Alice KEMP

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

KEMP: Alice Lorraine born January 3, 1917, passed away peacefully July 14, 2010 at Brandon Regional Health Centre. Alice was born in the R.M. of Saskatchewan, the eldest of eight children born to Arthur and Laura Belcher. She attended McBride School in the Cadurcis district. She lived with and helped her grandparents for a number of years. This experience no doubt helped develop her caring personality. Her family moved to Rapid City in the late 1920’s and it was here that she met Jack Kemp. They married in 1939. Jack joined the Army that December and was shipped overseas, only one month before their son Gerry was born. Jack returned home in May 1945. After the War, the family bought a farm in the Cadurcis district and expanded the family in 1952 with a daughter Laura. The crops were hailed out in 1957 and this prompted a move back to town. In 1963 they purchased Trott’s Bakery, which became a variety store called Kemp’s Konfectionary. They operated the store successfully, but after the tragic death of their daughter Laura in July 1968, they sold it in 1969. Alice was a staunch member of the United Church, a dedicated Legion Auxiliary member and a faithful member of the Rapid City Seniors. She was instrumental in the beginning of the Basswood Legion Auxiliary and served as its first president. She worked tirelessly in the Rapid City Legion Auxiliary and has been recognized by that organization with a number of awards. Over the years she was employed in a bakery, was an egg grader and operated the convenience store, she also decorated cakes for special occasions. Along with the UCW and Legion Auxiliary her volunteer life also included being a 4-H Leader, a Sunday School teacher and a volunteer at the museum. She was a founding member of the Rapid City Golf Club, curled actively for many years and in recent years continued to enjoy curling on TV along with several soap operas. She enjoyed working in her flower garden as much as singing in the choir, where her voice was always clearly heard. She loved watching the humming birds scrapping at their feeder. All in all 92 of her 93 years were spent in and around Rapid City. Only when she could no longer live wholly independently did she leave her beloved town and move to Sokol Supportive Housing in Brandon. Here she quickly made new friends and was content. Alice was predeceased by her parents, her husband Jack in 1997, daughter Laura in 1968, siblings Mary, Arthur, and Phyllis all under the age of one year, sister Hilda in a horse drawn wagon accident at age 13 years, sister Mae Seghers and brother Jack Belcher. She will be lovingly remembered by her family, son Gerry (Sharon), Brandon, grandchildren: Brian (Shelley), Tamara and Keira Kemp, Bowmanville, Ontario and Donna (Chris) Mitchel and Dallas Drysdale, Dauphin, sister Dorothy Shaw, Russell and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral service was held on July 19, 2010 in Rapid City United Church with Rev. Barb Jardine officiating, organist Norma Christie, soloist Alexe Jones and Legion Auxiliary honor guard. Active pallbearers were: Mitch Drysdale, Dallas Drysdale, Allan Seghers, Kim Kemp, Bill Kemp, and Doug Northam. Honorary pallbearers were all in attendance. Interment was in Rapid City Cemetery. Minnedosa Funeral Service was in care of arrangements.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jul 24, 2010