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Abbotsford News Wednesday, January 8, 2014 A27

obituaries 7

OBITUARIES

DYKSTRA

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www.abbynews.com OBITUARIES

OBITUARIES

WILLIAM ROBERT BETTLES

Geoff Geoffrey Tyson Dykstra, late of Whittier, California, went Home to be with Jesus on January 4, 2014, at 34 years of age after an eight month struggle with leukaemia. Geoff is survived by wife, Leah and their five children: Abigael, Keely, Silas, Evangelyn, and Phinehas. He is also survived by parents, Frank and Grace Dykstra and sisters Catherine (Brad) and Erica (Dallin), all of Abbotsford, along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, and his Beppe Teyema. Geoff was born in Abbotsford in 1979 and attended Abbotsford Christian School graduating in 1997. He then attended Biola University in La Mirada, California, graduating in 2005 with a Degree in Organizational Leadership. He worked at and managed the Duplicating Centre at Biola University during his studies. After completing his degree, Geoff still wanted to pursue his dream of working in the medical profession and so in 2006, Geoff enrolled in the nursing program at Biola University, completed his nursing degree in 2010 and worked with the Los Angeles County Public Health Centre in Whittier. In April of 2013, Geoff became ill and on April 30 was diagnosed with AL leukaemia. Geoff spent his remaining days initially at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Whittier and later at the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood. His story of this time along with his and Leah’s testimony of their unwavering faith in their Savior, Jesus Christ, can be found at www.caring bridge.org/visit/geoffdykstra. The family thanks all the medical caregivers at both facilities for all their effort made to prolong Geoff’s life beyond his stem cell transplant in September. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 11, 2014, 10:30 AM, at Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, California with live stream of that service in Abbotsford, at Gateway Community Christian Reformed Church. John 3: 16

Phone: 604-853-1144 Fax: 604-853-6065 email: bonnie@bcclassified.com

NOV 11, 1950 - DEC 26, 2013

Tripp Jessie Kay SCHULTE Ronald Ronald John Schulte, peacefully passed away on January 1, 2014 at the age of 86. He will be remembered fondly and missed by his wife, Donna of 61 years; and his three children: daughter, Darlene (Xavier) Daniels, Bangalore, India, son, John (Noreen), 100 Mile House, and Jim (Kathy), Langley; and by his 13 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. He was born in Strome, Alberta on May 16, 1927 and moved to Enderby, BC with his family in 1945. He married Donna in 1952 and went into the logging business and also had a farm. In 1970 he moved to Quesnel, BC where he lived for 20 years and then retired to Chase, BC in 1990, where he enjoyed fishing and gardening. He and Donna moved to Abbotsford, BC in 2004. Ron spent time helping out and doing fixing jobs in the condominium where he lived and also helping his grandchildren. Throughout his life he was always there for anyone who needed a helping hand. Through many different health challenges over the past 6 months he remained full of gratitude for each day of life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Abbotsford Hospice Society for Building Holmberg House or to the charity of your choice. Tributes and condolences may be left at: www.hendersonsabbotsfordfunerals.com

Henderson’s Funeral Home 604-854-5534

Jessie Kay Tripp was born in Swift Current Saskatchewan on May 8, 1936. Jessie passed away on December 20, 2013 after a courageous battle with cancer. Jessie is predeceased by her parents Joseph John and Katherine (Loewen) Kosciuk, by her brother Gary and by her sister Mary. Jessie is survived by her husband Lionel of 54 years and by her children Garth (Sarah), Heather, A.J and Bill (Anne) Tripp and her many grandchildren. It is with great sadness that brother Eddy (Peggy), sisters Josephine, Rita (Milt), Sonja (Gordon) and Joan have lost our sister. Jessie will be missed by many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. A Memorial Service will be held January 11th 2014, 1PM at Cascade Community Church, 35190 Delair Road, Abbotsford B.C.

William Robert (Bill) Bettles passed away peacefully at Vancouver General Hospital on December 26, 2013 with his family by his side. Bill was born in Burnaby on November 11, 1950, the youngest of five children, to Percy and Rose Bettles. Bill married Barbara Anne Foster on August 28, 1971, and had three daughters whom he adored and spent much time with. Like his father and grandfather, Bill entered the plumbing trade, where he built a very successful mechanical contracting company over a 40-year career, responsible for the plumbing of many large commercial and public buildings in the Lower Mainland. During this time Bill also began a plumbing retail store with his brother John, and owned a sport fishing lodge in Little Fort, BC. As well as being a skilled businessman, Bill was an active community-giver. A Township of Langley Parks and Recreation Commissioner for three years, he was instrumental in raising funds to develop a lighted park for the Aldergrove Men’s Fastpitch League. From 1985 - 1990, he was president of the Aldergrove Ringette Association and in 1988 he started the Lower Mainland Ringette League where he was its first President. Bill was also a ringette team manager for many years, including Team BC’s Canada Winter Games team and he was a girls’ softball coach and administrator with the Langley Girls Fastpitch Association for many years. A historic moment occurred in 1995 when Bill started the Langley Girls Ice Hockey Association, which enabled female athletes to play hockey on female-only teams in the Fraser Valley. In 2009, Bill started and was General Manager for a National Ringette League team, the Fraser Valley Avalanche, offering unprecedented complete funding for 18 female athletes competing at an elite level of ringette in the province. Bill also endowed the Fraser Valley Ringette Associations’ Michelle Van Dale Memorial annual scholarship award. In 2011, Bill was the recipient of a Community Sport Builder award from Pacific Sport Fraser Valley, which recognized his achievements as a builder in community sport. Bill will be remembered by his wife Barbara, daughters Dyan Kinar (Mike), Shannon Reimer (Chad) and Michelle Peters (Denton). Grandchildren Emma, Grayson, and stepgrandchildren Evan and Jesse. Memories of ‘Billy’ or ‘Beaver’ will be fondly recalled by sisters Dorine Neilson (Phil), Sylvia Anderson (Del), Joan Keam, and brother John Bettles (Karen). Bill is predeceased by his mother Rose Bettles in 2004, father Percy Bettles in 1983 and brother-in-law Bob Keam in 2011. Funeral service will be held at Valley View Funeral Home and Cemetery at 14644 72nd Avenue Surrey BC on Tuesday January 7th, 2014, 2pm. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the BC Transplant Society or Vancouver General Hospital.

McLeans Funeral Services 604-847-3477

Memorials & Obituaries To honour our memories and show that we care. JANZEN, Eugen 1923 - 2014 Passed away in Abbotsford on January 1, 2014. He is predeceased by his parents, Johann and Olga Janzen and sister Ella in Russia, brothers Hans in Germany and Walter in Abbotsford. He will be missed by his siblings, Elli Stauss, Olga Schultz, Anna Rempel, Maria (Wilhelm) Daniels, Margaret Klatt, Helmut (Sieglinde) Janzen and Brigitte Janzen, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 2310 Clearbrook Rd., Abbotsford with a reception to follow. Online condolences can be left for family at www.woodlawnfh-abbotsford.com

Woodlawn Funeral Home (604) 853-2643

Call 604.853.1144

Erica Grace Schmidt (1954-2013)

Erica entered into the loving arms of her Saviour Jesus Christ on October 5, 2013. She was born to Peter and Doreen Hampton on April 5, 1954 in Powell River, BC. She was their only daughter followed by three brothers. She accepted Christ when she was five years old and was filled with the Holy Spirit when she was sixteen. She was part of the Jesus People movement and attended Pacific Bible College in Vancouver from 1974-77. Erica met her husband, Henry Schmidt there and they were married in Surrey on July 7, 1979. In Surrey, daughters Amy 1981 and Sophia 1982, were born. In 1984, the family moved to Abbotsford, Henry’s hometown, where their son,

Michael, was born in 1985. Erica and Henry pastored as a couple for twenty-five years in the community and also led a training centre with students attending from all over the world. She also taught elementary school, Bible, and ESL classes. She and Henry traveled around the globe giving out the good news of Jesus; her heart was especially for African orphans. She loved greatly and gave generously. She is survived by her loving family: husband, Henry; children, Amy, Sophia (Ryan Prachnau), and Michael (Kelsey); grandchildren, Anastasia, Aleksandre, and Judah; mother, Doreen; and brothers, Stephen, David, and James. The family appreciates our community’s overwhelming and generous response while Erica was missing since October. And so we invite the public to join us in remembering and celebrating Erica at South Abbotsford Church, 32424 Huntingdon Rd, on Friday, January 10th at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Living Waters Ministries and their work with African children.