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Rueben “Larry” Spratt was born March 4, 1931 in Davidson, Saskatchewan. His family later moved to Edmonton where as a youngster he worked beside his father on their farm, and at 9 years old gave his heart to Jesus. There they trained horses and operated the dairy farm where as a youngster he learned how to milk the cows, then bottle and deliver the milk. On the farm he learned a love for animals and a care for all living things.

In 1953 Larry met and married his first wife Ida Tierling and they moved to live with her family in Silver Grove, Saskatchewan. There he worked the farm with his father in law. Eventually they all moved back to Edmonton, and he worked primarily in trucking, delivering everything from gas, oil and coal to general goods. He had also taken his police training in Edmonton and did a stint as an Inspector with Western Investigations, where he liked to say he “wore the yellow stripes”. That reference got him out of a number of jams. Together they raised a family of 3, but unfortunately after a number of years Ida passed away and her lingering illness took a toll on their family.

Larry remarried, and he and his wife Janna operated a small trucking company in Abbotsford until he sold the business in 1999. They quickly retired to a small acreage in Pass Creek where they raised chickens, and Larry realized his lifelong dream of having land and animals. In 2007 they moved into Castlegar to live with their son and daughter in law, as the challenges of living in Pass Creek began to overwhelm them. There Larry developed friendships with all the neighbours, and took over the care of the yard, which he loved. The abundance of birds and nature provided him with hours of entertainment. During their stay they were affectionately known as “the children under the stairs” by their kids.

Shortly after a trip to the coast for his 80th birthday party Larry suffered a series of strokes, and finally went home to our Lord on March 21st 2011.

He was predeceased by first wife Ida in 1986, his brother Wally, and his grandson Shawn in 2000. He is survived by his loving wife Janna and children, Gayle (Steven), Brenda (Kirk), Dustin (Laura-Lee), and step-children Dwayne (Maureen), and Brenda (Alan); 11 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and siblings Herb, Donna and Glenn.

A celebration of his life is to be held at Kinnaird Church

of God on Friday April 1st, at 3 pm.



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