Elsie (Schmidt) Sparks

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Elsie Sparks, at the age of 94 years, on October 9, 2025.

Elsie was predeceased by her parents Abraham and Kathryn Schmidt, her brother Peter Schmidt, and her husband Ronald Sparks.

She is survived by her two daughters, Brenda, with husband Allan Baldrey, and Laura Lee, with husband Christopher Lewis; and three granddaughters, Vanessa, with husband Robert Atkinson, Hannah and Rachel Baldrey. She is also fondly remembered by her five great-grandchildren, Keziah, Ezekiel, Zemirah, Malachi and Azariah Atkinson, as well as many extended family members and numerous friends.

Elsie loved being active. She bowled for many years, and you could often catch her cross-country skiing at the golf course in the winter. In the summer, you could see her riding her motorcycle back and forth from the Co-Op, where she worked for many years. You would also often find her out in the garden gathering her produce that she spent many hours tending. She loved camping and swimming, and we would spend weeks on end out at the lake during the summer, only coming home to mow the grass, and then head right back out. In their younger years, she, and Dad both spent summers visiting various favourite spots throughout BC and Alberta. She loved to bake and made a legendary rhubarb crisp that would bring them in from miles around if they knew her famous treat was in the oven.

For many years, she thought she would never have children, and then she did, she had two. Then, she thought she would never live long enough to see grandchildren, but she did, she had three. Then she thought for sure she would never be around to see great-grandchildren, but she did, and she had five.

Though we feel a great loss, we are comforted by knowing that she is safe and whole in the arms of her Saviour.

A celebration of her life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Church of the Open Bible in Ponoka.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elsie (Schmidt) Sparks, please visit our floral store.