Margaret Jean Aleman (née: Ryan), resident of McBride, BC, and formerly of Grovedale, Alberta, passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the age of 87 years.

Margaret was born in Grande Prairie, Alberta, on February 28, 1938. She was raised on the farm in Wembley, Alberta, by her parents, George and Anna Stoll, along with her four step siblings, John, Frank, Marjorie, and Aleta.

On June 23, 1955, she married Michael Ryan and moved to South Wapiti, Alberta, where they started a small farm and raised five children: Don, Leona, Barb, Tom, and Trish.

Margaret worked alongside her husband farming and raising livestock. She sold eggs and chickens and tended to a huge garden. Life was tough on the farm, but they always managed to make ends meet.

Once the children spread their wings and started life on their own, Margaret and Michael divorced and Margaret moved from the farm to Grande Prairie. Her life on the farm taught her about hardships, hard work, resourcefulness, and sacrifices, and she took these skills with her. With these skills in tow, employers were eager to hire her, and she worked hard at all the jobs she acquired. She worked at numerous places, including Zellers, Borstad Welding, and Grande Prairie Motor Inn, to name a few. Margaret loved to meet new people and was very outgoing and sociable. Her favourite job was working at a hotel front desk, where she could meet all types of people from different walks of life. She loved to travel and visited Hawaii numerous times.

Margaret remarried on June 29, 1999, to Peter Aleman. They lived in California for several years before moving to McBride, BC, in 2013, where she resided until her passing.

Knitting and crocheting were among her greatest pleasures and she shared that gift generously. Her handmade blankets, bedspreads, and tablecloths became lasting expressions of her love, now cherished by family and friends alike. She took special joy in making sure that every one of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren had something created by her to hold onto.

She had an equally deep love for music. Whether at the piano or with her accordion, Margaret filled her home with beautiful music. Her children especially remember growing up and begging her to play the accordion—memories that continue to bring them smiles and comfort.

She will be sadly missed by her husband, Peter Aleman; her children, Leona (Kelly) Eyben, Barb (Darcy) Sask, Tom (Shelly) Ryan, and Trish (Ken) Trarback; her grandchildren, Amy (Dwayne) Vause, Steven (Jenna) Eyben, Amanda Eyben, Pamela Sask, Coltan (Meagan) Ryan, Craig (Bryony) Ryan, Custin (Callie) Ryan, Michelle (Thomas) Dykstra, Marshall Trarback, and Marissa (Matthew) Trarback; Peter’s daughter, Adriana (Jason) Bratcher; and numerous great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her mother and father, George and Anna Stoll; stepsiblings John Stoll, Frank Stoll, Marjorie Schmidt, and Aleta Bain; son Donald Ryan; two infant children; and Michael Ryan.

The memorial service will be held on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Oliver’s Funeral Home (10005 107 Avenue, Grande Prairie).

A private interment for family will be held after the service at the Grande Prairie Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.