Our dad, Melvin Lee Thiessen was born December 15, 1937, in Grande Prairie, Alberta, to Gerard and Minnie Schartner Thiessen. With family by his side, he peacefully passed away on the wings of prayer, in his room at Points West Living, Grande Prairie, Alberta, reaching the age of 77 years. Dad grew up on his parentsâ?? farm in Crooked Creek, Alberta. He often spoke of traveling with his parents and had a special place in his memories for Carlsbad Caverns and Mexico. Dad was keenly interested in singing, especially menâ??s quartets. Musical rudiments were important to him and he would sit down with a song book and go through every song, practicing until he got each note and beat perfect. On a gorgeous autumn day, October 22, 1967, Dad married our mother, Lena Wohlgemuth. They shared life joys and sorrows for almost 48 years. We remember Dad coming into the house at the end of the day, smelling of the pine trees he worked with in the saw-mills and logging industry. He joined local carpenter crews and always enjoyed creating with wood. He built anything from swings and household furniture to childrenâ??s toys. Dad found a special friend in Estel North. They shared many interests including butchering, heading to the bush for firewood, fishing and visiting. Our two families became very close. It was a sad day when the North family moved back to Kansas. When we children were small, Dad often played games with us. We fondly recall invigorating evenings spent playing crokinole and checkers, Dadâ??s resounding laugh filling the room. The putt-putt of Dadâ??s old 8N Ford tractor echoes in our minds, calling up scenes of farm and yard work. Dad passed his love of birds onto most of the next generation or two. We learned to watch in spring for the brilliant yellow of the evening grosbeak, listen to the liquid warble of the redwing blackbird and the quick flick and dart of the chickadee. It was important to Dad to be on time, whether it was to church or any other appointment. He taught his family to be punctual and prompt and some of us still do that!! A special memory is of the time he went up in church and led the song, Thereâ??s a City of Light, telling the congregation it was his favorite hymn. Through the years, that song has remained precious. His declining health took him first to MacKenzie Place and then later to Points West Living where he was looked after by an exceptionally caring staff. Dad leaves behind our mother, Lena of Crooked Creek, Alberta; Delton and Juanita of Oliver, BC; Eldon and Heather of Crooked Creek, Alberta; Steve of Oliver, BC; Frank and Debbie of Crooked Creek, Alberta; Grace and Carl Peters of Taylor, BC; Cornie and Twyla of Hythe, Alberta; Doreen and Dennis Schmidt of Clairmont, Alberta; 15 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents and two infant daughters.