Obituary of Kenneth "Ken" Thompson

Kenneth "Ken" Harland Thompson of Camrose, formerly of Edberg, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the age of 89 years at the Louise Jensen Care Centre with his family by his side. Ken was born on July 15, 1926 in the Ferry Point District. He grew up in the Ferry Point area with his parents William (Willie) and Ruth and his three brothers, Cameron, Wilmer (Bill) and James (Jimmy). He grew up on the farm and attended the Ferry Point School. Ken married Kay Shoults on July 6, 1956. They farmed in the Edberg area for many years where they raised their three children Valerie, Darcy, and Tracy. Ken worked hard on the farm and was an active member of the community. He was always willing to lend a hand with neighbors, whether it was helping out with cattle, pulling a truck out of the ditch, or helping to restore the Ferry Point Historical site. Ken and Kay retired and continued living on the farm until the fall of 2011 when they moved to Camrose. Ken enjoyed camping with his family and friends, whether at the Ponoka Rodeo, Wetaskiwin, or at his brother Wilmer's Chickadee Acres. He liked sitting around the campfire listening to his nieces and nephews sing and harmonize. He had a very nice singing voice himself, and would occasionally belt out George Jones 'He stopped Loving Her Today' while working in the yard. He was a skilled horse shoe player, and built his own horse shoe pit on his farm to challenge his friends and neighbors. Ken was an avid hunter and trapper, and was adept at skinning coyote and muskrat pelts. He enjoyed the fact that he could hunt deer on his own land with his family. Even when Ken no longer hunted himself, he enjoyed having family visit and allowed them to hunt on his land in exchange for a coffee and a visit. He took pride in watching his children and then his grandchildren participate in sports. He was a huge hockey and baseball fan, and enjoyed cheering on his favorite NHL team (Calgary Flames) on Hockey Night in Canada. Left to cherish his memory are his daughter Valerie (Dale) Lengyel of Rolly View; son Darcy (Doreen)of Edberg; daughter Tracy (Jason) Ward of Sherwood Park; eight grandchildren Shannon, Sabrina, Melissa, Colby, Travis, Dallas, Jazmyne and Jevlynn; seven great-grandchildren Cailey, Brooklyn, Presley, Kyle, Faith, Isabella, and Daxton; and many other friends and relatives. Ken was predeceased by his wife Kay, brothers Wilmer and Jim, and an infant sister. A Funeral Service was held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, April 21, 2016 from the Burgar Memorial Chapel with Rev. Ken Grambo officiating. Interment has taken place in the Ferry Point Cemetery. If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or to Parkinson Alberta, or to the Ferry Point Cemetery.