Ivan Bigford

IVAN ALBERT BIGFORD of Lethbridge, beloved husband of Orma Bigford, passed away peacefully with his loving wife by his side, at St. Therese Villa on Sunday, September 5, 2021, at the age of 92 years.

Besides his wife Orma of 69 years, he is survived by his son, Barry (Jeanette); son in law, Bob Ivison; and granddaughter, Jenna Ivison. Ivan was predeceased by his daughter, Judy Ivison, in 2013.

Ivan was born on August 5, 1929, in Drumheller, Alberta, to Bill and Sarah Bigford and was the youngest of five children. He started working at a very young age delivering newspapers. He then got a job driving the delivery truck at N. B.  Vickers General Store in Drumheller, which is where he first met Orma. Ivan and Orma started dating in 1949 and were married on December 15, 1951.

For the next 8 years, Ivan worked on a seismic crew in the oil and gas industry. He and Orma (and eventually Judy) followed the seismic crew all over Alberta and into BC. They settled in Pincher Creek in 1959 when Ivan started working for the British American Oil Company

(Gulf) at the Pincher Creek Gas Plant. Ivan and Orma moved to Edson in 1981 when Ivan was transferred to the Gulf Hanlon Robb Gas Plant.  He retired from working at the gas plant in 1986 but continued working as a consultant for Gulf Oil until 1997, which concluded his career of 47 years in the oil and gas industry.

Ivan and Orma moved into Waterton Village on the west side of Lethbridge in 1989. They loved living in Waterton Village and made many lifelong friends. Ivan served several years on the Waterton Village board and painted fences, garage doors, and was willing to complete any maintenance job that needed to be done. As Ivan’s health declined, he and Orma moved into St. Therese Villa this past February.

Ivan will be remembered as a quiet and hardworking man. He was an expert cribbage player and enjoyed fishing, golfing, curling, playing pool, watching his favorite baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays, on TV, and spending time with his family. He enjoyed being a member of the Lethbridge Odd Fellows and Revellers. Ivan will be forever loved and missed by his family and friends.

A Come and Go Memorial Reception will be held at 2:00 pm, on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610-4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that one donates to a charity of one’s choice.

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