Ervine Henry Thull

Ervine Thull passed away peacefully at Stettler Long Term Care on Monday, August 6, 2018 at the age of 78 years. Ervine will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 58 years, Della Mae; sons Jim (Brenda), Albert, Monty (Ashlee); daughter Gina (Dave) Summers; grandchildren Derek, Jessica, Delaney, Gracie Tyler, Maitland, Matthew and Melissa; brother Barry (Marijke), sister Sharon Delaney; close friend, Steven Andres; nieces, nephews and numerous extended family members and friends. Ervine was predeceased by his parents, Clara and Henry Thull and parents-in-law, Albert and Maxine Deringer.

Ervine Henry Thull was born on January 4, 1940 at St Michaels Hospital, Lethbridge, AB. His future wife Della Mae Deringer, born 4 days earlier on December 31st, 1939 was waiting there for him. 

When Ervine was four, the family bought a farm in Creston, BC with a house on the mountainside and their farmland was in the valley.  While living in Creston Ervine and his mother both developed asthma that was so severe that the doctor recommended that Ervine be moved back to Alberta. 

Ervine’s father Henry and Uncle Felix went on a trip to Alberta to find a new home. His dad chose Hillcrest Cabins on the south hill, Red Deer, AB.

In his younger years, Ervine spent most summers with his extended family at Milk River on their farms.  It was his favorite place on earth.  He just loved to farm.  At nineteen, he came back to Red Deer where he met Della Mae.

Ervine and Della Mae Deringer were married August 6, 1960.  Their first child Jimmy Andrew was born 9 months and 21 days after their wedding, later followed by the birth of Albert, Monty and finally a girl, Gina. Ervine was a good father; he wanted his children to be brought up not just grow up. He provided the time and love for them to do many activities and taught his children to do many things. Ervine only worked at a job where he could be home for lunch with his family. He always talked to the children to find out about their day at school etc. The children’s teachers were always shocked at what Ervine would know about the goings on at school. He was a strict father but loved his children with all his heart.

Ervine was very gifted.  If you showed him once how to do something, he never had to be shown again. He, with his fathers help, built the family’s first home and built numerous other things in his life. He apprenticed as a mechanic and got his Red Seal Journeyman Certificate.  Ervine worked very hard; he was the shop foreman at the age of 29 years for Red Deer Motors and later ran the mechanic automotive repairs for Willow Street Esso. In his last several years working, he looked after Kentucky Fried Chicken building maintenance for KFC owners John and Mary Konapacki.

Due to poor health Ervine retired young. He had his first heart attack in Las Vegas at 50 years of age and a second heart attack when he was 54. Thank you to the Dr. Temchuk and the University of Alberta Hospital team who, with the placement of a pacemaker and defibrillator were able to give Ervine many more years to enjoy his retirement with his wife, children and growing grandchildren.

When Ervine’s health further declined in later years, Albert moved home to help his parents, and along side his mother, was a devoted caregiver up until his father’s passing.

A Prayer Service will be held at St. Mary's Parish, 6 McMillan Ave., Red Deer, Alberta, on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at 7:00 pm.  Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 6 McMillan Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, on Wednesday, August 15 at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the University of Alberta Hospital Foundation, Donor Office - University of Alberta Hospital, 1H1.91 WMC, 8440 – 112 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, www.universityhospitalfoundation.ab.ca/donatenow.