Bert Chidley

Feb 11, 1934 - May 31, 2018
Mr Bert Chidley, recently of Buck Lake, Alberta and formerly of Stettler, Alberta passed away at Breton on May 31, 2018 at the age of 84 years.

He is survived by his son, Dale Chidley of Buck Lake, special friend, Doreen McCabe, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Russell and Elechia Chidley and three older brothers, Bill, Arley and Murl.

Bert was born in Castor on February 11, 1934 and raised on the family farm between Hanna and Castor. He attended Corinne School and later attended school in Irricana while staying with his brother Bill and his wife Hazel and helping them in their store. After leaving school, he worked in Hanna at the MacLeods store before returning to the family farm.

In 1956, Bert married Mary Kerner and they welcomed the birth of their son Dale in September 1958. He and Mary later moved to Hanna where he worked for Grover Transport and Jenkins Grocerteria. He again went back to farming from 1968 to 1975 both on the family farm and in the Altario district.

Bert moved to Stettler in 1980 and settled there for the next 35 years, working for L.A. Furniture, Home Hardware, and Hagen Building Supplies. Bert stopped working when he suffered a stroke in 2004.

Bert was a gifted musician and throughout his life, music was his passion, starting from when he played mandolin and the fiddle as a child. He afforded his first mandolin by snaring rabbits and selling the pelts. He learned to play the fiddle from his Mother, who also played, later he picked up the banjo and guitar on his own.

He was playing for dances by age 13. He did this all his life, playing for dances, seniors venues, churches and eventually he travelled Alberta judging fiddle contests. He and his bands recorded two cassettes which were sold locally.

For the last two years, Bert resided with his son, Dale, at Buck Lake. He entered the Breton Care Centre in January 2018. Bert will be always remembered and sadly missed by his family and friends.

A Celebration of Life was held on June 11, 2018 with interment at Lakeview Cemetery and a gathering of family and friends at the Stettler Funeral Home.

Donations in memory of Bert and gratefully accepted to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, S.T.A.R.S. or a charity of your choice c/o Stettler Funeral Home & Crematorium P.O. Box 1780 Stettler, AB T0C 2L0, 403-742-3422, who were entrusted with the care and funeral arrangements.

To send condolences to the family, please visit www.stettlerfuneralhome.com
 Stettler Funeral Home & Crematorium