She was a very adventurous sort. This probably began when she spent a very short life in the Blue Grass country on her dad’s homestead before moving with the family, two wagons, horses, cattle and belongings to the Veterans Farm in Tilley when she was one year old.

Her early schooling was in Renfrew and Brooks schools. She entered the teaching profession and spent the better part of her life in schools with students and staff. In looking through her things, a list of schools and dates was found. She taught a total of 39 years and spent 16 of those at W.A. Day School in Fort Macleod.

Cleo went to teach at a DND school in France or Germany in 1958. Being the individual that she was, she even took her 1956 Chev on the boat with her to France.

In 1966, she left teaching at Ralston School to marry Melvin Affleck of Shaunavon, Sask., with the idea of helping with his four young children — Wylie, Robin, Donna and June — after his wife died.

It was during some of those early school years that she found her faith and faith friends, who became lifelong friends! Her faith took her to many places in the world and to many meetings and conventions. It was interesting as I was charged with going through some of her many letters and poetry. She kept in touch with a multitude of friends and her faith missionary friends. Her faith in many respects was her life. I believe she was a child of God!

She is survived by her brother Tom of Airdrie; stepchildren Wylie Affleck (Wendy), Robin Kehl, Donna Karstad (Mark) and June Pizzey (Rod); and numerous nieces and nephews in Canada as well as relatives in England, Norway, U.S.A. and Australia.

She was predeceased by her parents, Colben and Nellie Colbens of Tilley; her sisters, Sigred Kamp (John) of Bassano, Dorothy Brooks (Jim) of Barrie, Ont., Jean Frohberger (Sidney) of Valleyview, Phyllis Duke (Harold) of Thunder Bay, Ont., Emma Colbens of Lacombe; her brother Ben (Ruth) Colbens of Tilley; her sister-in-law Dorothy Colbens of Airdrie; her niece Pat Roblin of Barrie, Ont.; and her nephew Lloyd Colbens of Tilley.

A very special thanks to the Lewis family, especially Gerald and Marlene, who have been wonderful friends in helping Cleo over the many years she lived in Fort Macleod and Pincher Creek. A special thank you to the staff at Vista Village in Pincher Creek for their loving support of Nellie.

A celebration of her life was held Dec. 30, 2020. Arrangements made by Snodgrass Funeral Home under Covid health restrictions, with interment at the Fairview Cemetery following.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Snodgrass Funeral Homes

403-627-4864     www.snodgrassfuneralhomes.com