A memorial service for lifetime Fort Macleod resident, Bertha Stewart who passed away on Oct. 19 at the age of 92, was held Oct. 22 in Christ Church, Anglican.
Rev. Noel Wygiera and Rev. Ernie Doyle officiated at the service. Carole Cressman was the organist for the congregational singing of hymns. Bertha’s sons-in-law, Jack Cahoon and Bill Haydamack, presented the eulogy and special remembrance remarks.
Born in Fort Macleod on June 19, 1912, Bertha received her education there. Following high school, she studied to be a beautician and worked in Fort Macleod. In the early 1930s, Bertha met Orwell Stewart at the Fort Macleod Curling Rink, and they were married on July 21, 1935.
Bertha was very active in community affairs and sports. She was an active member of the Eastern Star and the Rebekah Lodge for 50 years, as well as Past Guardian of Job’s Daughters. Playing bridge was one of her greatest pleasures and she played with the same group of ladies for 50 years. The “broomball” bridge club members originally played broomball in the arena. As the ladies matured, they changed from broomball to bridge.
One of Bertha’s greatest thrills was a six-month trip around the world in 1963. She loved to talk about the trip, and she had many exciting stories to tell of her experiences throughout the many different countries.
Very active in curling, Bertha won many southern Alberta bonspiels, including the Southern Alberta Ladies Provincial Championship in 1951. In 1974, Bertha became an honorary life member of the Fort Macleod Curling Club and had the honor of throwing the first curling rock at the Centennial Provincial Playdowns in Fort Macleod.
Golfing was also a passion for Bertha. As a teenager she got up early and walked to the golf course to play nine holes before going to school. She won many ladies tournaments in southern Alberta, including the Waterton Lakes Ladies Tournament four times.
In 1985, Bertha received an honorary lifetime membership to the Fort Macleod Golf Club, and she was the last original member of the club. A hole-in-one on the 144-yard fourth hole in Fort Macleod on Aug. 22, 1982 was a real thrill for her. As a participant in the golf events of the Southern Alberta Summer Games, Bertha won five gold medals.
As a young woman, Bertha excelled as a tennis and badminton player. She and her badminton partner, Lillian McLean, were a force to deal with. Bertha fired a score of 395 in five-pin bowling at the Owen Bohne Alley. The score was the highest score ever made in Fort Macleod in league play by either a woman or a man.
Bertha is survived by her two daughters, Pat Cahoon (Jack) of Winnipeg, Man. and Myrna Haydamack (Bill) of Morgan Hill, California; five grandchildren, Michael Cahoon (Catherine) of St. Albert, Joanne Cahoon of Riverview, Florida, Barbara Cahoon (Scott McTavish) of Winnipeg, Craig Haydamack (Johana) of Hillsboro, Oregon, and Brent Haydamack (Christi Herring) of Valencia, California; and seven great grandchildren.
Two brothers, Reginald and Norman McNab, and four sisters, Eva Brown, Gladys Litle, Kathleen Stephenson, and Helen Walker predeceased her.
