Obituary of Ingvar Mjelve

Ken passed at 87 years old into the presence of his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Ken was the youngest of four children born to Inge and Carrie Mjelve on the farm near Hay Lakes, Alberta. His father, who emigrated from Norway to Canada for his health, died when Ken was only one year old, and his mother never remarried. He had a country childhood in Hay Lakes and Camrose, skiing to school with his brothers and sister, and hunting squirrels for pocket money. In his 20's and 30's, he worked a variety of jobs, and would chuckle when remembering the cute and, he said, clean pigs on his Spruce Grove farm, and how driving an Edmonton taxi later meant he rarely needed a map. Always active, he met Elsie Zilinski at an Edmonton curling club, and they married in 1966. They immediately moved to Fort McMurray. At Suncor, Ken was proud employee number #29, and he retired after a 20 year career as a process operator. During Fort McMurray's oil boom in the 1970's and 80's, Ken and Elsie raised their family, Carolyn, Cameron, and Brice. He was always concerned about providing the best for them. For many years, he ran a side business renting homes to help support their many activities, including figure-skating, hockey, piano, and band, and annual trips to the west coast. In his retirement, Ken was still strong. The tubs of clover honey from beekeeping and ice cream pails of berries proved his industriousness. Even at 80 years old, he and Brice re-roofed the house. When Cameron died suddenly in 2011, it seemed to break him. His health began to decline and heart problems surfaced. But he carried on. Shy and serious, he could still keep up on current events, and enjoyed a lively debate. Most of all, he loved to study the Bible. Last September, Ken and Elsie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their children and seven grandchildren. Ken is lovingly remembered by his wife Elsie; daughter Carolyn (Darryl) Black; son Brice (Rebecca) Mjelve and children Braden, Brianna, Ben and Jacob; and daughter-in-law Julie Mjelve and children Leif, Kiersten and Faith; his brother Olaf (Yvonne) Melvie, and sister-in-law Alice Melvie, along with numerous family and friends. Sadly predeceased by son, Cameron, and siblings, Margaret and John. A Funeral Service was held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2017 from Burgar Memorial Chapel in Camrose. Interment has taken place in the Camrose Cemetery. Memorial donations are gratefully accepted to the Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute (CLBI) or to the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation.