Frederick Everett Archibald(1921 – 2010)
Frederick Everett Archibald was born on January 23, 1921, at Wheatland, Manitoba and passed away on July 17, 2010, in the Ponoka Centennial Centre, at the age of 89 ½ years.
As a teenager, Fred moved to Alberta to work, after which he joined the Canadian Armed Forces and served in the Royal Canadian Engineer Corps from 1939 – 1945. After returning from the war, he worked on the farm of Bill & Nettie Ardley of Tees, Alberta, where he met and married his sweetheart, Ruth Ardley, on October 27, 1948. Fred, Ruth and infant Merrigold moved to a farm south of Stettler (northeast of Fenn) in 1950. In the next nine years, Miriam, Mark, Myra and Murray were born, and the five children all became Christians in their early years. Ruth passed away on October 13, 1986. Fred married Kathy Schmidt on July 2, 1988. Kathy passed away in 2009. Fred farmed for a few more years north of Stettler.
In later years, Fred was well cared for at the Stettler Willow Creek Lodge, Rimbey and Lacombe long-term care facilities, and due to increasing dementia, spent the last four years at the Ponoka Centennial Centre. He liked sharing his sense of humour with family, friends and neighbors. Fred enjoyed working on the farm, sports, dogs and especially music. He knew the words to hundreds of old songs and hymns. Fred was a life-long member of the Stettler Baptist Church. He accepted the Lord as his Savior at Prairie Bible Institute in the spring of 1948. In his last hours, he said he saw “both sides,” then he saw Jesus’ face. His final words were, “I’ll see you on the other side.” Fred’s memorial theme was “Going Home,” which symbolizes the end of a life of faith, pictured by one bird leaving the flock and “Going Home” to its everlasting reward. Those who remain, do so with the peace of mind that their loved one is now forever secure in God’s care.
Fred is lovingly remembered by his three daughters: Merrigold Long of the Meadowbrook District in Lacombe County, Miriam (John) Hebron of Port Coquitlam, BC and Myra Sieben of Calgary, his two sons: Mark (Marlane) Archibald of Lacombe and Murray (Marta) Archibald of Langley, BC, and his sons-in-law, David Long and Richard Sieben. Fred was “Papa” to eleven grandchildren and one great-grandson: Jeannette (Shane) Lawrence, Jonathan (Melina) Long and their son, Colton Everett Long, Jolene Long, Barbie (fiancé Richard) Hebron, Mindy (Joshua) Ogden, Tim (Michelle) Archibald, Amanda Archibald, Matthew Archibald, Emily Sieben, Bradley and Calvin Archibald.
Fred is also survived by his brother James Archibald of Saskatoon, his sister-in-law Dorothy Archibald of Sydney, BC, and numerous relatives and friends. He was predeceased by wife Ruthie, his brothers, George, Gordon and John Archibald, and his niece Lynn Fehr.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at the Stettler Funeral Chapel, with Dr. Bernie Smith officiating. Pallbearers were Fred’s grandsons and John Clark of Stettler. If friends desire, memorial donations may be made to the Centennial Centre, Box 1000, Ponoka AB T4J 1R8.