W. Morden

William Russell "Russ" Morden

Peacefully on Wednesday, August 18, 2010, Russell Morden passed away with family by his side in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba at the age of 87 years.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife Elva Morden; parents William and Mathilda (nee Churchill) Morden; brothers Ken and Lyle; parents-in-law Catherine and Harry McBurney and brother-in-law Murray McBurney. Russ will be lovingly remembered by daughters Doreen (Larry) Pettinger of Portage la Prairie, Donna (Neil) Martin of Carman and Rhonda Morden (Kirk Warren) of Winnipeg; grandchildren Krista (Graham) Shindle, Tara Pettinger (Justin Lavallee), Kyle (Alicia) Pettinger, Monique and Russ Martin, and Liam and Seth Warren; great grandchildren Kylyn and Maddox Shindle and Claire Lavallee; sisters-in-law Marg Flewelling of Red Deer AB, Lorna Hart of Souris and Grace Morden of Estevan Sask., along with many nieces and nephews and their families.

William Russell Morden was born to Matilda and Bill Morden on December 26, 1922. He was known to some as Russell or Rusty but to most he was simply known as Russ. He grew up on a farm with his younger brother Lyle and his older brother Ken. He attended school in a one room schoolhouse in Forbes until Grade 8 whereupon he began working for a farmer by the name of Doug Morrison. As a young man Dad went into the army where he trained at Camp Borden and learned how to drive a tank.

As the years went by Dad began his life-long love of music and began attending dances. He met a young lady named Elva McBurney and after a time they were married in 1948 and began farming near Hartney and later in 1955 bought a farm near Lauder where they raised their three girls and began developing friendships which would last a lifetime.

Dad was a hard worker and spent long hours looking after his cattle and tending his crops but he never missed an opportunity to have fun. He enjoyed woodworking, curling, following the Lauder Park Lanes ball team to games near and far and he loved to play cards. There came a time when Dad decided to focus on his beef cattle and rented his land out to Tweeds and then to Turners. He also went to work setting up machinery at Tweed's Garage in Medora. I

n 1993 Mom and Dad decided to leave the farm. They were happy to move closer to family so that they were free to attend the grandchildren's sporting events but it was a decision that was difficult after building such strong relationships and being a part of the Lauder community. But soon they made new friends in Treherne.

When Mom moved to personal care, Dad went to live at the Legion Lodge where he had a cozy little place and was there for several years before Alzheimer's started to creep in until it was best for him to moved to Douglas Campell Lodge in 2006 in the same facility as Mom.

Dad made the best of his situation and never lost his sense of humor. We are grateful to those who made his life there as comfortable as possible. Now his fight is over and we are thankful for the times we had with him and the gifts he gave to each of us. He taught us to value family, friendship and community and he led by example.

Visitation will be held on Monday evening, August 23, 2010 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel, 56 Royal Road S., Portage la Prairie. Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 2:00 pm in Hartney United Church with viewing prior to the service. Interment is to follow at the Lauder Cemetery.

As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Russ's memory to The Lauder Cemetery, General Delivery, Lauder, MB R0M 1C0 or Douglas Campbell Lodge Foundation, c/o Portage District General Hospital Foundation, 524- 5th Street SE, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3A8 or Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, 21 Royal Road S. Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 1T8

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel 857-4021 A message can be left in the on-line guest book at www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com