BERNICE RICHTER

1926 ~ 2018

With heavy hearts the family of Mrs. Bernice May Richter, beloved wife of Mr. Michael Richter, announce her peaceful passing at River Ridge in Medicine Hat on Tuesday, January 9, 2018, at the age of 91 years. Bernice was born November 15, 1926, in Empress, Alberta, one of seven children born to Frank and Etta Rubbelke. She grew up in Little Sweden what is now known as the British Block. She attended school in Little Sweden and completed her education in Buffalo after she moved there. Bernice was one of a few students in the last graduating class before the school closed. For a period of time she taught school and was a school supervisor at Burstall, Bowmanton and Walsh. The old school she supervised at Walsh is now part of the heritage buildings at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Grounds. On November 30, 1957, she married Michael and they recently celebrated 60 years of marriage! They resided in Buffalo before moving to Bassano where they lived for 7 years. In 1970, they made their final move, making their home in Medicine Hat. She was a hardworking lady and worked in a variety of fields including education and secretarial, the Salvation Army and was a chambermaid in the hotel industry. Bernice was active all her life and enjoyed playing baseball, bowling, music and loved to dance. She was a member of the Moose and the German From Russia Society. Bernice was a social butterfly who loved the company of others and often visited with neighbours and had coffee with them. She was a people person and those around her naturally liked her! She enjoyed her life and travelled all across Canada and almost all of the United States including Alaska. Bernice was a wonderful lady and will be deeply missed by her husband, Michael; children, Sharron (Don) Taylor, Coreen (James) Sheardown and Vicki Fode; grandchildren, Carmen (Brent) Worobets, Dean (Cindy) Richter, Kevin (Pascale) Richter, Brendon Fode, Christopher Sheardown and Shayla Fode; daughter-in-law, Susan Richter and siblings, Helen Gilham, Norman (Doris) Rubbelke, Gail Andrus (Bob Thompson) and Blayne (Jane) Rubbelke as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Etta Rubbelke; sons, Calvin Richter and Darcy Richter; sister, Helen “Elaine” Franklin and brother, Arnold Rubbelke. A Celebration of Bernice’s life will be held at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Monday, January 15, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Shane Andrus officiating. A time of fellowship will follow in the Cook Southland Reception Facility. If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Bernice’s name may be made directly to the Alzheimer’s Society, #300, 770 – 6 Street S.W., Calgary, Alberta, T1A 4J6. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is

Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455