BIRTLES: Alda Mildred
Aug. 18, 1922 – Mar. 12, 2020
Alda passed away on Thursday March 12, 2020 at the age of 97 years. Alda was born on August 18, 1922 at Nurse Hackford’s home in Lanigan, Sk to Edwin and Jenny (McFarland) Ritz. She was the youngest of 8 children. Their father died suddenly of blood poisoning when she was 2 months old. Her mother continued to live on the farm west of Lockwood. She raised her 8 children ranging in age from 2 months to 11 years on her own. Alda attended school through grade 8 at Wilmot school. In 1940 she moved with her mother into Lockwood. She worked for her uncle Bill Ritz in the post office and at Roxie Urqhart’s general store. Alda married George Birtles on November 21,1945. George had returned that spring from overseas where he had served with the RCAF for 4 years. They farmed 10 miles east of Lockwood with his brothers and nephew until 1966. There they raised their 2 daughters. They moved to Watrous in July 1967. In December of that year they began working as janitors at Winston High School. This was a job they enjoyed until George’s untimely death on August 2, 1977. Alda continued to live in Watrous until July 1986 when she moved to Lanigan to be closer to her family. She was a member of the Knox United Church and also a life member of the Central Parkland Lodge auxiliary. She continued to live in her own home with the support of her daughter Jane, until October 2019 when she moved into Central Parkland Lodge. Alda was predeceased by her father Edwin in 1922, her mother Jenny in 1954, her husband George and son-in-law Douglas Lamont in 1977; siblings Merner (Ruby), Anita (Andrew) Forner, Ethel (Bud) Forner, Perry, Louis (Aline), Jean (Anton) Peterson, Edna (Lester) Meikle; and all 7 of George’s siblings and their spouses. Alda is survived by her daughters Jane Birtles, Fran and her husband Bill Bergen, grandson Blake (Lindsay) Bergen and their children Addison and Emmersyn, grandson Blair (Karlie) Bergen and their children Piper and Ryker, sister-in-law Margaret Ritz and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. A Private Family Service will be held at Fotheringham’s Funeral Chapel, Watrous, SK on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Interment in Watrous Cemetery. For online condolences, tributes or memorial donations to Central Parkland Lodge – Activity Department please visit www.fotheringham-mcdougall.com
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Alda Birtles Thursday March 12th 2020..
fotheringham-mcdougall funeral service
Death notice for the town of: Watrous, Province: Saskatchewan