Published on May 3, 2017 Pincher Creek Echo
Tess Larson (nee Kowalchuk) died in Pincher Creek at age 77 years.
She was born in Edmore, SK on Dec 3 1939 to Matt & Lena Kowalchuk. She attended Ashdown School through Grade 8 and the lived with her grandparents to attend High School. She graduated in 1957.
Tess was married to Clifford Larson in 1961 and they lived in Kelliher, Sk with their 4 children.
In 1979 Tess and the children moved to Pincher Creek, AB where she worked for the CIBC and Charlie Price. She subsequently moved to Milk River, AB and back to Pincher Creek in 2012.
Tess was an amazing and fiercely independent woman, full of strength and courage, with a wonderful sense of humor, optimism and the ability to see the best in people.
In June 2012, the day after she was on a ladder cleaning her eaves troughs, Tess learned her breast cancer had metastasized into her bones. Some of her bones, including her cervical spine and left thigh bone were riddled with holes. Treatment included insertion of a rod from knee to hip and, and the way Tess described it the surgeon wrapped a piece of chicken wire around her cervical spine to support her head. Both operations were to reduce the possibility of pathological fractures.Tess had to wear a huge neck brace from several weeks and was instructed by the doctor not to drive. That was a problem as she had driven from Milk River to Lethbridge for the appointment ....so, I drove her home, with Chrissy following a bit later in Tess' car - after she paid the fine for parking by a fire hydrant. When told about the fire hydrant, and ticket, Tess reluctantly agreed to use only her golf cart in Milk River. Chrissy left with both sets of car keys to ensure there was no cheating. Later that summer Tess stayed with Harry & I while she underwent treatments at the Lethbridge Cancer Centre and we both treasure these memories. At the time, she was told she only had 6 months to live but did not "wither-on-the-vine".
She moved from Milk River to Whispering Winds in September 2012. Once here she reconnected with friends, volunteered at the museum, hospital and library. She read all the Pincher Creek newspapers from the early 1900s on and photographed all the birth, marriage and death notices. These have become a permanent part of the Pincher Creek Genealogical Society's records. No grass grew under her feet and she never complained about her condition as she was determined to make the best of whatever time she had left and continued to contribute to the community.
Two years ago, I told Tess about my volunteer work with Find A Grave. We went to the Cowley Cemetery for a photo clinic and Tess was hooked! She became an almost obsessed FAG volunteer. In the past 2 years she has created approx 8,800 memorials on FAG, mainly in Saskatchewan, to ensure the final resting places of "those that have gone before" are readily available to genealogists and family members unable to visit the graves of their loved ones in person.
children
Kim (Dave) Christman (Antelope, MT),
Laurel (Keith) Clawson (Plentywood, MT),
Kris (Chrissy) Larson (Pincher Creek, AB), &
C. Douglas Larson (Alliance, AB).
Tess Larson (nee Kowalchuk) died in Pincher Creek at age 77 years.
She was born in Edmore, SK on Dec 3 1939 to Matt & Lena Kowalchuk. She attended Ashdown School through Grade 8 and the lived with her grandparents to attend High School. She graduated in 1957.
Tess was married to Clifford Larson in 1961 and they lived in Kelliher, Sk with their 4 children.
In 1979 Tess and the children moved to Pincher Creek, AB where she worked for the CIBC and Charlie Price. She subsequently moved to Milk River, AB and back to Pincher Creek in 2012.
Tess was an amazing and fiercely independent woman, full of strength and courage, with a wonderful sense of humor, optimism and the ability to see the best in people.
In June 2012, the day after she was on a ladder cleaning her eaves troughs, Tess learned her breast cancer had metastasized into her bones. Some of her bones, including her cervical spine and left thigh bone were riddled with holes. Treatment included insertion of a rod from knee to hip and, and the way Tess described it the surgeon wrapped a piece of chicken wire around her cervical spine to support her head. Both operations were to reduce the possibility of pathological fractures.Tess had to wear a huge neck brace from several weeks and was instructed by the doctor not to drive. That was a problem as she had driven from Milk River to Lethbridge for the appointment ....so, I drove her home, with Chrissy following a bit later in Tess' car - after she paid the fine for parking by a fire hydrant. When told about the fire hydrant, and ticket, Tess reluctantly agreed to use only her golf cart in Milk River. Chrissy left with both sets of car keys to ensure there was no cheating. Later that summer Tess stayed with Harry & I while she underwent treatments at the Lethbridge Cancer Centre and we both treasure these memories. At the time, she was told she only had 6 months to live but did not "wither-on-the-vine".
She moved from Milk River to Whispering Winds in September 2012. Once here she reconnected with friends, volunteered at the museum, hospital and library. She read all the Pincher Creek newspapers from the early 1900s on and photographed all the birth, marriage and death notices. These have become a permanent part of the Pincher Creek Genealogical Society's records. No grass grew under her feet and she never complained about her condition as she was determined to make the best of whatever time she had left and continued to contribute to the community.
Two years ago, I told Tess about my volunteer work with Find A Grave. We went to the Cowley Cemetery for a photo clinic and Tess was hooked! She became an almost obsessed FAG volunteer. In the past 2 years she has created approx 8,800 memorials on FAG, mainly in Saskatchewan, to ensure the final resting places of "those that have gone before" are readily available to genealogists and family members unable to visit the graves of their loved ones in person.
children
Kim (Dave) Christman (Antelope, MT),
Laurel (Keith) Clawson (Plentywood, MT),
Kris (Chrissy) Larson (Pincher Creek, AB), &
C. Douglas Larson (Alliance, AB).
Published on May 3, 2017 Pincher Creek Echo
Tess Larson (nee Kowalchuk) died in Pincher Creek at age 77 years.
She was born in Edmore, SK on Dec 3 1939 to Matt & Lena Kowalchuk. She attended Ashdown School through Grade 8 and the lived with her grandparents to attend High School. She graduated in 1957.
Tess was married to Clifford Larson in 1961 and they lived in Kelliher, Sk with their 4 children.
In 1979 Tess and the children moved to Pincher Creek, AB where she worked for the CIBC and Charlie Price. She subsequently moved to Milk River, AB and back to Pincher Creek in 2012.
Tess was an amazing and fiercely independent woman, full of strength and courage, with a wonderful sense of humor, optimism and the ability to see the best in people.
In June 2012, the day after she was on a ladder cleaning her eaves troughs, Tess learned her breast cancer had metastasized into her bones. Some of her bones, including her cervical spine and left thigh bone were riddled with holes. Treatment included insertion of a rod from knee to hip and, and the way Tess described it the surgeon wrapped a piece of chicken wire around her cervical spine to support her head. Both operations were to reduce the possibility of pathological fractures.Tess had to wear a huge neck brace from several weeks and was instructed by the doctor not to drive. That was a problem as she had driven from Milk River to Lethbridge for the appointment ....so, I drove her home, with Chrissy following a bit later in Tess' car - after she paid the fine for parking by a fire hydrant. When told about the fire hydrant, and ticket, Tess reluctantly agreed to use only her golf cart in Milk River. Chrissy left with both sets of car keys to ensure there was no cheating. Later that summer Tess stayed with Harry & I while she underwent treatments at the Lethbridge Cancer Centre and we both treasure these memories. At the time, she was told she only had 6 months to live but did not "wither-on-the-vine".
She moved from Milk River to Whispering Winds in September 2012. Once here she reconnected with friends, volunteered at the museum, hospital and library. She read all the Pincher Creek newspapers from the early 1900s on and photographed all the birth, marriage and death notices. These have become a permanent part of the Pincher Creek Genealogical Society's records. No grass grew under her feet and she never complained about her condition as she was determined to make the best of whatever time she had left and continued to contribute to the community.
Two years ago, I told Tess about my volunteer work with Find A Grave. We went to the Cowley Cemetery for a photo clinic and Tess was hooked! She became an almost obsessed FAG volunteer. In the past 2 years she has created approx 8,800 memorials on FAG, mainly in Saskatchewan, to ensure the final resting places of "those that have gone before" are readily available to genealogists and family members unable to visit the graves of their loved ones in person.
children
Kim (Dave) Christman (Antelope, MT),
Laurel (Keith) Clawson (Plentywood, MT),
Kris (Chrissy) Larson (Pincher Creek, AB), &
C. Douglas Larson (Alliance, AB).
Tess Larson (nee Kowalchuk) died in Pincher Creek at age 77 years.
She was born in Edmore, SK on Dec 3 1939 to Matt & Lena Kowalchuk. She attended Ashdown School through Grade 8 and the lived with her grandparents to attend High School. She graduated in 1957.
Tess was married to Clifford Larson in 1961 and they lived in Kelliher, Sk with their 4 children.
In 1979 Tess and the children moved to Pincher Creek, AB where she worked for the CIBC and Charlie Price. She subsequently moved to Milk River, AB and back to Pincher Creek in 2012.
Tess was an amazing and fiercely independent woman, full of strength and courage, with a wonderful sense of humor, optimism and the ability to see the best in people.
In June 2012, the day after she was on a ladder cleaning her eaves troughs, Tess learned her breast cancer had metastasized into her bones. Some of her bones, including her cervical spine and left thigh bone were riddled with holes. Treatment included insertion of a rod from knee to hip and, and the way Tess described it the surgeon wrapped a piece of chicken wire around her cervical spine to support her head. Both operations were to reduce the possibility of pathological fractures.Tess had to wear a huge neck brace from several weeks and was instructed by the doctor not to drive. That was a problem as she had driven from Milk River to Lethbridge for the appointment ....so, I drove her home, with Chrissy following a bit later in Tess' car - after she paid the fine for parking by a fire hydrant. When told about the fire hydrant, and ticket, Tess reluctantly agreed to use only her golf cart in Milk River. Chrissy left with both sets of car keys to ensure there was no cheating. Later that summer Tess stayed with Harry & I while she underwent treatments at the Lethbridge Cancer Centre and we both treasure these memories. At the time, she was told she only had 6 months to live but did not "wither-on-the-vine".
She moved from Milk River to Whispering Winds in September 2012. Once here she reconnected with friends, volunteered at the museum, hospital and library. She read all the Pincher Creek newspapers from the early 1900s on and photographed all the birth, marriage and death notices. These have become a permanent part of the Pincher Creek Genealogical Society's records. No grass grew under her feet and she never complained about her condition as she was determined to make the best of whatever time she had left and continued to contribute to the community.
Two years ago, I told Tess about my volunteer work with Find A Grave. We went to the Cowley Cemetery for a photo clinic and Tess was hooked! She became an almost obsessed FAG volunteer. In the past 2 years she has created approx 8,800 memorials on FAG, mainly in Saskatchewan, to ensure the final resting places of "those that have gone before" are readily available to genealogists and family members unable to visit the graves of their loved ones in person.
children
Kim (Dave) Christman (Antelope, MT),
Laurel (Keith) Clawson (Plentywood, MT),
Kris (Chrissy) Larson (Pincher Creek, AB), &
C. Douglas Larson (Alliance, AB).
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