Elton Didriksen
1936-2021
Let’s get this show on the road!
Elton’s show got on the road on November 13th, 1936, and ended on August 29th, 2021 at the age of 84. Elton loved to drive and claimed to have driven backwards more miles than anyone else had driven forward which his family knew meant long road trips (starvation tours) with no pit stops, no eating in the car and certainly NO radio to disturb the passage of the miles (are we there yet?). He enjoyed driving around North America to visit family and friends, and along the way always found time for business.
Elton was born and passed away in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. The first 7 years of his life was spent in the Wang District and then he moved with his parents to Gwynne. The house was not finished on the inside when the family took up residence and the only partition was the back of the kitchen stove. The house was later expanded, a basement added and a well dug. Together with the arrival of power, this made for a cozy house that his nephew (Nils) continues to reside in today. On August 25, 1962, Elton married Isabel Scheller of Craigmyle, Alberta. Elton and Isabel lived in Camrose, Wetaskiwin and finally settled again in Gwynne in 1968 to raise their family. They returned to Wetaskiwin in 2018 to live at Village Square Condos where many wonderful friends and memories were created.
After finishing high school, Elton went to work in the family road construction business (Didriksen Construction) with his father and brother. He continued to work for many years building roads throughout Alberta. Elton loved to talk on the phone (including calling Isabel in the nurse’s residence so the whole floor knew what was happening!), that later led to work as a consultant in the oil and gas industry, which he continued to do until just before he passed away. He will be remembered for jumping in the car and driving to Calgary for a breakfast meeting, a haircut or coffee because there was always someone to see, or places to go.
In recent years he had taken up texting in order to keep in touch with his grandchildren and great- grandchildren. His favourite questions to family were “Did you do any good today? (Uhm, yes?)”, “How’s the weather?” (Probably, about the same as where you are.), “What did you do today?” (Uhm, work?), “Did you watch the game? (Uhm, no?).
Elton loved raspberries and cream, soft ice cream and anything chocolate. The highlight of every Christmas was the local Lutefisk supper (and if the fish was good he was always up for seconds). And the soup, coffee and tea always had to be piping hot, or else it had to go back to the kitchen. He was an avid Calgary Flames fan (never Edmonton!), the Toronto Blue Jays and jumped on the Toronto Raptors band wagon during their 2019 championship season. He could always be found listening to the radio or watching sports on TV.
Elton was predeceased by his parents, Edward and Lyle (Hawes) Didriksen, and sister Myrle Tessari. He is remembered by his loving wife of 59 years, Isabel, son Vern (Cindy), daughters Joan (Ken) and Lynn, grandchildren Leah (Alan), Carrie, Renee (Jeff) and Wyatt, great grandchildren Cadrin, Gillian (Jeb), Corbin, Kevin (Subal), great-great-grandchildren, Zayden, Rosiah, and Blakie, brother Ross (Patty), brother-in-law Ernie Tessari, and numerous other family members.
Elton will be laid to rest at Nashville Cemetery in a private family graveside service on Tuesday, September 7th, 2021 with a Coffee Time for friends and family to follow at the Wetaskiwin Mission Church from 3-5 pm. In lieu of flowers, a contribution to the Gideons or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Serenity Funeral Service, Wetaskiwin
Ph: 780.352.5300
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de DIDRIKSEN Benard Elton August 29 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Edmonton, Province: Alberta