Obituary Overview
Forever in Our Hearts
Larry Bristol passed away on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at the Pasqua Hospital Oncology Ward at the age of 77 years. He is predeceased by his parents Bud and Irene Bristol (née Stephenson). Larry leaves behind wife Christine (née Solberg); children Pam and Sage; as well as brother Brian and his wife Charlotte; son-in-law Sylvain Rheault; grandchildren David and Sophie; and niece and nephews Troy, Lana and Kyle.
But this is a love story, not an obituary. Larry met the love of his life Christine in 1960 on a blind date. They were separated for a time when his work as a technician for National Cash Register (NCR) took him to Toronto for six months. They wrote many love letters to each other and decided to get engaged. They married on September 15, 1962, and settled in Regina, buying a house on Shannon Road for $12,000, where they have lived ever since.
Larry had the combination of intelligence, courage and dislike of following orders that led to a successful career as an entrepreneur. With his partner at the time, Ted Yarnton, he opened his first Minut Mart convenience store in 1968 and built it into a chain of seven stores long before 7-11 meant anything more to people than two numbers. He also built and operated the North Albert and South Albert Shell gas stations. Not only did Larry employ his children in these businesses, he gave hundreds of young people in Regina their first jobs.
He loved travel and would pile his family into a truck and trailer and drive them all over North America in the summers. He was most happy behind a wheel whether it was a truck or, in later years, an SUV. A farm boy from Colfax, he could fix anything, whether it was his children’s vehicles or a neighbour’s lawnmower. In his early fifties, Larry sold his businesses and went back into farming, buying his parents’ land to farm next to his brother near Colfax. He also became a real estate agent, dealing in residential and commercial.
Christine supported Larry in every new endeavour he undertook, just as he supported her decision to pursue a degree in education and health sciences and later a master’s in adult education. When Christine took up painting in retirement, he bought the equipment and trained himself to frame all of her work. Larry was devoted to his grandchildren, cooking them pancakes every Sunday and taking them on camping adventures in his motorhome.
When Larry was diagnosed with cancer in early 2017, he and Christine faced it bravely together working with Allan Blair Cancer Centre staff to pursue every treatment possible no matter how harsh. One year later, after they hoped they had it beat, it returned. They prepared to fight it together again but it was not to be.
A FUNERAL SERVICE will be held at Whitmore Park United Church, 336 Durham Drive, Regina, SK on Monday, June 18, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.
Donations in Larry’s memory may be made to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, #200 – 4545 Parliament Avenue, Regina, SK S4S 6W8 or www.saskcancer.ca/donate.
Arrangements entrusted to Regina Funeral Home and Cemetery (306) 789-8850.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Larry Bristol 2018.source
Death notice for the town of: Regina, Province: Saskatchewan