| Aantekeningen |
- ALBERDA, RUDY
June 26, 1939 - Oct. 2, 2012 -- June 26, 1939 Rudy and Bill
Alberda were born as the 3rd and 4th children to Willem and
Barbara Alberda who would welcome another 5 children to the
family, making a total of 9 children. Some of his early memories
would be of Holland being occupied by the Germans and the
celebrations at the liberation of his country in 1945.
Willem and Barbara decided to move the family to Canada in
1954, coming across on "The Great Bear". Upon arrival in
Calgary Rudy's aunt Sudan and her family of 5 made room for
11 more people. As soon as the family could find housing of
their own, the 5 oldest children all went to work and contributed
to the family purse while the youngest 4 were put back in
school. Soon they would welcome 2 brothers in law to the
family. Rudy's first job would be delivering telegrams by bicycle
and later hauling water by the 5-gallon pail to families in
Montgomery who didn't have access to city services.
Rudy later found work at Precision Machine where he served a
machinist apprenticeship.
In May of 1958 Rudy was introduced to Dianne Slager by his
friend's sister and they were married in January 1959. In
September 1960 son Keith arrived while Rudy was working for
the CPR in Alyth yards. Wanting a safer and more stable
occupation to provide for his family, Rudy decided to retrain for
a fireman's boiler ticket and coached by his father in law
enrolled at SAIT, then went to work for the City of Calgary
operating portable boilers. Going back to SAIT to upgrade to a
4th class stationary boilers certificate in 1967, he learned of an
opening at the Shell Canada jumping pound plant and was soon
hired there as a plant operator. After about 5 years of shift work
Rudy began to experience kidney problems and decided to
transfer to field operations to be able to work days. As Shell
expanded into Burnt Timber Bill Thompson and Rudy were flown
by helicopter to monitor and manage well in that area.
By 1977 Rudy was being transferred to Olds, but decided to live
in Sundre where co-workers Bill Thompson, Jim Dykstra and Bill
Degroot were being relocated to work at Burnt Timber. Before
long Rudy transferred to Harmatten and then back to Burnt
Timber before being assigned to help looking after Limestone
while it was being developed and put into operation. He worked
there until retiring in 1988 to the farm due to health problems
which would continue to accumulate and diminish his quality of
life until his sense of humor could no longer mask them.
His family appreciates and applauds a courageous effort to force
a failing body to function and remain with us as long as he did.
We could ask no more of him.
Rudy was predeceased by his parents Bill and Barbara Alberda,
sister Wilhelmina Bierman, parent in law Dave and grace Slager
and sister in law Phyllis Alberda. He is survived by his wife of 53
years Dianne, so Keith (Juanita), Step granddaughter Danielle
Deminchuk and sister Hammie (Joe) Oetelaar, Jane Myers, Anne
Alberda and brothers Bill Alberda, Willem Alberda, John Alberda
and Albert Alberda, brothers in law Jan Bierman, Rod ( Diann)
Slager, Layn Slager and sister-in-law Lori (Maynard) McClyment.
He also leaves numerous nieces and nephews who will miss the
fun times they always had with him.
Publication Date: 2012/12/11
|
stamboom Gertim & Carla 
- 1983
