SUSAN GAIL LABUHN, beloved wife of Harvey Labuhn of Lethbridge, passed away peacefully on August 26th, 2013 in Kalispell MT. Death abruptly intruded into a life in full-swing. That Suzie, she was a pistolero! She was also a wizard with words, so to sum up her remarkable spirit in a few paragraphs-without her help-is almost impossible. Along with that, she hated being the centre of attention. If attention suddenly swung her way, she’d crack everyone up with some self-deprecating remark and quickly change the subject while the rest of us were still giggling. Sorry Sue, both for the unwelcome attention and the clumsy words to follow. Sue was born in Lethbridge on November 2, 1959, and lived in Lethbridge her whole life. In 1986 she married her wonderful husband, Harvey Labuhn, who now begins a tough road without his Sue-none of us can really imagine how much that must hurt. The two of them were famous for their “road trips”. She liked to pretend she was becoming more “spontaneous”-that she and Harv could just jump in the car and go wherever the spirit moved them… but we all knew better! Their wonderful, spontaneous road trips were so much fun as a direct result of all the careful planning she did in the background– and there was always the ‘security check-in’ just before they left town. She’d phone one of us and outline a schedule of dates and locations-just in case they attracted the attention of some wandering serial killer and unexpectedly went missing! She was having some success getting Harvey to slow down a bit and not work so hard, and they undertook so many adventures together! In particular, she loved getting Harv down to their place in Whitefish for a little R&R. It’s good to know that she spent her last days doing just that: enjoying life with the man she loved so very much. There are many hearts aching for the loss of Sue. She leaves behind her father John Brooks, brothers Dale (and wife Sherry) Brooks and Brett Brooks and her sister Janet McDonnell -who would all tell you that although Sue was the youngest, she was the “toughest of them all”. Sue was very close with all of her family, including her mother-in-law Lisa Labuhn, Harvey’s sister Karin (and husband Tom) Seaman, and Harvey’s brother Roland (and wife Carolyn) Labuhn. Sue was especially close to her Mom, Joan Brooks, who passed away in April 2010. Not surprisingly, Sue was the bedrock source of strength for her family when Joan passed away, and for Harvey when he lost his dad Victor Labuhn in December, 1999. She was truly a “Rock of Gibraltar” for her family through some very tough times. Sue was an active part of the lives of her big extended family too-so many nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles and aunts, and she connected with them all! Family roots and branches were important to her. In fact, she knew more about her great, great grandmothers and grandfathers than most people know about their first cousins! She was proud of her rich family history, and searched it all the way back to clans in old Scotland and those tough old Norwegians (a heritage she proudly claimed and lived!) She was so good, at so many things, but always avoided recognition or praise for any of her achievements or contributions-so she’ll hate this next part. She was a gifted writer and published author, and did all the hard work it took to develop that talent. Most recently, she was completing a degree in Creative Writing through the University of Toronto and would often talk about how much she was learning by being able to connect with writers and authors from all over Canada. She was always surprised that she could “write with the best of them”, although that didn’t come as a surprise to any of us who had read her work, especially her powerful and evocative poetry. Sue was working on a book, although none of us have seen it. I hope there’s a chapter in it entitled “Sue’s Early Adventures In Volunteering” because that is some hilarious material! Seriously though, she did give back in so many ways to the community, most recently through a volunteer reading program with elementary school kids who were struggling with reading. She would get a light behind her eyes as she talked about those kids- especially the ones who were a bit ‘mischievous’ (not surprising to any of us who knew her that those would be the kids she connected with the most. Let’s just say she really “got” them). She was happiest in her flower beds, especially if there was a crow or two cawing overhead (she loved the intelligence and community of crows… did you know that crows have funerals when they lose one of their own? Sue did.) She could make flowers grow where others wouldn’t even try, and none of us will ever look at a black-eyed Susan blossom again without thinking of you, Sue. Finally, she was a remarkable, insightful, generous, hilarious, and loyal friend-and will be especially missed by “her bridesmaids”, Luch, Janie, and Shannon, who are proud to say they have been getting into all kinds of trouble with Sue since grade school. And yes Sue, we all forgive you for that bridesmaid’s dress you made us wear! Our hearts are aching, and we’d give anything for one more “bridesmaids weekend”, but we know you have some ‘mousing around’ to do. We love you, and oh my, how much we’ll miss you, Suzie Q. A Funeral Service for Susan will be held at IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 20 Rocky Mountain Blvd. West, Lethbridge on Friday, August 30, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. with Pastor Richard Brown, officiating. Interment to follow in the Mountain View Cemetery. The family gratefully declines any flowers, but donations in Sue’s honour would be gratefully received in support of the reading program at Westminster Elementary School. Please direct the donation to: Westminster School, 402 18 S North, Lethbridge AB, T1H 3G4 (Please note on the subject line S. Labuhn Reading Ladies Memorial Project).

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