ECA Review 2024-02-15

ECA REVIEW HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB February 15'24 11
OBITUARIES
Life journey marked with passion for agriculture
Allen Henry Blume
Feb. 23, 1940 ~ Feb. 9, 2024
Allen Henry Blume, a pillar of the
Castor community, passed away peacefully
on Fri. Feb. 9, 2024, at the age of 83
years. Born on Feb. 23, 1940 in Castor,
Alta., Allen was the beloved son of
John E. and Katherine Blume.
Allen’s journey in life was marked
by a deep passion for agriculture,
instilled in him from a young age.
After attending Rosetta Country
School, followed by high school in
Castor, Allen pursued further
education at Olds College, specializing
in Practical Agriculture.
He then returned to his roots in
Castor, where he embarked on a lifelong
farming adventure alongside his
father, John, brother, Walter and son,
Corbin, shaping the legacy of Blume
Ranches Ltd., renowned for the
esteemed Wabash Herefords.
A respected figure in the agricultural
world, Allen’s dedication and
expertise were recognized with induction
into the Canadian Hereford Hall of
Fame.
His prowess as a breeder garnered
numerous accolades, including grand
championship titles at prestigious
events such as the Calgary and
Edmonton bull sales.
Beyond his contributions to the agricultural
industry, Allen was a man of
diverse interests and unwavering commitment
to his community. He served
on the Catholic Health Board for 18
years at Our Lady of the Rosary
Hospital and was actively involved in
local governance, spending eight years
on Castor town council. His devotion
Just a friend he hadn’t met yet
Dennis Bruce Towers
June 26, 1947 to Feb. 7, 2024
Dennis Bruce Towers was born in
Galahad, Alta. on June 26, 1947, the
second son of Mark and Irene Towers
of Alliance, Alta. and younger brother
of Stanley. Another brother, Ronald
joined the family four years later.
Denny spent his entire 76 years on
the farm that his parents farmed.
When his father passed suddenly in
1969, he was thrust into the monumental
task of operating the farm
himself and helping his mother and
brother adjust to their new situation.
He was often found seeking advice
from close neighbours Roy Rands
and Lyle Graviston and his future
father-in-law Ernest Pickles.
In 1964 a young Castor girl sparked
his interest and in 1970 he married the
love of his life, Laura Pickles. Together
they moved a 1918 house to the farm
where it was modernized and became
a cozy home for their family of David,
born in 1971 and twins Diana and
Christine in 1975.
Denny was never a fan of homework
– although he said he did it one night –
or books of any kind, but he loved
nature and cattle and farming and
might have skipped the odd day of
school to go custom baling with his
cousin and buddy Ken Towers.
He also loved sports and excelled at
fastball as a catcher or shortstop, winning
several trophies when the
Alliance Bandits competed in the
Flagstaff Fastball League. Laura and
the children never missed being in the
stands to cheer him on.
Hockey was also a favourite sport,
playing on kid’s teams and graduating
to the Alliance Rockets Hockey team
while still in high school. When he no
longer played, he taught the kids how
to play hockey and ball, coaching the
10 and under hockey boys from the
time Dave was four years old. More
than once their little car was filled to
the brim with family and hockey
players as they headed off to a game in
a nearby community.
Sometimes he was called upon to
umpire one of the kid’s ballgames and
it really hurt when he had to call
“strike” on his 10 year old daughter.
His answer to her sad face was “It was
a good one hon”.
When the girls reached junior high
there was volleyball as well, and he
loved to follow the team to their tournaments.
Later we travelled all over
the province with the Spartans
Volleyball club of Killam, Alta. Many
of the acquaintances met while
involved in sports were good friends
for life.
Denny had a knack for engaging
strangers in conversation and when
the family was done shopping, he was
often found on a bench in a mall
enjoying a new friend. He always said
a stranger was just a friend he hadn’t
met yet.
Back at the farm he took great pride
in his cowherd and had a good eye for
selecting cattle that would produce
large healthy calves. His crops had to
be seeded in ‘straight’ rows long before
GPS was heard of, and he would cringe
when he noticed that Laura’s garden
rows were a little bent
– she just said he could
plant the garden himself
if it was a problem!
He also felt a lot of
pride in the attractive
farm yard they had
developed together
and was called on
sometimes too often
keep the equipment in
running order. He
always rose to the
occasion even when his darling wife
claimed that the garden equipment
was just a bunch of junk. – In fact, this
struck him funny as he marched off to
find tools for repair!
Though not a fan of meetings, he did
spend several years on the Alliance
Seed Cleaning Plant Board. He was a
charter member of the Alliance and
District Agricultural Society when it
formed in 1982 and later became a
member of the Board. He served many
terms on that Board up until his
untimely passing and was always
involved in July 1st and Santa Daze
activities. While he was not a churchgoer,
he supported Laura’s church
activities as well as encouraging all of
her other community involvements. He
was often pulled in to assist with
events and did so cheerfully.
When David was finishing school in
1987 and there was no land available
for him to be a full time member of the
farming operation, there was an
opportunity to purchase the UFA
agency, so the family took it on.
David being only 18 could not be the
official agent, so Denny filled the position,
but David was the full-time
operator with Mom helping out in the
office. If it was quiet, we could count on
Towers
Special Special Area Area No.2 No.2 SA2-01-24 SA2-05-23 SE-35-21-09-W4
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Special
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Area
Area
No.2
No.2
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SA2-06-23
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customers flocking in soon after
Denny’s time at the coffee shop doing
PR and BS. He seemed to be a people
magnet! We continued in this business
until David had an opportunity to go
full time farmer in 1999.
Denny’s family and friends were the
most important part of his life and he
always had time to stop and have a
little visit.
He fell ill suddenly in January and
passed away on February 7 exactly five
weeks after his cancer diagnosis.
He leaves to cherish his memory his
loving wife Laura; son David; daughter
Christine (Steven Cookson); as well as
brothers Stanley and Ronald (Donna)
and their family Jason (Stephenie) and
children Mya and Cooper, and Mark
(Cathy) and son Bentley. Also his very
special sister-in-law Elaine Pickles and
brother-in-law Walter Pickles (friend
Deanna Crookshanks) and his family -
Kerry (Carmen) Pickles and family
Jared (Jamie) Pickles, Wyatt Pickles
and Chyanne Pickles; son Trevor
Pickles and his son Ty; son Curtis
(Cristy) and their sons Tanner and
Kody.
His greatest sorrow was the loss of
daughter Diana and her fiancé Craig
MacEachern. He was also predeceased
by his parents, his parents-in-law
Ernest and Verna Pickles and sister-inlaw
Helen Pickles.
A Celebration of Dennis’ Life will be
held on Fri. Feb. 16, 2024 at 2 p.m. at the
Alliance Community Hall, Alliance,
Alta.
Memorial donations may be made to
the Alliance Agricultural Society,
Alliance United Church or to a charity
of your choice.
Condolences may be forwarded to
the family by visiting www.parkviewfuneralchapels.com.
Parkview
Funeral Chapels were entrusted with
the care and funeral arrangements.
For further information please call
403-882-3141.
Remove Existing Kitchen Building &
&
Build
Build
52’
46’
x
x
230’
210’
Kitchen
Kitchen
Building
Building
Convert Existing Cold Storage
Building 66’ to x Humalite 33’ Outdoor Screening Swimming and
Pool and Bagging 16’ x 11’ Facility Shed for Camp
extended to the church, where he
served on the Church Board for six
years and was a
dedicated member
of the Evangelical
Missionary
Church.
Allen’s generosity
knew no
bounds, evident in
his involvement
with the Gideons,
distributing Bibles
in Brazil and
among Grade 5
students.
Blume
He cherished moments of leisure,
indulging in hobbies such as waterskiing,
boating, snow skiing and
travelling the world with his beloved
wife, Bev.
In retirement, he found solace in
winters spent in Arizona and the joy of
RV adventures with his family.
Allen will be remembered for his
unwavering integrity, boundless generosity
and profound love for his
family and community. His legacy of
hard work, kindness and service will
continue to inspire all who had the
privilege of knowing him.
Allen is survived by his loving wife
Bev of 56 years; children Corbin
(Adele) Blume, Marae Blume, Chelsey
(Ron) Haberman and Meghan (Shawn)
Tetz; grandchildren: Anderson,
Cohen, Penelope, Juliet, Evangeline
and Hope; brother Walter Blume; as
well as other family and many dear
friends.
Allen was predeceased by his parents
John and Katherine Blume; sister
Leah Fanning and Auntie Katherine
Blume.
A Celebration of Allen’s Life will be
held on Wed. Feb. 14, 2024 at 2 p.m. at
the Evangelical Missionary Church,
Castor, Alta.
Condolences may be forwarded to
the family by visiting www.parkviewfuneralchapels.com.
Parkview Funeral Chapels were
entrusted with the care and funeral
arrangements. For further information
please call 403-882-3141.
In the hearts of those who loved
him, Allen’s memory will forever
reside, a beacon of light guiding us
through the darkness.
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