HOLTHE, Marie

MARIE HOLTHE October 20, 1935 to January 5, 2026 Leona Marie Holthe, beloved wife of the late Allen Holthe, passed away peacefully in Magrath, Alberta, early Monday morning, January 5, 2026, at the age of 90.
The eldest child of Bill and Melba (Litchfield) Wright, Marie, was born in Taber on October 20, 1935, and was raised on the farm outside of Vauxhall. She spent her married life farming with Allen at Turin, Alberta. For the past four years, Marie resided in Magrath, with the last two years spent at the Diamond Willow Lodge.
Marie married Allen Holthe on November 25, 1960. Together they worked tirelessly farming, gardening and raising a variety of livestock. Marie’s market garden was well known throughout southern Alberta, and summers were spent either working in the garden or selling produce at local farmers’ markets. She found it difficult to give up her garden when she moved to Magrath and continued to “farm” garden boxes of flowers and vegetables in the summers and took care of a hydroponic grow system indoors where she grew peppers, petunias, and tomatoes. She was particularly happy to share her tomatoes with her friends at the Diamond Willow. She also enjoyed raising Painted Lady butterflies; first in her Magrath apartment and later at the Diamond Willow Lodge. She was thrilled to be able to share this experience with all the residents at the Diamond Willow. Release day was quite an occasion this year and Marie was pleased to see the smiles on all the residents’ faces when her Painted Ladies took flight.
Marie was a loving mother to six children: Lorri (Wallace) Smart, Clancy (Cynthia) Holthe, Penni Kiss, Wendi (Greg) Smart, Virginia Holthe, and Dorthea (Duane) Mills. She was a proud grandmother to 19 grandchildren, along with 10 of their spouses, and a cherished greatgrandmother to 22 great-grandchildren. Marie knew each of her great-grandchildren and was delighted to have so many nearby and loved when they would stop in to visit.
Marie was predeceased by her husband, Allen, her parents, Bill and Melba Wright, her brothers, Ron Wright and Bruce Wright; her brothers-in-law, Charles Holthe, Ken Healey, and Roy Oseen; her sisters-in-law, Cherri Wright and Louienne Wright; and her granddaughter, Micaela Kiss.
She is survived by her siblings: Roy (Marlene) Wright, Louise (Roy) Michelsen, Bill Wright, Karyn Healey, Harvey (Marsha) Wright, and Glenda Wright; her in-laws: Sheila Wright, Gracemary Holthe, Shirley Oseen, and Larry (Joan) Holthe; her aunt, Dorothy Francis; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Marie found comfort and strength in her faith, holding close the belief that “families are forever,” and she looked forward to a promised reunion with those who went before her.
A visitation will be held at Christensen Salmon Generations Funeral Home (703-13 Street North, Lethbridge) on Friday, January 9, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Interment will take place at the Magrath Cemetery (south of Magrath on Highway 62) on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Following the graveside service, friends and family may visit with Marie’s family at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Garden Place Chapel (170 North Centre Street, Magrath) at 2:45. The funeral service will begin at 3:30pm in the chapel.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in memory of Marie, to the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation – Bringing Hearts Home Cardiac Campaign to help build a Cardiac Clinic in Lethbridge.
To send condolences, please visit www.generationsfh.ca