Dorothy Florence Wagner

Dorothy Florence Wagner passed away on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at the Lacombe Extended Care at the age of 96. Dorothy will forever be missed by her loving husband, Albert of 73 years; her four children, Lynne (Bruce) Henderson, Terry (Loree) Wagner, Keith (Wanda) Wagner and Myrna (John) Jones; and her 12 grandchildren, Jodi, Cari, Jennifer, Kathy, Janice, Janelle, Molly, Jacob, Hannah, Kristin, Rylee and Logan. She was a wonderful and loving grandmother to all 12 grandchildren and their spouses along with 21 great-grandchildren.

Dorothy was born in Rose Valley, Saskatchewan on May 31, 1928. Dorothy was one of eleven children born to parents George and Florence Hiron. In her younger years in Saskatchewan Dorothy worked for her dad on the farm and always had many stories of stooking hay, feeding all the animals, and her favorite thing was to take her stallion Shorty and check her trap line. She said he knew the route and she didn’t have to do a thing, he knew right where to go.

The Hiron family moved from Saskatchewan to the Sargeant District south of Clive and from there Dorothy went to work at the telephone office and then on to Cox’s General Store in Clive. While working at the store, Dorothy met Albert. Their first date was to the Ponoka Stampede as Dorothy had never been to one before. The two were married on September 20, 1951. They built their home east of Lacombe and that is where Dorothy and Albert remained until moving into Lacombe in 2018.

As a farm wife and mother, Dorothy prided herself with an amazing garden and flower bed; she was the best berry picker and made the most amazing jam; looked after hundreds of chickens and delivered eggs to people in Clive and Lacombe, cared for everyone and everything and was still able to run coffee and meals to the field for the men. Dorothy and Albert operated a mixed farming operation and she loved the cows. No matter how many there were she knew each one and their number!

She was an active member of the United Church Women (UCW) and the Canadian Order of Foresters for many years. She was very active in the Clive United Church as well as the Community of Clive and Eclipse District making soup and pies for the curling rink as well as any community events.

Dorothy loved curling and playing baseball. She also loved watching her children and grandchildren playing sports and was always there cheering everyone on! One of her favorite days was Mother’s Day and she would have everyone over for a wiener roast and make her famous potato salad and then spend the afternoon playing ball with all the kids!

She loved to dance! Dorothy and Albert spent many years Square Dancing with their dear friends and they never missed a cabaret or dance. Dorothy and Albert travelled quite a bit and they loved to go camping, but she was always happiest at home.

No one ever left Dorothy’s on an empty stomach! There was always fresh baking of her famous pinwheels, cinnamon buns, cookies, Danish Apple Strudel and always a fresh pot of coffee or tea and a goody bag of baking to take home.

When there was down time Dorothy enjoyed BINGO with her sisters and even some Casino time. She was always very lucky and we teased her about winning – and it is still up for debate how lucky she actually was.

She was so loved by so many and will be greatly missed…. But we will remember her with every dandelion, every peony and glad bloom and every lilac bouquet. We will see her smile in the faces of all our children and grandchildren and we will smile and sing “I can hop a little on my little left shoe and hop a little on my right one too …..”

A private family celebration is planned.