Thomas Hector Turnbull died peacefully at home on May 23rd surrounded by family. He was 89 years old. 

Tommy was born to Christina and Jock Turnbull, who had immigrated from Scotland a few years earlier. Tom was the youngest of four boys (David, Duncan and Jack) and was educated at the Outlet School before finishing in Bentley. He was an athletic man and grew up playing lots of baseball, fastball, and curling. He loved the Calgary Flames and followed the Cleveland Indians baseball team (now the Guardians). The first thing he’d flip to in his daily newspaper were the sports scores. Tom was a strong man who also liked to box (sometimes in sanctioned events, but not always).  

In Grade 12, after his father passed away, Tom took charge of the family farm about seven kilometres straight north of Bentley. Life wasn’t always easy. The days were long and hard. Tom convinced Sandra Wilkins to marry him in 1965 and together they built a beautiful homestead. They were occupied from dawn to dusk with seeding, baling hay and greenfeed, fixing tractors, tending close to 100 head of cattle, fixing fences, ploughing snow or looking after a wide variety of animals (there were more than 40 breeds of chickens and pheasants, rabbits, peacocks, donkeys--there was even a horse named Lucky for a bit). He and Sandy also owned and operated the Balmoral Café (now the Rose) in the early 1970s. Tommy also found work in construction, at International Packers, the County of Lacombe and at the Gull Lake Provincial Park. 

In his younger days, Dad was known for the occasional tour to various drinking establishments across central Alberta where he’d strike up conversations and challenge anyone and everyone to ‘twist wrists’ (arm wrestle) with the loser paying for the beer. He won a lot of beer.  

Tom loved animals. You could often find him fiddling away in the shed, working on a new birdhouse. He and Sandy would often drive around different corners of Alberta, with the children in tow, to various Odd & Unusual sales (our complaints fell on deaf ears). The entire family would then cram into the vehicle for the long ride home with the kids squeezing in between cages filled with some pretty awful smelling pheasants or chickens that had caught Dad’s eye (guess whose job it was to feed them). It wasn’t uncommon for people to drive up to the farm unannounced just because they wanted to have a look at the homestead and all those interesting animals.  

He was a proud of his Scottish heritage and the frugality that went along with it. He’s a man who used up more than his fair share of seven dollar running shoes and even switched his golf swing from lefty to righty because he found a pair of cheap clubs at a garage sale.  

Besides family and farming, Tom’s big passion was working in the garden. Not just any garden. Nope, carrots and peas were not enough for this man. He planted rows upon rows of lilies which he tended to meticulously. How many times would we look out the window and see Dad with a shovel in his hand digging up the lawn because he needed more space for a flower plot? It was back-breaking work—weeding, fertilizing and planting—but he loved it. His more than 200 varieties of flowers were so beautiful that people would come from across the country to visit the farm. He sold the bulbs to customers but didn’t really make much money because his prices were far too low. His real payment came from the hundreds upon hundreds of people who would stop by to admire the lillies and stay for a chat. The man loved to chat. He could strike up a conversation with anyone and he always left them smiling because he wasn’t there to tell you about HIS story; Tom wanted to learn about YOU.   

Dad had a great sense of humour, right up until the very end. Despite being frail and in a lot of pain, he could still get the healthcare providers to crack up in laughter with a well-timed one liner. Dad loved to tease friends and family so if you were ever one of his targets, you know he loved you. He loved making people laugh. The farm was famous for the sign he put at the front of the driveway ‘Beware of the Wife, Dog’s OK.’ 

We celebrate a man who brought so much happiness to those around him. We celebrate that he was able to fulfill his dying wish and spend his final moments on the farm surrounded by family. We celebrate the lessons he shared with us along the way; the strength, the resilence, the humanity, the humour. He made us all feel loved. Dad lived an amazing life and he will be missed. 

Tom leaves behind a sad, but proud family. His loving wife, Sandy, his children, Tim (Tammy), his daughter Kary Allard (Gord) and his son Jay (Chantal Ianniciello). His grandchildren Kyle, Meagan, Kaylis, Keahan, Alyssa and Eliane Turnbull, Mackenzie (Josh), Jayden (Emma), Clayton (Taityn) and Keiran Allard, Alexis Reid-Carey (Cory) and great grandchildren, Ellie, Katie, Rustyn, Marshall and Jersey.  

The family would like to send a big thank you to Laura Hall and all of the home care team for the exceptional care, compassion and kindness they showed Tom during the past couple of years. Dad would not have been able to spend his final days at the farm he spent his entire life tending to if wasn’t for them. We will be forever grateful. 

There will be a celebration of life at the Bentley Ag Centre on Monday, June 15th at 13:00. (5202 53 Street Close, Bentley) People are asked to bring a hug and a story to share about Tom. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bentley Care Centre.