EDWARD THOMAS HERBST, beloved husband of Janet Herbst, of Lethbridge, passed away at Chinook Regional Hospital, on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at the age of 78 years. He is the loving father of Sandra (Les) Hala, of Medicine Hat and Glen Herbst (Kalvin MacKay) of Lethbridge. He also leaves behind four grandchildren Julieanne Hala, Evan Herbst, Ryan Hala (Julia Tumato), Jordan Herbst and one new great-grandchild, his little angel, Amelia. He is also survived by sister Agnes Heringer of Medicine Hat, three brothers Aubrey Herbst, of Foremost, Charles (Lyla) Herbst, of Foremost and Robert (Charlotte) Herbst, of Medicine Hat. He was predeceased by parents John and Claudia, two sisters Magdalena and Delores, one brother Frank and parents-in-law Alfred and Petra Neilson. Ed was raised in Faith, Alberta. He was the fourth child of eight. As a young man he moved to Fort Kent, Alberta to farm with his brother. Three years later he returned to Southern Alberta to complete his welding ticket in 1959. On January 17, 1959 Dad married the Love of His Life Janet Neilson, they moved to Etzikom where dad and his brother owned and operated a welding and mechanic shop for 8 years. Dad then left the welding business to open the Etzikom Lumber and Hardware in 1967 which he operated with Moms help. Ever the farmer Dad sold the Hardware to return to his roots and farmed until 1989. At which time he retired from farming and took to spending summers on the farm he loved and wintering in Arizona with friends for several years. He remained on the farm until 2005 when Mom and Dad moved to Lethbridge. Dad always had a love of music and spent hours playing guitar with family and friends, Dad was allways the life of the party and loved having a houseful of music, fun and laughter, When Dad moved to Lethbiridge he found a new family of music lovers and faithfully attended the Sunday jams. Family and friends were very important to him and he loved and welcomed visits from family and friends both old and new. Dad was a great story teller he remembered details and never forgot the times in his life that made him smile. He delighted in retelling these stories and each time the story got just a little bit better. Dad loved to make people laugh, and found many new friends and endeared himself to his family through his sense of humour. As a Grandpa he loved spending time with his grandchildren, and each othem could surely write a book on ``The Things Grandpa taught Me``. Dad loved his family. He was true to all the things he held dear: his religion, his friends, his children and his lifelong sweetheart. He was the head of his family, the patriarch in the truest sense of the word. he believed in the goodness of people, the surety of the Savior and he lived what he believed. He showed us how to smile when there was nothing to smile about and to be brave when only courage and faith would see us through. He was generous to all, with his cash, his home, his heart. How we will miss his stories, jokes and the twinkle in his eyes. Dad always hated saying goodbye and he if he was with us today he would say `` Hold on dont rush off,….. I`ve got one more story to tell`` A Prayer Service will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge, on Friday, December 2, 2011 at 7:00 P.M. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2405 - 12th Avenue South, Lethbridge, on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 12:00 P.M. with Reverend John Kohler celebrant. A private family interment to follow at Mountain View Cemetery In memory of Edward, donations may be made to Lethbridge Humane Society (SPCA), PO Box 783, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 3Z6 or to Lethbridge Handicapped Riding Association, RR8 - 24 - 6, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 4P4. Honoured to serve the family, CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 7B1. Telephone (403) 381-7777. E-mail: care@cornerstonefh.ca