Rhonda Rogers of Foremost, beloved wife of Bill Rogers, passed away suddenly at home on July 4, 2014 at the age of 60 years.
Rhonda was born April 12, 1954 to Harold and Josephine Street & lived on the Street farm south of Etzikom. She attended school in Etzikom, then the Foremost School when the family moved there from the farm. After graduating from Foremost High School she attended the Lethbridge Community College taking the Business Administration course. Upon completion she moved to Medicine Hat and worked at the AMA office. But after a short time there, she was drawn back to Foremost where she purchased a house and worked in the Royal Bank. It was during this first time in Foremost that she and Bill began to develop a relationship that would take 30 years to blossom. In 1983 Rhonda left Foremost and moved with her Mom to Medicine Hat where Rhonda continued to work in the banking business. While in Medicine Hat, Rhonda’s knack for baking and cooking all sorts of delicious dishes really flourished as Rhonda and her Mom baked, cooked, entertained and decorated their individual parts of the house they shared.
In 1985 Rhonda moved to Brooks to begin a new chapter. While in Brooks she met the Gartz family and worked part time in the fast food outlets they operated. During her work there she met and later married Wilf Gartz in the fall of 1987 but the marriage did not thrive. After that, Rhonda’s focus was on her home and yard in Brooks and she resumed her banking career working at the Brooks ATB. Many, many hours were spent caring for and improving the yard and home she loved. She enjoyed her time spent volunteering in various organizations and helping others.
After many years, Bill re-entered the picture and this time the relationship took hold. Rhonda married Bill in November 2008 and moved back to Foremost to continue her banking work. They purchased a farmhouse, moved it into Foremost and worked side by side to remodel it into their home.
Throughout her years, Rhonda’s faith was important to her and she took very active roles in Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooks and more recently Trinity Lutheran Church in Foremost.
Rhonda struggled with health problems for most of her life and although many efforts were made by her and her family to address that illness, she struggled with anorexia until the end of her life.
Besides her loving husband Bill, left to mourn her passing are her two sisters, Sharon (Lindsay) Reid of Brooks and Marlene Hammel of Etzikom and two brothers Wayne (Erika) Street of Coaldale and Kevin (Tania) Street of Foremost; nieces Claudene, Adina and Marcy and nephews, Len, Lorne and Trevor; and Bill’s 2 brothers and 3 sisters. She was predeceased by her mother and father, niece, Cynthia Baker and brother-in-law, Ray Hammel. She will be sadly missed by family and friends in Brooks and Foremost.
The Funeral Service to celebrate Rhonda’s life will be held in Foremost at Trinity Lutheran Church, 302-3 Avenue West on Thursday, July 10 at 2:00 with Reverend Mac de Waal officiating. There will be a private family graveside ceremony as Rhonda’s wishes were for her ashes to be placed in her Dad’s grave in the Foremost cemetery
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Rhonda’s name may be made directly the Foremost Emergency Services c/o Village of Foremost, Box 159, Foremost , AB T0K 0X0.
Arrangements in care of Southland Funeral Chapel, Taber. For more information or to send condolences please visit www.southlandfuneral.com or call (403) 223-8778.
