It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Mr. Alastair “Al”, “Birk” Cameron Turner at his home at Bethany CollegeSide Gardens, Red Deer, Alberta on Monday, December 4, 2023 at the age of 91 years. Al was born to Charles and Ethel Turner on March 19, 1932 at Kilgard, British Columbia (Abbotsford). When he was three, the family moved to Westwold, where they lived until 1943. Then they made their home at Salmon Arm, where many of his relatives still live. After High School, Al went to the University of Manitoba, graduating with a Diploma in Agriculture in 1951. While in University, he competed in a cattle halter making competition, where he made a halter in half the time of his competitors. In 1952, he married Violet Maki, and they spent their first two years together experiencing pioneer life, working on a farm in Bridge Lake, British Columbia. In 1954, Al and Vi bought her parents farm in the Hespero District, where they lived until 2018. The farm recently celebrated 100 years of family farming in Clearwater County. When Vi passed, Al moved to CollegeSide Gardens.

Al always loved his Horned Herefords, and he enjoyed showing them either in 4-H, or the local cattle shows in British Columbia. His love for cattle and the land continued his whole life. To help pay for the farm, he needed to get a job, so he hired on with Standard Gravel. He crushed gravel for many highways in Alberta, but he was especially proud that he helped build the Highway 11 bridge over the Medicine River, mentioning it almost every time you crossed it. Al had been working on a road at Fort McLeod, Alberta when he went to a local Bingo and won a TV. Since that was the first TV in the area, many neighbors came over to watch hockey games, the World Series, and TV favorites, like Bonanza. They were always welcomed into the home. Al also worked for the Eckville Coop, where he delivered feed around the area and picked up groceries from Calgary, for the Food Store. Later, Al drove the school bus and, while he liked the kids, he always said it put groceries on the table.

Al was community driven, and while we can’t remember all the organizations he was involved with, he was on the Board of Directors for the Eckville Credit Union, a Leader for the Hazel Dell 4-H Beef Club and on the Board of Diamond Valley Gas Coop, where he helped to bring natural gas to many rural properties.
He loved sports, curling in the winter, playing ball in the summer, and always enjoyed watching hockey and football, but his favorite was baseball, and he rarely missed a game. He could hit a ball! One time, he was seen hitting a ball from the diamond over the old Evergreen Hall. He passed on his love for sports as he coached kids’ ball for a few years, always showing them how to hold the bat, catch a ball and throw a pitch.
The move to CollegeSide Gardens was a new experience for him and he cherished the new friends he made. They became his extended family. He enjoyed all the activities like the weekly “guys meeting”, going for coffee, the Monday night book reading and especially, bingo.

He was proud of his family’s accomplishments and was always there to support them with a kind word, providing them with advice, or just visiting.

Al will be lovingly remembered by his four children, Marion (Marcel) Robin, Jeanette, Lorne (Barb) and Rodney (Donna), his nine grandchildren, Phillip (Kendra), Melanie (Bert), Darryl (Melanie), Mark (Dixi), Randy (Amanda), Shaun, Darren, Dulcie, and Hannah and his sixteen great grandchildren. He will also be sadly missed by his four brothers, and his two sisters. Al was predeceased by his wife, Violet, his mother and father and two brothers. Special thanks to his CollegeSide Gardens family who helped him in more ways than they know. Thanks to Dr. Uys from Discovery Medical Clinic for his exceptional care of Al. If desired, Memorial Donations in Al’s honor may be made directly to the Bethany Care Foundation, CollegeSide Gardens at www.bethanycarefoundation.com or to a Charity of the Donor’s choice.

Cremation entrusted to Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, Red Deer, Alberta. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com

Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium (Red Deer)

6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.

ONLY LOCALLY FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOME/CREMATORIUM

IN THE CITY OF RED DEER

• Date : 2023-12-13
• Location : Locally Family Owned (Red Deer) www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com