Obituary of Elsie Hemmelgarn

With profound sadness, we announce the peaceful passing of Elsie Hemmelgarn on January 22, 2024, in Invermere, BC. Born on December 23, 1928, in Kelvington, Saskatchewan to her parents, Frank and Phillippina. She was first and foremost a wife and mother. Followed her husband leaving her home province to the mountains which made her feel closed in. She loved playing softball and still has a friend or two from the team she played on. She worked on Christmas trees for 26 years. Started by going out in the forest to tag trees, then in town in yards sorting tagging and shipping. She had good times and comradery during those years. She later drove school bus, that was for 9 years. One time she pulled over and put a boy off the bus to walk the rest of the way home, only to have Dad pick him up as he was coming along about the same time. Another time a little girl wanted to show her something that she had in her hand. It was a little garter snake. Mom didn’t like snakes so she told her to put it in her lunch box for safekeeping. She always wondered how the mother reacted to the pet snake. Her hobbies included sewing, gardening, and crocheting.

Elsie is survived by her daughters Donna (Doug) Biggar, and Darlene (Dale) Beddie, and sons Gregg (Sandi) Hemmelgarn, and Gordon Hemmelgarn. As well as nine grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She is predeceased by her husband Raymond in 2014, and her parents, and eight siblings.

A funeral service will be held at the Lake Windermere Alliance Church, on February 2nd, 2024 at 1:00 pm followed by interment and tea at the Royal Canadian Legion Invermere Branch.