Obituary of Bessie Louise Naslund

Bessie Louise Naslund

(October 3, 1932 - June 13, 2018)

Bessie Louise Irwin was born Oct. 3,
1932 in Lamont, Alberta to Beulah and Andy Mackenzie. She was raised on a farm northeast of Rimbey by her grandparents, Hardin and Jessie Irwin. Bessie began her schooling in a one room country school house that was heated with a coal and wood stove.

When Bessie’s grandmother passed away she was kindly taken in by her Uncle Edwin and Aunt Clara Irwin. Bessie had two brothers, Donald Mackenzie (predeceased Bessie) and George Mackenzie who now lives with his wife Joyce in Ponoka.

Bessie met Gordon Algar at high school. They were married August 25, 1951 in Rimbey. They had three children Pam, Ross, and Doug. When her husband, Gordon, passed away suddenly in 1972, Bessie took over the family business.

In 1976, Bessie married Doug Bell.  In 1995 Bessie lost her second husband when Doug succumbed to cancer.  

Bessie met Stan Naslund at the nursing home where Doug Bell had respite day care. Bessie was 68 when she and Stan were married. When Stan became ill, Bessie took care of him in their home until he passed in 2015.

To her children and grandchildren’s delight, Bessie returned to central Alberta, moving into a nursing home August of 2016.  Bessie passed away in her sleep in at the nursing home June 13, 2018.

She  is missed  by her brother, George Mackenzie (Joyce); daughter, Pam Algar (Jim Stephens), granddaughter, Bree Simpson (Dan) great-grandchildren, Kale, Austyn and Cassidy;  son, Ross Algar (Lynn), grandchildren Nick (Christina) great-granddaughter Sophia, Meghan Villecourt (Marc) great-grandchildren Mason and Madelynn; son Doug Algar (Ginnie) grandchildren Kerry (Jessica), Shandra (Helena). Stepchildren- Bell Family- Linda, Laun, Janice and families, Naslund  Family- Sharon, Melvin, Darryl, Cindy, Tammee and families.

A Celebration of Life was held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 6, 2018, at the Peter Lougheed Community Centre (5109 54 St.) Rimbey, AB.

If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to the Alberta Cancer Foundation.