Margaret Reese

June 24, 1942 ~ July 6, 2026

Margaret Rae Reese passed away at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital on Monday, July 6, at the age of 84 years. Margaret was born in Souris, Manitoba, on June 24, 1942, to Walter and Jesse Thompson, who farmed and raised cattle near Brandon. She married Dennis Reese of Starbuck, Manitoba, on August 17, 1963. Margaret and Dennis lived in several communities throughout Manitoba before moving to Elkwater, Alberta, in 1976. In 1979, they purchased land south of Elkwater in the Cypress Hills, where they built their homestead and lived until retiring to Medicine Hat in 2018. Margaret was a devoted homemaker with a deep love of the outdoors and of raising animals. An accomplished seamstress, she won awards at local fairs for her craftsmanship. She also managed the restaurant at the Elkwater ski hill for many years and was well known for creating a fun atmosphere, including having staff wear her homemade aprons designed to resemble bikinis. She took great pride in starting her own flowers from seed and maintained a beautiful and colorful yard. Family gatherings brought her great joy, especially the many sit-down dinners featuring wild goose or elk, some of which she had hunted herself. Her most joyful role was being “Gramma” to her beloved granddaughter, Lily. Margaret is lovingly remembered by her husband, Dennis Reese; her children, Chris (Emily) Reese, Glenn (Bonnie) Reese and Tricia (Ian) Wall; her granddaughter, Lily Rae Reese as well as her brother, George (Martha) Thompson. She was predeceased by her brother Bob, (Fern) Thompson. A celebration of Margaret’s life will be held at the Elkwater Community Hall on Tuesday, August 4, 2026,  at 2:00 p.m. She will be laid to rest at St. Margaret’s Church in Cypress Hills, Alberta. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, Crematorium & Reflections Reception Facility, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 4V4.  Telephone:  403-527-6455 or toll free at: 1-877-528-6455.

• Date : 2026-07-06
• Location : Medicine Hat, Alberta

1. Check all listings by this user