Marjorie Little

Surrounded by her loving family and on the day of her 56th Wedding Anniversary, our Dear Mom and Grandma, MARJORIE DOREEN LITTLE, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mom was born to Willem and Jacoba Dogterom on Valentines Day, 1934. Her parents were immigrants from Holland who imparted in their daughter the values that through hard work, perseverance and optimism, that anything was possible. Margie set out to prove them right.

She excelled in her school work from the start at Galbraith School to when she finished at the LCI at the age of 17. Music became an integral part of her life as she learned the piano and became the regular pianist at the Lethbridge Pentecostal Assembly, including playing for the church's regular Sunday evening broadcast on CJOC radio from the top of the Marquis Hotel.

Even though Mom came from humble beginnings, she wanted to do more in her life, more than the traditional roles that the world offered women in those days. She decided to enter a field where women were virtually nonexistent: Accounting. With the unwavering support of her parents, she began to pursue her chosen profession. Although she met initial resistance, John Williams of Williams, Tanner and Bell took a risk that not many were willing to take in the early 1950s, that of hiring a woman to enter into a profession that hitherto was solely the domain of men.
It was while articling with John Williams, Mom met her future husband Rex. Although they had met in high school, it was not until they worked together that their romance flourished culminating in marriage in Great Falls, Montana on October 2nd, 1954. While just newly married, the young couple continued their articles and completed a degree from Queen's University by correspondence. The next year, their first son Tom was born and two years later, a daughter, Cory. Even with two toddlers (and a husband who played in dance bands to supplement their meager income at the time) Mom completed her articles and became the fourth woman Chartered Accountant in Alberta and the first woman Chartered Accountant in Lethbridge. Later on, her daughter Cory would enter the profession and together they would be the First Mother/Daughter Chartered Accountants in Canada.

While expecting her second daughter, Robin, Mom went to the airport to help a friend of Dad's who was starting an airline. It was there that Mom would unite with Walter R. (Stubb) Ross to help form Lethbridge Air Service, later Time Air. Mom would pour herself into her work and her service to Time Air was no exception. For 30 plus years, Mom provided the accounting and financial guidance to a company that would become the third largest airline in Canada. In those early years of Time Air, Mom would have her second son, Chris.

Even while helping a fledgling airline grow, a husband with political ambitions, and a large roster of other small clients. Mom was a devoted and dedicated Mother, who, while facing work demands and deadlines, still attended concerts and sports events, baked for bake sales and was always there to heal the inevitable wounds to body and feelings that kids have growing up. This continued as Mom was able to do the same for her grandchildren. They truly were her greatest joy.

Mom served her community through volunteer work and membership in service organization. She was especially proud of her service on the Board of Governors of the University of Lethbridge. Even after her tenure ended on the Board, Mom continued to support the University and especially the Faculty of Management in any way she could. However, she would rarely accept the accolades that many would want to bestow upon her.

Mom was predeceased by her parents and her husband of 49 years Rex. She was also predeceased by her four brothers, Jan, Cory, Tom and Leonard and by her sister-in-law Nora. She is survived by her son Tom (Kim) Little and their sons Matthew and Connor of Lethbridge; her daughter Cory (Dan) Halverson and their children Megan (Brandon) Girard, Kate and Andrew of Calgary; her daughter Robin Little (Mike Boychuk) of Calgary; and her son Chris (Carmen) Little and their children Sarah and Thomas of Lethbridge. Mom is also survived by sister Helen Jaynes of Duncan, BC, her sister-in-law Erma Dogterom of Lethbridge and sister-in-law Marge Dogterom of Bozeman, Montana along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Mom's Life will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, October 8, 2010 at the WESTSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH, 480 McMaster Blvd. West, Lethbridge, with Reverend Larry D. Hankinson, officiating.

Those who wish, donations in Marjorie's memory may be made to the Alberta Cancer Foundation - Sarcoma Research, c/o Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331 29th Street NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N2, or to St. Michael's Foundation - Palliative Care, 1400-9th Ave. S., Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4V5.