Then Ralph, a widower with 2 children (Harriet and Elroy) came courting and won her heart. They were married on September 6, 1957. They were blessed with 2 daughters, Donalda and Melody.
Mom had to learn to cook when she got married but soon became very proficient. Her abilities were put to the test regularly having families for Sunday dinner along with the odd hitchhiker and homeless person that dad would bring home.
Ralph and Irene Deimert spent their years together as a pastoring couple, serving the Evangelical Church at 6 churches in Saskatchewan and Alberta including Hanna until they retired from the ministry in 1985. They spent the next 2 years as dorm parents at Hillcrest Christian College before fully retiring to Delia in 1987.
I remember mom most for her gentle, loving ways and for her commitment to Christ. Both she and dad would each read the Bible and pray before breakfast and then again with the whole family at the breakfast table. When I got older, I realized that by 8:15 every day we had all been prayed for at least 3 times. And perhaps that is the legacy I am most grateful for. A mom who was soft-hearted, loving, talented and praying.
From 2007 she enjoyed Sunshine Lodge, Hillview and then Hanna Continuing Care. A big thank you to all the nurses, doctors and aides who made these last years pleasant for Mom. In lieu of flowers consider donating to the Gideons, Samaritan’s Purse or a charity of your choice.
Hanna Funeral Services Ltd. has been entrusted with the care and arrangements, 403-854-5956, www.hannafuneral.ca.