EBBESON, Aksel Magnus
Dec. 1, 1916 – Jan. 23, 2010
With family at his bedside,
Aksel Ebbeson passed away peacefully at Langley Memorial Hospital on Jan. 23, 2010. He was 93. He is survived by Effie, his wife of 69 years; son Dennis (Darla) of 100 Mile House; son Gordon (Lynda) of Halifax; daughter Barbara of Gabriola Island; grandchildren Regan (Mark), Arne, Spencer, Stephen, Colin, and Davina; great-grandson Matthew; and numerous nieces and nephews. Called variously Aksel, Dad, Grandpa, and Grandpa Aksel, he is greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his family and his many friends and neighbours. The youngest of five children, Dad was born Dec. 1, 1916 on a small farm on Matsqui Prairie. His parents (Ben and Anna) came to the U.S. from Norway in the 1890’s and then to Matsqui in 1909. After graduating from Vancouver Normal School in 1936, Dad taught in the elementary schools at Dewdney, Nicomen Island, and Deroche. Aksel and Effie married in 1941. In 1942, Dad joined the R.C.A.F. and was posted to the Commonwealth Air Training Base at Dafoe, Sask. He returned to the Abbotsford/Matsqui area in 1945 and to teaching as Vice-principal of Upper Sumas Elementary School. In 1948, the family moved to Langley where Dad managed the Langley 5¢ to $1.00 Store until his retirement in 1982. Always civic-minded, Dad was active in the Langley Volunteer Fire Dept., the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Langley Legion, and the Langley Lions Club. A memorial service will be held at Langley United Church (5673-200th St.) on Wed., Feb. 10, 2010 at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the B.C. Cancer Foundation.