Skip to content

Gordon Douglas, Sandra Norma (Berry), Monica Dale KLAUS

December 11, 2013

KLAUSGordonSandiMonicaDec112013

Gordon Douglas Klaus

His parents were Martha and John Klaus. He attended school in Castor, grades 1-11 and he took his final year at Lindsay Thurber Composite High in Red Deer. Gordon was a great athlete and played a variety of sports during his school years. Sandi and Gordon were high school sweethearts. They were blessed with their first daughter, Lisa Marie, on March 19, 1971. Sandi and Gordon were married on April 28, 1972. They began their married life together living on the family farm and farmed together with Gordon's parents. They were blessed with their second daughter Monica Dale on May 29, 1973. On October 8, 1973, they lost their precious Lisa in a tragic farm accident. Shortly after that they moved to another farm site where they have lived all these years. Gordon had a passion for hunting and enjoyed fishing. He was a real prankster as well! He had the best sense of humour and loved to laugh. The two families continued to farm together for many years until John's health required him to retire, following which Gordon's family carried on. Sandi and Gordon were very active Kinette and Kinsmen members and developed a group of very close friends. They became godparents to one niece and one nephew. Sandi and Gordon were Martha and John's major caregivers and took excellent care of both of them during their golden years.


Sandra Norma (Berry) Klaus

She was the oldest of 6 children and raised on a farm north of Halkirk by Big Knife Park. Throughout her youthful years she was a fun spirited daughter that loved to seek adventure and excitement playing with cousins on the county gravel pit and hay bales. After attending high school in Castor and Stettler, Sandi worked at Alberta Government Telephones as an operator and then worked at Alberta School Hospital in Red Deer. Sandi dated Gordon Klaus throughout high school and in 1971 they had a darling daughter, Lisa Marie. In 1972, they married and moved to the Klaus family farm northeast of Castor. It wasn't long before they had two more children. Tragedy hit the family on Thanksgiving Day in 1973 when Lisa was killed in a farming accident. Although this accident was devastating to the family, they grew closer and never forgot Lisa's short time with the family. In the early years on the farm, Sandi and Gordon continued growing the farming operations while raising their young family who were involved in many school activities in Castor. When Sandi wasn't cooking meals for the hired men or helping Gordon pull calves or hauling grain, she was actively involved in Kinettes or curling in the Castor community. She also cared for John and Martha Klaus in their final years and was a godparent to a niece and nephew. Although this was an exhausting time of her life, she always found time for playing cards, hunting and fishing with family and friends and laughing at Gordon's practical jokes. As the children grew older looking to start their own careers, Sandi also decided to expand her skills and found a second career outside of the farm at Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital in Castor. She absolutely loved working at the hospital and recently celebrated her 10 year service anniversary.


Monica Dale Klaus

She was the second oldest of 3 children belonging to Gordon and Sandi Klaus. Monica was raised on the family farm and attended school in Castor. Throughout her childhood years she was a mild mannered and pleasant little girl that was very active in school sports including pitching for the girl's baseball team and figure skating. She also worked part-time during high school at Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital. Following high school graduation she attended Red Deer College and achieved her Paralegal Assistant Certificate. Her working career began at a lawyer's office in Stettler where she used her newly learned college skills. Her most recent employment was payroll administrator at Vortex in Stettler. Here she was greatly respected by her co-workers for her excellent hard work and dedication. Monica had great passion for her career and the people she worked with and was happy to be able to have her best pal Patches accompany her to work. Monica was active in the Stettler women's golf league for a couple of years. She had a passion for attending country and rock concerts and attended many Big Valley Jamborees. She and Patches would spend many weekends on the family farm helping out with calving, branding, cattle drives and overall farming chores. On many occasions she would try her luck at riding horses over quadding on cattle drives. She also had a love for photography and took many photos of the farm and family. Monica along with her parents were avid deer hunters and together they would spend weekends looking for the trophy buck. Every year being the sharp shooter that she was, she would fill her tag and gain bragging rights. Monica had a warm heart, great sense of humor and quick wit.


They are survived by Sandi's parents Lowell and Janette Berry; her sisters: Brenda (Murray) Walper, Lana Rose, Nancy Chick; her brothers Grant (Darlene) Berry and Trevor Berry; sister in law Wendy Berry; Gordon's sister Marilyn (Barry) Thomson and brother Robert (Chris) Klaus; their son and brother; 30 nieces and nephews and 18 great nieces & nephews. Gordon, Sandi and Monica will be greatly missed and forever remembered by their family and friends. A Celebration of their lives was held on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the Castor Community Hall with Rev. Barbara Zimmerman officiating. Loving tributes were given by Marilyn Thomson, Grant Berry, Nicole Thomson and Robert Klaus. Veronica Weber, Rosa Weber, and Pat Campbell led in the ministry of music. The family and friends shared a tribute in pictures by Nicole Thomson. The interment took place in the Castor Cemetery where Gordon, Sandi, and Monica were laid to rest beside their daughter and sister Lisa. A time of sharing and fellowship took place in the Hall with the luncheon prepared and served by Ann Michielsen.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of the Klaus Family may be made to Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital Foundation.

PARKVIEW FUNERAL CHAPELS & CREMATORIUM

were entrusted with the care and funeral arrangements.

For further information please call 403-882-3141.



Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.