Edward (Ted) Charles Friday

Edward (Ted) Friday was born in Maple Creek on August 14, 1937. He was the first son to James and Elsie Friday and brother to Gwen. He passed away peacefully in his bed with his wife by his side.

Ted was raised in the Maple Creek area and attended the Jasper school quitting early to help with work at home. Ted loved horses, cattle, nature, women and every beautiful thing God has created. Ted worked hard his whole life, working at an early age for Mr. Harris, his grandpa Abe Lee and his dad. He would often tell how when Gwen and he had started school they would get up early and have to do their chores before they walked the mile and a quarter to the main road to catch the bus, no matter what the weather. Sometimes the bus wouldn’t make it and they would have to walk home.

In the summer of 1963 Ted and Mary-Anne fell in love and we were married October 21, 1963 at the Anglican Church. The first couple of years we lived on the family ranch along highway 21 south. In 1965 we ventured out on our own. Ted worked for Bill McKenzie’s construction helping to build houses in Maple Creek and Gull Lake. We eventually made a deal with Ted’s father to buy the land along Gap Creek. Purchasing cattle and machinery as we were able.

In the 1970s we purchased the Earl Sheldon place which was attached to our property on the north end. This gave us more grazing and access to irrigation. We purchased pumps and pipes and for the next 12 years every spring and summer we would move 76 hand move irrigation pipe twice a day for 3 weeks, Ted loved it, he could grow his own hay and on really good years had extra feed. We eventually bought wheel move irrigation and made the irrigation chore much easier.

In 2001 Ted’s back started giving him severe problems finally in 2003 he had back surgery and he was given a severe warning by the neurosurgeon that if he did not want to wind up in a wheel chair he would have to give up riding and all heavy lifting work like calving out heifers. For a while we ran the place with help of our friend Pete O’Hare. Then we tried with hired help. Then along came Kory Wasilow he turned into Ted’s best friend and did all the ranch work that Ted was unable to do. We eventually sold the ranch to Kory keeping only our own paradise “The home quarter”.

In may of this year Ted’s health started to decline fairly rapidly. In October we decided we would need to move to town, we were going to make that happen at the end of November.

Ted is survived by the love of his life Mary-Anne, his wife of 56 years. By his sister Gwen Stanko and her children David (Kimberly), Brian, Sister Margaret Geiger (Douglas East) and family, Tim (Carrie), Kathy (Garth) his sister-in-law Jose Squire and her children Dennis and Kim (Terry), brother-in-law Frans van der Heyden (Judy). Brother Dick’s children Dewayne (Vickie), Joe (Cheryl), Rick (Debbie) and Andrew (Cathy). Great nieces and nephews and of course great-great nieces and nephews as they came into out lives for us to love.

Ted was predeceased by his parents James and Elsie Friday, by his in-laws John and Ann van der Heyden. By his brother Dick, his brothers-in-law Phillip Stanko, Stewart Squire and Peter van der Heyden and his nephew Wayne Stanko.

A memorial service was held at St. Mary’s Anglican Church with the Ven. Archdeacon Peter Boote presiding. The eulogy was given by David Stanko and David also read words of kindness written by Cheryl Friday. A poem entitled “A Riders Prayer” author unknown was read by Eric Lawrence. Honorary pallbearers were all who shared in Ted’s life. The service was followed by a time of fellowship. A family interment was held at our home and Ted was laid to rest with our four-legged babies; Dixie, Sparky and Maggie.

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