Terrance Alvin Olstad

It is with great sadness that the family announce the passing of Terrance Alvin Olstad. Terry passed away at the Allen Gray Continuing Care Centre in Edmonton on September 23, 2024, at the age of 88 years after a long journey with Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia.

Terry is survived by his devoted wife Leva of 58 years, his daughter Karyl Olstad of Trail, B.C.; his son Kelly (Mandy) Olstad of Beaumont, Alberta; his granddaughters Amanda (Mike) Lowton and Kirsten Cox of Trail, B.C,; his grandsons Hunter and Cash Olstad of Beaumont, Alberta; as well as seven great grandchildren: Avy, Oliver, Oakley, Harper, Aspen, Dominick and Landon; his brother Denis (Hertha) Olstad and family of Kamloops, B.C.; and his sister-in-law Thelma Boyd of Onoway, Alberta. Terry was predeceased by his parents Alvin (Kelly) and Sadie Olstad, son Donal (3 1/2 years), his brother Byron, and his brother-in-law Alburn Boyd.

Terry was born in Fairview, Alberta and was the oldest of three children. He grew up in Hines Creek and graduated from high school in 1956. When Terry was young, he loved to take his rifle hunting squirrels, muskrats, and prairie chickens. During the winter months he ran a trap line for weasels and rabbits, drying the pelts and selling them. Terry’s dad had a quarter section of land near Hines Creek where he and his brother Denis helped on the farm by picking roots and stooking grain. He also helped his dad at the Northern Alberta Railway (NAR) Station.

After high school, Terry attended one year at the University of Alberta and completed 2 years of a course in Industrial and Cost Accounting. He worked for Catalytic Construction in Edmonton and Dow Chemical in Fort Saskatchewan.

Terry and Leva were married on November 12, 1966, in the Hines Creek United Church and lived in Edmonton. Terry went back to the University of Alberta, graduating in 1973 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, majoring in accounting. He went on to accept a teaching position at Senator Gershaw School in Bow Island, Alberta. He retired from that same position in 1994 and continued to substitute teach and supervise Alberta Education provincial exams.

After Terry retired he enjoyed cooking which included baking bread and preparing soups, stews, and Welsh rarebit. When he decided to can tomatoes without first sterilizing the jars his wife Leva had to intervene! Terry enjoyed curling, golfing, gardening, and traveling with his wife Leva to places such as Mexico, Australia, and the United Kingdom. He often spent summer holidays at their cottage at Thunder Lake, Alberta. Terry cherished all his grandchildren and great grandchildren and enjoyed spoiling them; they all knew to “just ask Grandpa.”

Terry was awarded a Lifetime Membership to the Bow Island Lions Club and engaged in many activities as part of that organization. He also received the Melvin Jones Lions award for humanitarian services.

Terry and Leva moved to Camrose, Alberta in 2011 to be closer to family. In 2018 they moved to Beaumont, Alberta, following Terry’s care needs.