Myrna Lynn Reddekop

On Thursday, May 9, 2024, Mrs. Myrna Lynn Reddekop, beloved mother of Les Reddekop and Bernadette Sanborn of Calgary, Alberta passed away at the age of 77 years. 

Our beloved mother, Myrna, was born on Friday, July 26, 1946 in Swift Current “Speedy Creek” Saskatchewan, where the motto is “Where life makes sense”. She lived her early years on and near the Beechy Co-op farm. In the late 1940’s until the late 1950’s, the original six founding members became twelve and these six men, including my mother's father, was Les Carefoot who was chosen.  By World War II young men who were eager to start farming. With a total of 6600 acres, three plows, two tractors, the second tractor was supplied by her father, a Massey Tractor 25 with the steel wheels. They worked the land twenty-four hours a day, breaking 320 acres every day. They struggled the first two years. The weather took their first crop and a wet fall almost took their second crop of flax. With hard work, determination, agreements, and financial support from the provincial government, and so many people involved, they became a successful original Co-op farm in their third year. 

Beverly, Saskatchewan, was close to the farm, an original coal producing town close to the new railway line. That brought early settlers and entrepreneurs. Myrna had some years in Beverly in the forties, fifties, and possibly, early sixties. From there as a young adult, she lived in Swift Current again where Myrna met, fell in love, and married, William John Reddekop. Their first child, the first grandchild and grandson in the family, Leslie William Reddekop was born on Saturday, January 21, 1967, Canada's centennial year. Five years later in Laramie, Wyoming, their daughter, Bernadette Nicole Reddekop was born on Wednesday, October 23, 1972. Myrna and William brought their daughter home for the first time. Les held her carefully in his arms and responded: “She has black hair”. We all smiled contently to have a daughter and sister in our lives. A memory in Laramie, Wyoming was a rare event. The front door was opened. There was a wall of snow above the roof line. We responded: “How do we get out of the home?” Myrna responded, “but the shovel is outside”. We did get out, as the neighbors dug us out of the home. We all smiled and waited quite a few hours. Then a knock on the door arrived. Freedom at last!

The family moved back to Calgary, Alberta and Myrna's husband went to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and got a degree in Petroleum Engineering, and worked with some of the largest oil companies in Canada. They lived in Medicine Hat, Alberta, where Myrna worked in the residential retail lighting business. We lived in small town, Carlyle, Saskatchewan, where life was more simple, with large gardens and ample backyards. The Reddekop's lived next door to the Cochrane's, a hardware store owner and a nurse. William was the very best friend of Les’. He was a coach for one year for the small town Carlyle Merchants. His workplace was next door to the home, fifty pace walk. Myrna and the family settled back in Calgary. Eventually all of the children went to their schools and Les played his favorite sport of hockey. 

After 16 years of marriage, mental health issues with my father, Myrna became a single mother. She always put her children's needs ahead of her own even until the children finished their school. Myrna worked again in residential lighting with her son at the Lite Spot. Her son went to SAIT and the business was sold to other employees.

Myrna was educated at the Alberta Vocational Center, and then worked with some oil and gas companies in filing, inputting and accounts payable.

Myrna and her son bought a house together, and for thirty five years this home was their home together. Over the years, rooms were renovated, updated, outdoor spaces improved, and flower gardens were made. Myrna loved the flowers, and eventually every year many flower pots filled the yards along with perennials, annuals, climbing roses, clematis, arborvines, white flowered princess hydrangea, and even a white flowered princess hawthorn tree for the front yard. 

Inside, the orchids would bloom in purple, and Myrna's favorite was a white flowered waterfall orchid with two stems of orchids beautifully arranged, to remember a waterfall of orchids.

Myrna and her two children got through some serious health issues together. Her daughter had a kidney transplant at a young age. A rare kidney disease that needed a medication that was not covered by Alberta Health Care, countless hours at the hospital for dialysis, and praying that an organ donor or donation would arrive in time. With the great Alberta Health Care, Myrna and her daughter Bernadette stayed on top of it all, many more serious health issues with Bernadette and her son, Jesse, that passed away at age twenty. He had a lung transplant at a young age. Eventually, the lung rejected and a second lung could not be found in time. He, of course, is always with us. Now, Myrna and Jesse are together again guiding us in our journey of life. Myrna's mother and father as well is looking over us, being the good mother and father from above in heaven. 

Myrna was a part of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #275, where she envisioned countless hours on Wednesday's with her very good long time friends, Grace and Paulette. She was a part of the Lady's Auxiliary Group called the basterettes. Myrna volunteered countless hours and enjoyed it. She enjoyed playing shuffleboard and stayed near the top most of the time. Myrna would bring meals back home from the legion at times for her son. The many bake sales of home baked goods from around the city, supporting other seniors and those deserts were so enjoyed together with her son. Crafting was an enjoyable time for Myrna. The early years of pottery, inscribing her name on the bottom of each piece, like full sized cats, the birds, and book ends of wild horses. She also enjoyed macramé, the square knot is hip and its hip to be square. Myrna also crafted handmade beaded Christmas ball decorations, each one taking many hours to complete with various colors of beads, brass nails and styrofoam balls.  These were gifts for her friends and family, over 100 made altogether.  Wires from one corner of the Egyptian themed living room to the other corner, crisscrossing in the middle, where the best of the best of all the Christmas balls or a handmade decoration hung.

Myrna liked the cedar decks in the backyard with countless flowers, a water pond feature with a large waterfall or a cascading water fountain that was both appealing, visually and euphonious.

Myrna also liked new cedar designed gates with round iron windows leading into the backyard, the beautiful half circle flowerbed full of perennials, annuals, the centerpiece water fountain of an angel, the white flower hydrangea bush that turned to pink flowers later in the fall, climbing pink Alberta roses, an Arbor archway with a climbing vine to walk through up to the wooden front door, white concrete rectangular flower pots on either side at the top of the porch, even a white flowered hawthorn tree that bloomed in spring and also turned to pink flowers in the fall season. Every single one of these were her favourites.

Myrna had numerous beautiful collections from her over one hundred beanie babies like the Princess Diana beanie baby and others from her friends that traveled to various countries that were put into plastic display boxes.  These were placed onto shelves in the spare bedroom.  Some of her favourites were the crystal chandelier, crystal figurines, colored blown glass pieces, Avon perfume decanters and antiques.

Myrna was an avid reader of over one thousand novels, her favorite author was Danielle Steele. 

Myrna traveled to Florida a few times with her son to the Orlando area, and they stayed at a beautiful resort. It was the first time they saw the green water of the Atlantic Ocean, gently coming onto the warm sandy beaches. The majestic cruise ships, sailing in the near distance, Disney World, Universal Studios, and numerous water parks were her favorites outside of Orlando. Myrna loved horses, so she and her son attended the Arabian nights show with Arabian horses standing on their hind legs, dressed in beautiful color and the riders in full color apparel. A picture was taken of Myrna and her son, together side by side. She also enjoyed shopping. So an overnight suitcase was usually the case.

Las Vegas was another destination Myrna enjoyed with her son. They loved exploring the many resort themed hotels like the Luxor (the Egyptian themed hotel), Paris Las Vegas, Bellagio (with over a thousand fountains spraying more than a 1000 feet in the air), having martinis at the top of the Stratosphere, Excalibur (with the Tournament of Kings Dinner Show), ziplining on Freemont Street, and playing slot machines for a few hours of entertainment.

Myrna was a quiet, peaceful, loyal, compassionate, creative, artistic, and honest woman, who was very generous with her time for those who knew her well.  She was so responsible and sensitive for family and friends. A mother's intuition and abilities were present at all times for everyone. Her son knew her best.

Myrna will be lovingly remembered by her children, Les Reddekop of Calgary, and Bernadette (Kevin) Sanborn of Calgary;  granddaughter, Juliette Sanborn of Calgary; siblings, Deb (Rob) Poupart of Fernie, British Columbia, Sheila Fabrick of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and Gayle (Cass) Maksymytz of Humbolt, Saskatchewan; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Myrna was predeceased by her parents, Jean and Leslie Carefoot;  brother, Wayne Carefoot; and her grandchild, Jesse Levi Shipley; and the father of her children, William John Reddekop.

A Service of Remembrance for Myrna will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #275, 755 - 40 Street SE, Calgary, Alberta.  Cremation has taken place at Foothills Crematorium.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made in Myrna's memory to the Canadian Mental Health Association (https://cmha.calgary.ab.ca/ways-to-give/donate/), Kidney Foundation (https://kidney.ca/), The Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program (https://cdtrp.ca/en/), Canadian Cancer Society (https://cancer.ca/en/), or Diabetes Canada (https://www.diabetes.ca/)