Alta McKenzie Graham

Alta McKenzie Graham of Flin Flon, Manitoba passed away Monday, September 2, 2024 at the Flin Flon General Hospital at the age of 84 years.

A Celebration of Life for Alta McKenzie Graham will be held Monday, September 9, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. from the St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church Parish Hall, 163 Centre Street, Flin Flon, Manitoba with Father Paul Bringleson officiating.

https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=9edf970b-c2cb-4295-becd-f2592371f260

The Celebration of Life for Alta McKenzie Graham will be livestreamed. Please click on the above link to preregister to view the service. If you have any questions or would like assistance please call 1-877-895-2739.

If friends so desire memorial tributes may be made to the Legion Ladies Auxiliary Bursary, c/o The Flin Flon Royal Canadian Legion Branch 73, 73 Hapnot Street, Flin Flon, Manitoba. R8A 1L7

Alta was born on a farm in Spalding, SK on February 5, 1940 to Harold and Violet Qualie.  She went to school in Spalding, SK until Grade 10 and then moved to Flin Flon in 1956.  Alta worked for CN Rail as a Telegram Messenger.

Alta met and married Ronald James McKenzie on August 2, 1958.  On March 14, 1960 they welcomed their first born, Robert James, then on May 26, 1961 along came Leonard.  Tragedy struck on October 21, 1962 when they lost Robbie James.  Rena Louise was then born on May 8, 1964 and was only with us for a few short months.  They lost Rena on September 12, 1964.  Lori Kay was born on January 28, 1967 and that completed the family. 

Alta started working at the Hudson Bay store in Flin Flon approximately 1972 in the stockroom and later moved to the position of shipper/receiver, where she remained until 1991 and when the store closed she retired. 

Alta remained retired and took care of Dad until his death on August 24, 1992.  She then held a few various jobs at the Victoria Inn and the Candy Bar and then settled in to a job at Super Thrifty Drug Store where she stayed until she fully retired after marrying Alex Graham in 1998 and then gained another daughter, Schalynne.

Throughout mom’s life she welcomed 6 grandchildren, Dustin in 1983, Amber in 1987, Victoria in 1990,  Samantha in 1993, Ethan in 1995 and Tristan in 2004 and then along came the great grandchildren, Liam in 2014, McKenzie in 2021, Aurora in 2022 and Alta in 2023.  In 2015, more great grandchildren were added to Alta’s family – Bruce in 2004, Tamika in 2007 and Xavier in 2009.

When we were children, we have vivid memories of Mom and Dad playing canasta with friends – if there wasn’t someone at our house they were over at theirs.  Mom enjoyed doing tri chem painting, baking bread and cookies and quilting.  When we were young children mom made a lot of our clothes much to our dismay most of the time!!  She also did our haircuts then, as you can see in some of the pics in the slideshow.  Mom cut Lori’s hair so short when she was in Grade 5 that Lori refused to go to school without a bandana on her head.  As we got older and were maybe out on a Saturday night a bit late one of her favourite things to do would be to put on some good old Tammy Wynette and sing at the top of her lungs while vacuuming just to wake us up early Sunday morning.  Mom (Alta) loved fresh pickerel as long as someone caught, fileted and brought it to her. 

Mom (Alta) was a dedicated member of the Legion Ladies Auxiliary and later a member of the Legion Branch #73.  She has held various positions in the Ladies Auxiliary throughout the years. She was also a board member of the Legion Senior Housing and later moved into one of the apartments there.

Mom (Alta) loved to attend the meat draws on Friday evenings at the Legion and was often at McDonald’s having coffee with her life long friends Tom and Therese Wheeler.  Mom loved to play bingo and would often attend Mondays in Creighton, Wednesdays at the Legion and later on Wednesdays at the Legion Housing and you could sometimes see her at the Friday bingo at St. Ann’s church.  In the last few years Mom (Alta) and Lori would play NCI Bingo on Saturday mornings – never won anything, but still played.

The family of Alta would like to thank everyone for being here today and sharing this time to say goodbye to our sweet Mom. 

Mom – Grandma – GG, we love you and will miss you immensely.