Obituary of Viola Hingley

Viola Hingley, a long-time resident of Bonanza, Alberta passed away on Monday, January 1, 2018 in Spirit River, Alberta at the age of 77 years.

Viola Rhea Rutledge was born in Grande Prairie, Alberta on December 4, 1940 to Robert James and Ethel Rutledge. Viola’s parents had homesteaded near Wembley and lived in the Beaverlodge area until 1947 when they moved to Salmon Arm, B.C. In the fall of 1950, Jim and family bought the Neilitz farm west of Wanham, Alberta.

Viola took on the job of cutting the twine on the stooks while Leo Fowler and her dad Jim fed the stooks into a combine borrowed from another neighbor. It was back breaking work, but like every farmer they looked forward to next year.

Ruby, Viola, Gladys, and Jean were the four Rutledge girls and they all attended Wanham School, and worked during or after High School at Fimrite’s Store. In 1955 in Grade 9 Viola had the highest marks in the Spirit River School Division and won the Governor General’s Award for this achievement. In 1958 she won the Fimrite Award for the highest marks of a grad going into Education. Viola took her training at the University of Alberta where she received her E & I Certificate.  She had her first teaching job in May and June at Wonderland, in Bonanza from the fall of 1959 to 1966 and in Savanna from the fall of 1966 to 1970.

In 1969 Viola and Orville Hingley combined their families. Viola had three children from her marriage to Russell Crocker; Sylvia Elaine, Carol Eileen and Leroy Russell, while Orville had two children; Trent and Patricia. Their family was very active in various 4-H groups. Viola and Orville found their life revolving around children and horses. Viola was very involved in the Bonanza Fair horse events. She did the secretarial work and Orville was Ring Master, working together everything pertaining to horses.

Viola added a flock of sheep to the mix of horses and cows on the farm, she was active in the Ag Society, co-edited the History Book, helped with the planning of the curling rink and still found time for knitting slippers, quilting, and was an accomplished seamstress. She often contributed slippers to the Hospital Auxiliary gift cupboard in Spirit River.

Orville and Viola went on many fishing trips, dreaming of catching the big one, during which Viola enjoyed catching up on her reading as she always took along a pile of books. They went on two major trips, one to Mexico, and one to England and Spain.

Viola was predeceased by her brother Eddie, her parents James and Ethel Rutledge, her husband Orville Hingley, her son Leroy Crocker, and her grandson Branden Giesbrecht.

Viola leaves to mourn her two daughters and their husbands, Sylvia and Don Funk and Carol and Merl Giesbrecht and grandson Colton Giesbrecht, as well as her sisters Ruby (Mark) Meunier, Gladys (Dave) Geernaert, and Jean (Peter) Pilch, along with nieces and nephews, other family and friends.

A Memorial Service was held on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 1:00 PM at the Bonanza Hall. Pastor Rob Nock officiated. Interment will be held at a later date.

For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Viola to the Central Peace Health Complex, Palliative Care Unit, PO Box 339 Spirit River, AB T0H3G0.

Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium