West View Funeral Services

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Canada
Olds, AB
West View Funeral Services

We are experienced, caring and attentive professionals who personally provide for every aspect of your loved one's funeral service, cremation and burial.

02/03/2026

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kenneth Ross Rich, who died on his farm in Elnora on February 1.

Ken was a lifelong resident of Elnora and a proud farmer whose life was deeply rooted in the land he loved. In his early years, he was an active member of the community, taking part in local events and organizations such as the Trenville Elks. He also enjoyed curling and baseball and remained a devoted sports fan throughout his life, faithfully cheering for the Toronto Blue Jays and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ken also served as a volunteer fireman with the Elnora Fure Department

In his later years, Ken spent most of his time on the farm, visiting with neighbours and embracing the quiet rhythms of rural life.

Ken was the father of two children, Darren and Jackie. He will be remembered for his dedication to farming, his love of sport, and his enduring connection to the Elnora community. He will be deeply missed by his friends, who supported him through the challenges of his later years.

Donna extends her heartfelt gratitude to the community for the care, kindness, and support they offered Ken, especially toward the end of his life.

01/27/2026

James (Jim) Stanley Guard, age 79, of Trochu, Alberta passed away peacefully, at the Three Hills Hospital on January 26, 2026, with loved ones by his side. He was grateful for his final few weeks of family & friends stopping by for one last visit.

Jim was born on July 17, 1946, in Innisfail Alberta, to Haldon and Dorothy Guard, He was the third of four boys, and the majority of his life was spent in Wimborne and Trochu, since 1954, where he has called this community home ever since.

Jim met Mary Glenn Jensen in 1966, and the two married in 1969, beginning their loving relationship that lasted almost 60 years. Together they built their life in Trochu, where they raised their children, Kelly, Nadine and Miranda, living in three different family homes.

In 1964, Jim and his three brothers purchased Raymond Rear’s share of the John Deere Dealership in Trochu, which changed to Guard’s Implements, until they sold in 1994. Jim obtained his Motor Mechanics (1972) and Partsman Certification (1974) from SAIT and numerous management courses and trips with John Deere through his career.

Retirement was spent catering in the community, for 35 years together. They truly enjoyed socializing with everyone at each event they worked at in the community.

Jim was an outstanding community member, who gave generously of his time, talents and treasures. He served as a Board of Trustee with Golden Hills School Division for 8 years, he was a volunteer Firefighter for 18 years, he was the avid member for the Trochu Hall Board for a number of years, fundraising to build the new community centre, which opened in 2002. He still continued to provide his services right up until December when he sold his last batch of 300 club tickets, which he was passionate about.

While raising their kids, Jim & Mary Glenn spent endless hours and days camping and had a seasonal at Pine Lake for years, until shortly after the tornado in 200. They continued camping with family & friends in their 5th wheel until last summer.

Jim’s dedication to his family, friends and community often came before his own needs. While life was busy between work, volunteering and numerous trips to Calgary for Miranda, they always made time to take their kids to extracurricular activities. Jim often had the big brown van filled with kids to go to hockey games with Kelly, or dance competitions with Nadine.

The Guard house was always a revolving door of company, from young to old...everyone was always welcome there! So many stories shared around the kitchen table over dinner, drinks or games of cards. Jim always found comfort in his connections with others and so many memories were created together!

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Mary Glenn, his children Kelly (Rachel), Nadine & Miranda, nine grandchildren & four great-grandchildren. Kelly & Rachel’s family: Cody (Chantel) & Calvin; Austin (Becky), Theo & Luna; Jordan (Kayla); Matthew (Taylor) & Amelia; Shalev, Alexandra, Breanna and Nadine’s son Joshua and his brother Jacob. As the family continued to grow, Jim enjoyed spending time at our family functions catching up over a delicious meal and playing games & cards.

He is also survived by his brother Gord (Anna) , sister-in laws: Sandy, Lorraine, Eileen (Jack), Debbie, Norma & Phyllis (Marshall); as well as many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Jim leaves behind a community of lifetime friendships and many of their kids' friends who have been treated like family over the years together.

To say he will be deeply missed by family and friends, and our community, can’t even articulate our feeling of loss. He leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, authenticity, dedication, and endless stories. Jim was predeceased by his parents; his mother and father in-law; his brothers Bruce and Earl; his brothers-in-law: Frank, Allen, Murray and sisters-in-law: Henrietta (Albert), Rita (Garry) and Mona. Rest in peace - We Love YOU!

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Trochu Community Centre or Rehoboth Christian Ministries (Three Hills) where Miranda has been for 25 years.

01/21/2026

Anna Mose ~ January 17, 2026

01/20/2026

Judy Lynn Matus ~ January 13, 2026

01/19/2026

Faith Mason ~ January 13, 2026

01/14/2026

Bea Coleman passed away peacefully into the love of her heavenly Father on January 9, 2026. Bea was predeceased by her beloved husband, Murray, and her brother Cliff Adamsen and sister Frances Bjarneson. Left to mourn her are her four children, Sharon (Tim) Sandvig, John (Phyllis) Coleman, Daniel (Wendy) Coleman, and Marianne (Larry) Penner; eleven grandchildren, Craig (Hannah) Sandvig, Kari, and Erik (Bernie) Sandvig; Jeff (Vicki) Coleman, Nathan (Maria) Coleman, Jeni (Tom) Ward, Amy and Abby Coleman; Kim (Greg) Beres, Blaine (Brittany) Penner, and Jessica Penner; and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Bea was born on March 8, 1929 to Louis and Tena Adamsen of Dickson, AB, and grew up in that Danish farming community where she attended both elementary and high school and was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. After completing Business College in Calgary, she worked briefly for the Harvie, Arnold, and Crawford law firm in Calgary. There, she gave her heart to God and felt called to accompany Dr. Robert Thompson, a family friend, to Ethiopia as his personal secretary. Little did she realize that when she arrived in Ethiopia in September of 1949, she would spend the rest of her working life there, serving first as a teacher, and then joining the SIM (then Sudan Interior Mission) and working with the mission in various capacities (including women’s visitation worker, Bible school teacher, office administrator, treasurer, and curriculum designer) for over forty years. She became fluent in Amharic and conversant in the Oromiffa language. She married her husband, Murray Coleman, in that East African country in 1953,and they raised their children there. During Ethiopia’s politically turbulent years in the 1980s, they returned to Canada and served the mission in the prairie provinces while their children married and settled into their careers. They returned to Ethiopia with SIM in 1991 and worked in an English language diploma-granting Bible College at Hosanna before finally retiring in 1995. Since then, they lived in Three Hills, AB, and attended Prairie Tabernacle Church, where they faithfully visited those who were elderly or ill.

Bea had an inventive, curious, and creative mind. She loved to take on projects that challenged her imagination and problem-solving skills. Whether these were household projects from knitting and needlework to building headboards for her children’s beds or they were ministry projects such as learning the Oromiffa language so that she could visit the neighbour ladies at Obi mission station or writing Sunday School curricula for Ethiopian youth, Bea loved to take on challenges in service of those around her. She enjoyed teaching and learning, and she wrote two books for families and young people, another one about Christian Education for Ethiopian churches, and a family memoir called Twelve Stones of Remembrance. She wanted to make sure her children knew about the people and country of their adopted home, so while they were young she organized family camping trips throughout Ethiopia that introduced them to the country’s diverse regions. She took classes at the University of Regina and Canadian Bible College beforecompleting her BA degree in her 50s at Prairie Bible College after her children had grown up and made families of their own. Her love for family and for God permeated everything she did.

Bea was buried in a private family service shortly after her death, and a celebration of life will be planned for later in the year. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Mary’s Healthcare Centre, where she received kind and compassionate care, would be appreciated by the family.

01/12/2026

Elsie Kendze ~ January 7, 2026

01/07/2026

Linda Irene Smyth
December 14, 1957 – December 28, 2025

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother, and grandma, Linda Irene Smyth, at the age of 68, following a brief battle with cancer. Linda was born on December 14, 1957, in Banff, Alberta, and passed away on December 28, 2025, surrounded by family and loved ones.

Linda grew up in Banff, where she developed a lifelong love for the mountains. She enjoyed hiking, skiing, working at the Banff stables, and spending time with friends. She had a deep love for all animals, especially horses and was a cowgirl at heart. A talented leather artisan, Linda created many beautiful handmade leather items that reflected her creativity and skill.

She married the love of her life, Neil, in 1977. Together they raised four children: Jacqueline, Dennis, Jennifer, and David. Over the years, Linda and Neil cherished time spent at their acreage, camping, gardening, and canning, creating countless memories as a family.

Linda is lovingly remembered by her husband, Neil, and her children Jacqueline, Dennis, and David. She was predeceased by her parents, Audrey and John; her brothers, Terry and Bob; and her daughter, Jennifer.

A Celebration of Linda’s Life will be held at Bethel Church in Three Hills, Alberta, on January 14 at 1:00 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Linda Smyth may be made to the family to assist with funeral expenses: https://www.gofundme.com/f/linda-smyth,
or by direct deposit e-transfer to lndennis27@gmail.com.

01/06/2026

Joyce Bernice Arnold ~ January 3, 2026

01/05/2026

Lawrence Hogg
September 13, 1951 – January 2, 2026

A recorded livestream of the service held January 9th is now available at https://youtu.be/seUBrwzkHBA

Lawrence Hogg, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and devoted community servant, entered into rest peacefully on January 2, 2026, surrounded by his family at Red Deer Regional Hospital.

Lawrence was born on September 13, 1951, in Calgary, Alberta, the oldest child of Harry and Isabell Hogg. He spent his early years on the family farm, growing up alongside his sister Frances and brother Bruce, where he developed a strong work ethic, deep sense of responsibility, and love for rural life that stayed with him throughout his years.

In 1967, Lawrence attended SAIT, where he studied Heavy Duty Mechanics. Following the passing of his father in 1970, he returned home to help run the family farm, demonstrating his lifelong commitment to family and duty.

Lawrence met the love of his life, Karen, in 1972. They were married in 1974 and celebrated 51 years of marriage in 2025. Together they built a life grounded in love, laughter, and service, raising three children: Cody (born 1975), Randi (born 1978), and Vance (born 1981).

A pillar of the Trochu community, Lawrence joined the Trochu Fire Department in August of 1974. Through years of dedication, he rose to the role of Deputy Chief and later became Fire Chief in 1982, a position he proudly held until 2012. Lawrence officially retired from the fire service in January 2025, marking over five decades of service to public safety.

Beyond the fire service, Lawrence wore many hats over the years. He served as a councillor for the Municipal District of Kneehill, contributed to numerous provincial and community service boards, worked as a bus driver and detention guard, and was widely known for his quick wit and good humor. It was often joked that Lawrence personally knew Santa Claus. A testament to his storytelling, warmth, and the joy he brought to those around him.

Lawrence was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Isabell Hogg. He will be deeply missed by his wife Karen; his children Cody, Randi, and Vance; seven grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. He is also survived by his sister Frances (Henry), brother Bruce (Leona), and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Trochu Community Centre.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Trochu Fire Department or Red Deer Regional Hospital in Lawrence’s memory.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Kneehill Funeral Services.

Lawrence’s legacy of service, kindness, humor, and unwavering dedication to family and community will be remembered always.

12/20/2025

Anna Beatrice Pauline Thompson ~ December 16, 2025

12/17/2025

Beloved wife, sister, mother, and grandma, Anna Beatrice Pauline Thompson passed away peacefully on December 16, 2025, in Calgary, Alberta, with her family by her side.

Anna is lovingly remembered by her devoted husband, Bob Thompson; her two children, Joshua Thompson (Maralyn) and Deanna Thompson (Jay Jokisch); and her cherished grandchildren, Aliza and Emily Thompson. She is also survived by her sisters, Rosemary Frere and Carol Kletke (Ron), her brother Raymond Clermont (Anais Mendez Aguero) and many nieces and nephews. Anna was predeceased by her parents, Albert and Violet Clermont, her brothers, Edward and Lyle Clermont and brother-in-law Phillip Frere. Anna’s memory will live on through her family, whose lives have been enriched by her steadfast love and support.

Born on July 19, 1951, in Trochu, Alberta, Anna was the second of five children raised on the family farm in Elnora. From an early age, her love of animals and strong work ethic were evident as she and her siblings spent countless hours milking cows and collecting eggs. Guided by her mother Violet, Anna learned the value of hard work, compassion, and devotion to family. Principles she carried throughout her life.

Anna met the love of her life, Bob in Trochu. They married in 1971 and briefly lived in Edmonton before returning to Trochu when the opportunity arose to purchase what was later Trochu Jewellery & Gift Ware. There, they built a life and raised their family, welcoming their son Joshua in 1977 and their daughter Deanna in 1979.

A pillar of her community, Anna dedicated herself wholeheartedly to volunteering and supporting her children’s activities. She was always the first to step forward, whether with Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, the Kippers Swim Club, or the Trochu Arboretum. Giving her time and energy to others was simply who she was.

Anna loved adventuring and seeing new places. From cruising in the early years with friends, to family trips to Disneyland, backpacking through Europe with Deanna, a sisters’ journey to England, and later road trips across the Prairies with her mother Violet or friends, rescuing animals, she embraced every experience with curiosity and joy.

Her greatest joy, however, was her family. Becoming a grandmother brought her immense happiness, and she delighted in sharing new experiences with her grandchildren, from curling and swimming lessons to horseback riding in Lake Louise. Even when she couldn’t be there in person, she found great joy in hearing the stories and seeing photos of their adventures.
Anna lived her life with purpose, love for her family, her community, and a deep commitment to leaving the world better than she found it - for people and animals alike. She will be profoundly missed, and her legacy of compassion will live on in all who knew her.

A celebration of life will be held in the new year. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (aarcs.ca), a cause close to Anna’s heart and an organization she volunteered with for the past 19 years.

Address

5303/50 Avenue
Olds, AB
T4H1R5

Telephone

+14035566576

Website

http://kneehillfuneral.com/

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Experienced, caring and attentive professionals who personally provide for every aspect of your loved one's funeral services.

My name is Ed Stephan and along with my wife Terry are the owner/operators of Kneehill and West View Funeral Services. I have over 30 year’s experience as a funeral director/embalmer in Alberta. I have worked since 1989 in the Three Hills, Trochu and Olds areas. Our funeral home is truly a “Mom and Pop” operation. We have a funeral home in Three Hills, Olds and a funeral home and crematorium in Trochu. As for staffing, I am the only full time employee and along with my wife and a dedicated assortment of part-time employees have been in operation as Kneehill Funeral Services since 2008 and West View Funeral Services since 2013. I do not have an answering service, I hate them, especially in this business. I honestly love this work. I believe that we have and do provide above quality service at below average prices. Frankly, our lower overhead allows us to adopt this policy. We also actively promote the participation of families the memorialization of their loved ones, it may be as simple as acting as a greeter at the register, ushering the congregation, too making their own urns, cremation containers or caskets. We also actively work with Alberta Government Agencies such as AISH and are Funeral Service Providers for the Red Deer Memorial Society.