Berendina “Dene” Marks of Milo, Alberta passed away July 27, 2006 at the Vulcan Community Health Centre at the age of 81 years.
Dene was born July 10, 1925 at Rheden, Holland to Willem and Aaltje Grootherder. She was the youngest of six children. Dene met Fred Marks during the war in Holland and they married in 1946. After the war, in July 1947, she came to Canada with her two and half year old daughter Dene and seven month old son Freddie to join her husband on the farm in Milo. Dene could only speak a few words of English when she came to Canada. She was only planning on staying in Canada for a few weeks to see what it was like and ended up staying for the remainder of her life. Dene remarried Fred in Bassano on November 12, 1947 and they had five more children. Their farm consisted of cattle, chickens pigs and grain. Dene hated the pigs because they always getting out and eating her garden. Her children built a chain link fence around the house so Dene could enjoy her garden and flowers without the hassle of the pigs.
Dene made one trip back to Holland in 1984 and she has never been back since. During her life she did odd jobs like cleaning rooms at the Milo Hotel, cleaning the bank and making pickled eggs for the Milo bar. Gardening was her passion. Dene enjoyed visiting and chatting with her children, grandchildren and friends. Her family was her life.
Loving mother of four daughters Dene Peterson of Milo, Sylvia (Jack) Laycraft of Langdon, Wendy Labrosse of Calgary, Rosemary Monner of Milo, two sons Robert (Doreen) and Ron (Carol) both of Milo, eleven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, one brother-in-law Stan (Grace) Marks of Lethbridge, one sister-in-law Phyllis Beaumont of Kelowna and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dene was predeceased by her husband Fred in 1982, her son Freddie in 1948, two sons-in-law James Peterson and John Monner, a brother, four sisters and her parents.
Graveside service was held Friday, August 4, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at the O’Perfect Peace Cemetery, Milo with Rev. Ed Summers officiating.
Casket bearers were Gary Laycraft, Steve Laycraft, Bobby Monner, Michael Peterson, Jason Tharle and Marc Jackson.
In lieu of flowers, tributes in Dene’s memory can be made to the Palliative Care Unit, Box 299, Vulcan T0L 2B0.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Directors. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences to vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.