Florence Lillian Bushell, beloved wife of the late John Edward “Jack” Bushell, formerly of Milo, passed away at the Vulcan Community Health Centre on April 6, 2008 at the age of 94 years.
Beloved mother of a daughter Audrey (Ron), daughter-in-law Marg, grandchildren Ken (Monnie), Laurie (Lorne), Doug (Sharleen), Christine (Galvin), Cindy (Mike), great grandchildren Tammy (Marc), Josh (Sarah), Shaun, Amanda (Chris), Michele, Maria, Devon, Cali, Casey and a sister Edith.
Florence was predeceased by her parents Lars and Annie, husband Jack, son Eugene, daughter-in-law June, brothers Clifford and Harvey and sisters Ruth, Gladys, Frances and Hazel.
Florence was born at Weyburn, Saskatchewan on March 25, 1914, the fifth of eight children, to Lars and Annie Larson. Her father died of the flu in December, 1918 leaving her mother to raise eight children on her own. Florence came to Alberta to work for her Uncle and Aunt Nick and Inga Cheltje at Rainier. She met Jack Bushell at a baseball game there. They married on October 25, 1935 and lived on the old Penn farm where Audrey was born in October, 1936.
The first winter was tough and Jack trapped weasels and sold the hides and also made wind charger propellers. They moved into Milo in 1936 where Jack worked for Sunshine Bus Lines owned by George McMorris and in the Co-Op store. They later went into partnership with George in the truck and bus business, moving to Arrowwood and then Queenstown where Eugene was born in 1939. Two moves later they were in Calgary where they took over the Riley Park Service Station in 1942. While in Calgary, Florence was a member of the Calgary Rifle Club. In 1947 they bought Lawther’s Store and Post Office in Queenstown. To this they added a garage business and implement dealership before going into farming in 1956 with the purchase of the Doug Laing farm. Three years later they bought Mrs. Roy Tom’s farm and made it their home.
Jack passed away in 1972. Florence lived on the farm until her move to the Peter Dawson Lodge in Vulcan in 2004. In November 2007 she moved for a short time into the Madison Manor in Nanton. Her health began to deteriorate at this time and in February of this year she was moved back to the Vulcan Community Health Centre.
Over the years, Florence enjoyed spending her time flying with Jack in his plane, riding around in their little red sports car, traveling to many different places throughout the world, camping, gardening, crafts and spending time with her family playing card games, Scrabble and trying to teach some of them knitting and crocheting.
Florence celebrated her 94th birthday on March 25th with most of her family with her. She will be dearly missed by all who had the chance to know her as she was very kind and thoughtful to everyone she met.
Funeral Service was held on Thursday April 10, 2008 at 2 p.m. at the Milo Community Hall with Rev. Lee Spice officiating.
Private family interment at O Perfect Peace Cemetery, Milo.
In lieu of flowers, tributes in Florence’s memory can be made to either Vulcan Health Care Long Term Care, Box 299, Vulcan T0L 2B0 or Peter Dawson Lodge Memorial Fund, Box 750, Vulcan T0L 2B0.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences to vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com