Browse the obituary of residing in the province of Alberta for funeral details
Obituary
Shortly after the Second World War, Lilly walked into the Club Café on main street in Provost, Alberta. There was a man sitting at a booth by himself. He looked up at her and said, “You look about as lonely as I feel, I think you should join me”. Both had served in the military during WWII, she with the Royal Canadian Air Force here at home, he with the Army Corp of Engineers in Europe. Lilly joined Dick Lewis in the booth that evening, and that was the beginning of their journey together.
Lilly’s own journey began during her family’s migration from North Dakota, literally in a covered wagon, with an extended stopover in Medicine Hat, on their way to homestead in the Provost area. The Olsons were immigrants. Lilly and her beloved twin sister, Lillian were born in “The Hat” in the home of a local doctor on January 27 th, 1921. The family finished their journey sometime later and settled permanently on a farm three miles west of Provost. Lilly spent the rest of her youth growing up in the area, helping her folks with the farm, attending high school and playing basketball, even getting to play an exhibition game against the world- famous Edmonton Grads for the King and Queen during their visit to Canada. As well, she shared a loving relationship with Annie McLaughlin as her assistant in Annie’s dress shop. After her years in Provost and the sudden death of her father, Lilly felt the responsibility to serve her country during the war. She enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, taking her training in executive administration and serving officers in Western Canada. She returned to Provost after her discharge, which brings us back to the Club Café.
Lilly and Dick Lewis were married on April 12,1948 and settled in the hamlet of Hayter where they began raising daughter Sharron, twin boys Robert and Richard and baby Deborah. After a few years the family moved to Wainwright where Dick took ownership of an Imperial Oil bulk station. Within two years, Dick was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away on February 11, 1956, leaving Lilly to raise four little kids on her own. Knowing he was dying and leaving his beloved wife with such an arduous task, Dick left a priceless inheritance, Matthew 6:33, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” It’s a truth that sustained Mom for the rest of her life enabling her to meet the challenges and struggles of a young, single parent.
Using her previous training, Lilly moved herself and her kids to Edmonton while also caring for her own mother who was in her declining years. She pursued a career in the Alberta Legislature beginning in the Attorney General’s Department and completing her service as executive assistant to four different cabinet ministers. Despite this heavy workload, Mom fed and boarded four University students every year and worked part-time in Eaton’s Ladies’ Wear.
Upon her retirement, with her kids now grown, Lilly embarked on her next adventure, moving to Kathmandu, Nepal to serve as a missionary with World Mission Prayer League under United Mission to Nepal. There she served as the director of a receiving home for NGO workers entering the country. She spent eight years in Nepal with a one-year sabbatical to attend CLBI.
As grandchildren kept arriving, Mom could no longer resist the urge to return home where she settled in to being grandma, and later great grandma, and just recently a great-great-grandma. She loved and cherished them all. That love was returned to her many times over. Mom was always involved in church and community, serving as a Sunday School teacher earlier at Hope Mission to later serving meals in the inner city. She loved helping others and was especially gifted in caring for the sick and tending to the dying in their final days. Church was at the center of her life, not only on Sunday but in her many commitments throughout the week. Although Mom faced more challenges and hardships than most, she led a rich and fulfilled life. Mom’s love for her family and friends was exceeded only by her deep devotion to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
After spending several years with family in St. Albert, Lilly moved to her new home at Deer Meadows in Camrose where she enjoyed the company of family and friends. She continued to be involved in Bible Studies, WMPL prayer meetings and community events. Rarely did she missed a curling event on TV or occasionally in person, even meeting her hero, Rachel Homan.
Mom will be missed and fondly remembered by her kids: Sharron, Rob and Pat, Rick and Grace, Debbie and Greg as well as her cherished grandkids, Jenny and Sean, Micah and Jen, Beth and Chris, Becca, Noah, Emma and Chris, Ethan and Jennifer, David and Heather, Nathan and Erin, Kara and Yikai, and amazing great grandkids, Millie and Jason, Eliza, Bea, Natalie, Jake, Emily, Esme Bliss, Rose Lily, Faith, Thomas, Bereket, Logan, Isaac, Oliver, Claire, Asher and beautiful great-great-granddaughter Annie Jane.
Lilly was predeceased by her adoring husband Richard, her loving parents Gustav and Emma Olson, her nine siblings including her dear sisters, Mabel, Gloria, and her beloved Myrtle, big brothers George, Oswald, Elmer, kindred twins Eddie and Edmond and her own cherished twin sister Lillian as well as all her cousins and in-laws and many nieces, nephews.
Our sincere gratitude and thanks to Dr. Morrow at St. Mary’s Hospital for her thoughtfulness and professionalism, to Hannah and Allyssa who tenderly cared for mom on her final day and to the amazing nurses and staff of unit five, you are all angels.
Our deepest heartfelt thanks to the staff and residents of Deer Meadows for your fourteen years of loving compassion. After losing her hearing you were especially accommodating and patient to Mom. You all meant so very much to her. Mom loved and appreciated you dearly. Mom passed on New Year’s Day. She would have wanted to wish everyone a Blessed and Happy New Year.
A memorial to celebrate Mom’s amazing life will be held in the future.
A few charities Mom appreciated and supported were, World Mission Prayer League, Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute, Hope Mission and Elves Child Development Centre.
The King’s Message
December 25, 1939
I Said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year
“Give me a Light that I May tread safely into The Unknown
And he Replied “Go out into The Darkness and put your hand into
The Hand of God That shall be to you Better than Light
And Safer Than the Known Way.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Lilly Lewis, please visit our floral store.
Read More
2023
Death notice for the town of: CAMROSE, Province: Alberta
death notice Lilly Lewis 2023
obituaries notice Lilly Lewis 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Lilly Lewis 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
