Obituary for Sally Boerema
Sally was born in Evans City, Pennsylvania, to Bruce and Myrtle Sutton on Nov. 23, 1951. She enjoyed her childhood with her siblings, Susan, Wayne and Wendy. From a young age, Sally learned of the love of Jesus and built a faith that never wavered throughout her life.
After graduating from high school, Sally attended Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was there that Sally met the love of her life, Melvin Boerema. Mel and Sally were married on Aug. 10, 1974, and moved to Sand Lake, Michigan.
Sally married Mel knowing that he was going to work as a minister with Indigenous people with North American Indigenous Ministries. In the spring of 1977, a year after the birth of their first daughter, Sonya, Mel and Sally moved to Agassiz, British Columbia, to work with the Sto:lo people on the Seabird Island First Nation. While living in Agassiz, their second daughter, Amanda, was born.
In 1979, Mel and Sally moved to work with the Nlaka’pamux First Nations in Lytton, B.C. Mel and Sally welcomed their son, Daniel, while living there. In 1989, the family moved to Vernon, B.C., where Mel and Sally worked with the Syilx Okanagan people and ran a wilderness camping program, Kla-How-Ya Wilderness Trails, for Indigenous youth.
When Kla-How-Ya Wilderness Trails found a new home in the foothills of Alberta, Mel and Sally moved to Pincher Creek in 2002. Mel and Sally found their heart’s home with the Blackfoot people of the Piikani Nation and became involved in the Lighthouse Church there. Sally found joy in teaching cooking and baking to girls in the community, sewing with her friends, and serving through the church.
One of Sally’s greatest joys was being a grandmother, and she delighted in her grandchildren, Sena, Soren, Violet, Nicola, Juliet and Vanessa. She was a creative and connected grandma, always finding crafts, cooking challenges and adventures to share with the kids and offering unconditional love, support and snuggles.
Sally is survived by her husband of 48 years, Mel Boerema; her daughters, Sonya (Troy) Bradley, Amanda (Tim) Doling; her son, Dan Boerema; and her grandchildren. She is also survived by her father, Bruce Sutton, and her siblings Wayne Sutton and Wendy Barkley.
Sally was predeceased by her mother, Myrtle Sutton, and by her sister Susan Emelander.
A wake was held for Sally at the Lighthouse Church on the Piikani First Nation on Sunday, Nov. 20, and Sally’s funeral was held at Creekside Community Church in Pincher Creek at on Nov. 21.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Snodgrass Funeral Homes
403-627-4864 www.snodgrassfuneralhomes.com