Debra Pettyjohn
Posted Oct 7, 2021 | 9:13 AM by SaamisMFC
Debra Beryl (Dumont) Pettyjohn passed away peacefully at the Medicine Hat Hospital on October 4th, 2021. She was born in Taber, Alberta on January 13th, 1953 to parents, Willard & Vera (Curling) Dumont. Her father worked as a cowboy, ranch-hand, and contractor, and as such she spent her very early life on various ranch-steads in southeastern Alberta. In 1956 her father assumed the role of Foreman of the LA Ranch south of Elkwater, Alberta. Living in the log LA Ranch house formed many of her earliest memories in life. Given the isolated location of the ranch at the time, when she reached school age, her mother homeschooled her for the first two years. For Grades III & IV she attended a small country school near Elkwater known as Lebanon School. Her parents then secured a lot in the Elkwater townsite, onto which they moved a former CPR section house, so that Debra and her sister could catch the bus to school in Irvine, Alberta. In 1967 her parents purchased the 4-T Ranch in the Eagle Butte Valley just below the Head of the Mountain at Elkwater. As a result, Debra returned to Lebanon School for Grade IX. Grades X to XII were completed at Medicine Hat High School initially through boarding arrangements and later living with her sister in a rented apartment. Ranch life suited Debra well in her youth, and she spent a great deal of time outdoors working alongside her father. She indicated in her memoirs that she was “a strong girl… I gave the hired men a good run for strength, throwing hay bales side-by-side.” She graduated from Medicine Hat High in the spring of 1971, and then on September 17th of that same year she married Terry Pettyjohn. Nine months and three days later, the couple’s first child, Royce Pettyjohn, was born. The couple initially settled on the ranch known as the “Parr Place” on the banks of Battle Creek southwest of Merryflat, Saskatchewan. Challenges with road conditions and accessibility in and out of the ranch in the winter resulted in them moving to the original Pettyjohn homestead up on Merryflat in 1974. The following year their second child, Calvin Pettyjohn, was born. The ranch on Battle Creek was sold in 1978, and the couple purchased the Flatview Ranch in the Arbana District northwest of Downie Lake in 1979. That same year their third child, Terina Pettyjohn, was born. A fourth child, Alex Pettyjohn, was born in 1982. As her family expanded she focused less attention when possible on ranch work, and more attention on homemaking activities such as cooking, baking, and sewing. While she maintained that her outdoor work in her youth left her ill prepared for being a housewife, she was nonetheless a fantastic cook and baker. In 1989, when all of her children were attending school full time, Debra purchased a clothing consignment store in Maple Creek which she operated until 1992. After closing her shop, she worked at various businesses in Maple Creek, but was always the most delighted when asked to work in Debbie Lambert’s gift shop “Sagebrush Plants & Gifts”. Continuing her education was important to Debra, and from the late 1980’s through to the mid-1990’ she completed a range of courses culminating with a course in cultural resource management through the University of Victoria that she completed in 1996. Like her parents before her, Debra was community minded and served in many volunteer capacities over the years for the Maple Creek Team Roping Club, Job’s Daughters, and the Maple Creek museums. In 1996 Debra and her husband Terry celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. However, the couple soon afterwards separated and later divorced. Debra left the Flatview Ranch in July 1997 to pursue a career in property management in Medicine Hat, which she continued until December 2008. In 2004 a baby girl by the name of Serenity Heinz was born to an acquaintance of the family. Debra assumed the role of surrogate Grandmother (or Nanny) to the baby, a relationship she maintained throughout her life. By 2009 Debra had met her common-law husband Garry Lentz, and moved to his farm in Cypress County, Alberta. Debra continued to live on the farm with Garry until her passing in 2021. Although she travelled to England as a child to visit her Grandparents in 1963, as an adult Debra was not fond of long-distance travel. However, in 2007 she was convinced to fly to Las Vegas with all of her children to watch her youngest son compete in a pool tournament. After this trip, Debra embraced travel and she subsequently enjoyed a return to Las Vegas, a trip to Jamaica for her youngest son’s wedding, travels throughout Alberta & a trip to Winnipeg with Garry, a month-long visit to England in 2015 to visit her cousins, and another short visit to England in 2016 during which she was thrilled to meet Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at Canada House on Trafalgar Square. Debra was however happiest when she was at home with her family. Her greatest loves in life were her children and her grandchildren who she relished spending as much time with as possible. Debra will be sadly missed by her sister, Donna (Herb) Kopp; her partner, Garry Lentz; her children, Royce Pettyjohn, Cal Pettyjohn, Terina (Laurie) Pettyjohn Sommerfeld, Alex (Karla) Pettyjohn, and her grandchildren, Serenity Heinz, Lukas Sommerfeld, Alissa Sommerfeld, Ethyn Pettyjohn, Koltyn Pettyjohn; and her step-grandchildren, Amber & Nathan Sommerfeld. Also, her adoptive sister, Mona (Don) Girling, their sons Cody & Cameron; her nephews, Aaron and Brad Kopp, and her extended family of cousins in both Canada and England. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Debra may be made to the S.W. Sask. Oldtimers’ Museum, Box, 1540 Maple Creek, Saskatchewan S0N 1N0. The memorial service will be held at Saamis Memorial Funeral Chapel on Saturday, October 9th, 2021 at 1:00 pm with Reverend Ken Edel officiating. Current Covid-19 restrictions will apply. Family and friends are welcome to participate via livestream by logging on to www.saamis.com and joining the live webcast on Debra’s memorial page at the above date and time. A virtual guest book is available on the livestream page for those participating remotely. Condolences may be sent to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Debra Pettyjohn.
- Date : 2021-10-04
- Location : Medicine Hat,AB.