MARY ROSELLA BJORNSON, PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY NOVEMBER 11, 1996 AT CARMANGAY, ALBERTA AT THE AGE OF 82 YEARS.
MARY WAS BORN MAY 11, 1914 AT THE CARMANGAY NURSING HOME, CARMANGAY, ALBERTA, THE THIRD DAUGHTER OF ELSIE AND JULIUS DOWNING. THEY LIVED ON THE FAMILY FARM EIGHT MILES WEST OF CARMANGAY NEAR RICKMAN SCHOOL. IN 1919, THE FAMILY MOVED ONE MILE SOUTH OF HAMMER SCHOOL, TEN MILES EAST OF OLDS AND LATER IN 1926 MOVED INTO THE TOWN OF OLDS WHERE MARY ATTENDED PIANO LESSONS, AND RECEIVED MANY CERTIFICATES FOR MUSIC.
IN 1930, THE FAMILY MOVED BACK TO THE DOWNING FARM AT CARMANGAY WHERE MARY COMPLETED HER HIGH SCHOOL. IN 1932 MARY GRADUATED AND MOVED TO MEDICINE HAT. SHE ATTENDED SECRETARIAL SCHOOL AND BEGAN WORKING FOR FOUR YEARS.
SHE RETURNED HOME TO HELP HER MOTHER AFTER HER FATHER HAD FALLEN OFF A GRAINERY. IT WAS DURING THIS TIME SHE MET KEN BJORNSON AND AFTER A THREE YEAR COURTSHIP, THEY WERE MARRIED MARCH 24, 1945 AT THE BJORNSON HOME PLACE, BY REV. PETER DAWSON. TOGETHER THEY HAVE FARMED AND RAISED A FAMILY THERE FOR 51 YEARS.
MARY LOVED HER FAMILY, SHE ENJOYED MUSIC AND PLAYING THE PIANO IN A BAND. SHE ALSO PLAYED AN ACCORDION AND VIOLIN. SHE HAD A GREEN THUMB WHEN IT CAME TO PLANTS AND SHE LOVED FLOWERS.
SHE WAS A MEMBER OF A WOMEN’S NEIGHBOUR CLUB CALLED THE FELICITY CLUB, WHICH HER MOTHER-IN~LAW ORGANIZED. IT WAS ONE OF MARY’S FAVORITE THINGS TO DO, ATTENDING AND HELPING TO MAKE QUILTS FOR AS LONG AS SHE WAS ABLE TO. MARY AND KEN HELPED ORGANIZE A LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL FLYING FARMERS AND HAVE WORKED IN VARIOUS POSITIONS OVER THE YEARS INCLUDING IN 1967 WHEN MARY WAS THE ALBERTA CHAPTER QUEEN. MARY WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE UNITED CHURCH WOMEN AND TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR MANY YEARS IN THE CARMANGAY UNITED CHURCH.
BELOVED WIFE ON MR. KEN BJORNSON OF CHAMPION, LOVING MOTHER OF THREE DAUGHTERS ROSELLA (BILL PRATT) BJORNSON OF TWIN ISLAND AIR PARK, GRACE (ARNIE) KLITMOLLER OF CHAMPION AND GLORIA (RAY) HUOT OF CALAHOO, AB., SIX GRANDCHILDREN, KEN, VALERIE, ELLEN, ERIK, DESIRAE AND DANIELLE , TWO SISTERS DOROTHY SHIELDS OF CARSTAIRS AND SHARON McLEAN OF CALGARY, AND NUMEROUS NIECES AND NEPHEWS.
SHE WAS PREDECEASED BY HER PARENTS, A SISTER VERA GIRVIN IN 1996, AND A BROTHER GEORGE DOWNING IN 1926.
FUNERAL SERVICE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1996 AT 2 P.M. AT EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH, CHAMPION WITH REV. DON WATT OFFICIATING.
INTERMENT CHAMPION CEMETERY.
HONORARY BEARERS WERE EDITH GRIFFIN, BARBARA McLEAN, ELSIE KRASMAN, RETA LONG, ENA NIELSEN AND LORETTA BINNING.
CASKET BEARERS WERE ALLEN HOLTHE, KEITH BINNING, GARY BINNING, DENNIS GRIFFIN, BENY NIELSEN AND CORY FEHR.
IF FRIENDS DESIRE, DONATIONS IN MARY’S MEMORY COULD BE MADE TO THE LITTLE BOW AUXILIARY HOSPITAL, BOX 160, CARMANGAY, ALBERTA, T0L 0R0.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS IN CARE OF VULCAN FUNERAL HOME. TELEPHONE 1-403-485-2633.