Bonnie Dyck
1948 – 2020
Bonnie Faye Dyck (nee Johnson) passed away peacefully with family by her side in Medicine Hat on Wednesday, December 30th, 2020, at the age of 72 years. She is survived by her husband, Cal Dyck; sons, Shaun (Jen), Shane (Lina), Casey (Cassie); daughter, Chantelle Fickinger (Simon) as well as her step-daughters, Jacquie Mirtle and Carla Kolody (Shaun). She is also survived by her sister, Brenda Hamilton (Jack); brothers, Don and Dave as well as nine grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, the Rev. Dr. D. Bruce and Agnes Johnson as well as her step-son, Dan Dyck.
Bonnie was born March 10th, 1948 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Some of her earliest and fondest memories were of summers spent at the family cottage in Victoria Beach north of Winnipeg. They were summer days filled with bike rides, fresh baked bread, and swims in Lake Winnipeg – not to mention the mischief of her and her siblings who would remain close throughout her life. She would continue to visit Victoria Beach into her adult years, eventually taking her own children to the cottage her father built.
In 1961, the family moved to Medicine Hat, where her father was to be minister at Fifth Avenue United Church. This would form the basis of her life-long love for music. She would finish her formative years in the old brick house across the street from the church, eventually graduating from Medicine Hat High in 1966. Unbeknownst to her then, it was there where she had already met the eventual love of her life.
After graduation, she was off to Lethbridge where she got a start in radio broadcasting. It wasn’t meant to be however, and after deciding to pursue a formal education, she was enrolled at the University of Montana in Missoula. She would spend the better part of the next 34 years there.
It was in Missoula where she would grow her family, and as fate would have it, become part of another. She met Pete and Helen Kelly in 1970, and while the two growing families would become close over the years, Bonnie and Helen would become even closer. Never has there been a deeper lifelong friendship than what would happen between Bonnie and Helen. For years they would have breakfast every Saturday morning. The location changed but the routine never did, they could talk for hours. Over the years, they would share the loss of husbands and sons, the marriage of their children, and the birth of their grandchildren. Griz games and golfing were among their favorites, not as friends but as sisters. Headlong they charged into their later years, inseparable until the end.
It was in Missoula where she would eventually graduate from U of M with a degree in music. She would find a gift in sharing her love of music and teaching and over the course of a career touching three decades she would teach 100’s of children how to play piano. Her annual Halloween recital packed students into her living room dressed in everything imaginable to play the spookiest tunes they could find and sip her witches brew. Untold numbers of children would grow into adults with a life-time love and appreciation of music from her mentorship.
It was in Missoula where she would find the love and family of the First United Methodist Church, and she would become a true ambassador of the FUMC spirit. She would direct the choir and play piano, sharing her love of music. She was a member of the bell choir. She would become a Stephen Minister, filling fully the footsteps of her father by ministering to those facing difficulties in life. She would become a leader in the United Methodist Youth Foundation, working with youth and teens of the community and congregation. She was the first to serve, and the last to leave. Perhaps most notably, she was the star 2nd baseman for the 1995 city champion FUMC softball team. The glove and ball were out every spring before the snow was gone. The list of friends from her time at First United is long and blessed.
At long last, in August of 2001 she would be united with Cal at a Medicine Hat High School reunion. They were soulmates from that day forward. With her kids grown, she left Missoula and returned to Canada. The union with Cal created a newer larger family, and the next 19 years would bring unforgettable memories, new holiday traditions, and of course more grandchildren. Her time spent with Cal would be her most cherished.
Back in the Hat, it would become hard to find Bonnie without a golf club or curling broom in her hand, depending only on the time of year. While she was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2011, it would take a long time to slow her down. The bonspiels and golf tournaments would fill her last years with the immeasurable joy of time spent amongst friends and family. It was here where she met her last best friend, Barb Delaurier. Bonnie has the particular distinction of managing to hit herself in the head with her own golf shot, a feat she managed to accomplish more than once.
She continued to play piano until her affliction no longer allowed it. Until only recently, she continued to sing with the Adele Armstrong Singers, named for a friend of her parents. Her butter tart recipe was legendary. Bonnie was a firecracker redhead who was taken from us too soon, and while it was a winding and blessed road which brought her back to Medicine Hat, she is now where she belongs.
A Letter from Helen – Author Unknown
When tomorrow starts without me,
And I’m not here to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes;
Filled with tears for me
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry,
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn’t get to say.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time you think of me,
I know you’ll miss me too.
When tomorrow starts without me,
Don’t think we’re far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I’m right there in your heart.
A Celebration of Bonnie’s life will be planned at a later date, when the international border is open and the family can be reunited. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donation’s in Bonnie’s name may be made to Parkinson Canada, to aid in the fight against this difficult disease. Donations can be made at donate.parkinson.ca.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Bonnie Dyck 1948 2020..
Décès pour la Ville: Medicine-Hat, Province: Alberta