Rist: Deborah Lydia, October 25, 1965 – May 19, 2018

Hi, this is Debbie Rist (formerly Stork) and with some help from my kids, I’m going to briefly tell you the story of my life.

I was born October 25, 1965, in Windsor, Ontario to very loving parents, Adolf Stork and Lydia Stork (formerly Schmidt). I grew up in a home where Jesus was taught to me at a very young age and I grew to love Him early on.

At the age of 18, I met the love of my life, Bernd Rist, and it wasn’t long before we were engaged and then married October 26, 1985. God blessed us with many children shortly thereafter. Jeremy (wife Ashley, children: Tabitha and Anastasia), Justin (wife Sunnie, children: Ava, Grayson, Oakley and Harper), Joylynn (husband Josh, children: Asher and Elliot), Joanna, Julissa, Josh, Jordyn (Geri) and Jerilyn (Abby). God was very evident in my life and from young on I felt called to be a pastor’s wife. God fulfilled this calling when I married Bernd. God allowed us to serve in four churches: Kitchener, Ontario, Moosehorn, Manitoba, Rimbey and now here, Oyen. We had many opportunities to share Christ’s love with others in those years. We made many life-long friends, too.

Through those years there were many joys and a few sorrows. I had opportunities to learn to trust and hold on tight to my Saviour and during those years Jesus was very real to me. I knew what Jesus taught about heaven and hell, and early in my life, I put my trust in Christ. I also knew the length of my days was numbered and that at any time God could take any of us home. For me it always seemed like that would be in the distant future, not quite so soon, but when I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August of 2017 that moved up my timeline.

So, here I am now telling you all thank you for being a part of my life; for all the love, encouragement, thoughts and prayers. For those of you who have been especially close friends, I am so grateful. If nothing else today my prayer is that you would go away from here loving Jesus a whole lot more and always living your life in light of eternity.

Funeral service was held May 25 at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Oyen. Officiating clergy was Pastor Terry Oke. Jack Shields was the guitarist.

Following the funeral service, family and friends were invited to a luncheon in the Legion Hall.

MacLean’s Funeral Home of Oyen in care of arrangements.