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Obituary of Donald Rutherford
Obituary
Donald Orr Rutherford was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta on April 17th, 1933 to Bessie and Fenwick Rutherford, followed shortly by his twin brother Gerald. Donald's first years were spent in Grantham before they moved to Calgary for a few years and then back to Medicine Hat. The twins enjoyed playing football together, where Don was a left half-back, as well as curling, where they represented Medicine Hat in the Southern Alberta playoffs.
Don met the love of his life while they both attended Alexander Composite High School. Dorothy Mae Sept was playing shortstop for Elm Street School and he thought "I want to meet that girl when she gets to high school."
The inseparable pair of D and D Ruth were married on June 4th, 1955 and they moved to Calgary. Three years later, in 1958, they were blessed with a healthy baby girl, Kathleen Ann. A bouncing baby boy, Kenneth William, arrived in 1961. Don enjoyed working at Home Oil in downtown Calgary for twenty years where he had the opportunity travel when he was sent on audits to Louisiana and Texas.
In June of 1973, Donald gave his life to Jesus and nothing would be the same for him again. Don and Dorothy felt the Lord called them to move to the Fort St. John area, where they eventually took over as managers for the Shepherd's Inn at Mile 72 of the Alaska Highway in 1989. Don enjoyed meeting all of the people traveling the highway over the next thirty years. He loved to work with the many young people at the Inn and encouraged them to pursue all of their ambitions.
Don and Dorothy's family grew as Kathleen married Rustin Myers, and Kenneth married Mary Gerber. They were blessed with five grandchildren: Tim, Melissa, Nicole, Shane, and Kathryn. Don was delighted to officiate Tim's marriage to Kimberly Korb in 2008 and Melissa's marriage to Morgan Sparks in 2014. Charlie, the first of three great-children from Tim and Kim arrived six years ago and was followed by Jackson and Rosemary.
Don passed away on Saturday, August 26, 2017, surrounded by his family in the Fort St John Hospital. He was eagerly awaiting his promotion and excited to see what his new home in heaven would be like. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Dorothy Mae, July 26, 2014.
If so desired, expressions of sympathy may be made in memory of Don to the to Abbeyfield House of FSJ.
Cemetery Details Woodlawn Cemetery
Fort St. John, BC,
Visitation
SEP 1. 05:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Hamres Funeral Chapel & Cremation Center
10315 - 102 Street
Fort St. John, BC, CA, V1J 4B9
Memorial Service
SEP 2. 01:00 PM
Shepherd's Christian Center
Mile 72, Mile 72 Rd
Peace River B, BC, CA, V0C 1Y0
Services
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A Memorial Tree was planted for Donald
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Hamre's Funeral Chapel & Cremation Center
Services for Donald Rutherford
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