Obituary of Lester Lavern Gear

The families of Lester Gear are saddened to announce Lester's passing on May 2, 2007 at the age of 87 years. He was born on the farm in the Fox ford district on April 2, 1920 to Willard and Alga Gear. Lester's fondness for the farm was evident and as a young man, he took great pride in farming with his beautiful Belgium horses. Lester and his parents and brothers moved to Big River in 1959 where they took up cattle ranching. Although Lester seemed quite content to never leave the farm, he did make time to meet and marry Gertrude Aarrestad. They were married October 8, 1967. They would spend the next three winters working on a Pure bred quarter horse ranch outside of Edmonton. It was there that their daughter Kathrine was born on November 21, 1968. One quality Lester will be remembered for is his easy going unexcitable nature. He will also be remembered for how much he loved to tease and play with children. The kids knew with enough coaxing and carrying on, he could be convinced to produce a pan of warm and wonderful molasses cookies. In his retirement, Lester loved to go with his friend Philip Delisle to watch the race horses and the chuck wagons. He liked a ride in the country to look for the first signs of spring returning to the farmland. Lester, we thank you for being a success in this world. He will be remembered and sadly missed by his loving wife Gertrude (nee Aarrestad) of Shellbrook, SK; his daughter Kathrine (Milton) Seabrook of Cranbrook, BC; his step-grandchildren Eric Seabrook (Cristina) of Toronto, ON, Robyne (Dave) Williamson of Canal Flats, BC and Darci Seabrook of Cranbrook, BC; his great grandchild Hannah Williamson of Canal Flats, BC; his sisters Ruth Albright of Big River, SK, Flora (Allan) Berg of Shellbrook, SK and Ruby (Lloyd) Pederson of Sundre, AB; his brothers Harold (Jean) Gear of Shellbrook, SK, Richard (Janice) Gear of Chilliwack, BC and Garry (Esther) Gear of Big River, BC; his brother in-law Walter Reichle of Edmonton, AB; his sister in-law Gail Gear of Big River, SK and his uncle Bud Earing of Saskatoon, SK, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and countless friends. He was predeceased by his parents Willard and Alga Gear, his sisters Helen Manning and Leone Reichle, his brother Roy Gear and his brother's in-law Bill Albright and Ralph Manning. The funeral service was held on Monday, May 7th, 2007 at 2 p.m. from the Shellbrook Pentecostal Church with Mr. Albert Hannigan and Mr. Norman Aarrestad as the officiants. Honorary pall bearers were all of Lester's nieces and nephews. The active pall bearers were Mark Berg, Murray Hannigan, Kerry Gear, Trevor Latus, Andrew Aarrestad and Dennis Aarrestad. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Shellbrook & Districts Health Services Project. Lester was laid to rest in the Shellbrook Cemetery.