James Alfred Ririe
Born 21 Jan 1884 Weber County, Utah, USA
Charter member of Magrath Lions Club 1938-1973
Died 23 Oct 1973 Magrath, AB Canada
Magrath Lions Club listed as 'honorary pallbearers' in his funeral program.
James Alfred Ririe passed away in the Magrath Municipal Hospital Tuesday, October 23rd at the age of 89 years. Born in West Weber, Utah, January 21, 1884, he came to Canada in 1899 with his parents and was one of the early pioneers to settle in Magrath. The Riries chartered a train to bring purebred Ramboullet and Corriedale sheep, Jersey cattle and Clydesdale horses to the area.
He attended school in Magrath, graduated in business from Brigham Young University, Logan, Utah. He filled a mission for the L.D.S. Church in the Netherlands, and was the first Bishop of the Second Ward Church when the wards were divided. Mr. Ririe was keenly interested in the affairs of the community having served as Mayor of Magrath, President of the Magrath Agricultural Fair and was a charter member of the Magrath Lions Club. He was Manager of the Magrath Trading Co. Ltd., a position he held up to the time of his passing and had missed but a few days at being at his desk in the "Trading Co. office.
Throughout his lifetime Mr. Ririe had been engaged in agriculture, particularly cattle and sheep ranching. He had increased his holdings in the sheep raising industry until he had become one of the largest sheep ranchers in Canada. The Magrath Trading Company Store News was one of his inspirations and he had been publisher of the paper for the many years of its existence, reading copy up to the time of his illness. Many civic and public affairs were brought to the attention of readers through its pages and his editorials were read with interest. He also shared his particular kind of humor in jokes put in as fillers, his love of poetry in the poems he selected for printing in the paper.
Mr. Ririe leaves to mourn his passing his loving wife Maude; three daughters Mrs. Wendell (Alice) Fowler of Salt Lake City, Utah, Mrs. Wallace (Virginia) Wilde of Raymond and Mrs. Kenneth (Marjorie) Balderson of Magrath; 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren; two brothers Horace of Magrath and Lloyd of Provo, Utah; six sisters Mrs. R. D. (Olive) Bradhshaw and Mrs. C. C. (Hazel) Spencer of Magrath, Mrs. Mervin (Velma) Godfrey of Provo, Utah, Mrs. Margaret Hindley of Magrath, Mrs. Prudence Poulsen of Lethbridge and Mrs. Leonard (Juliadean) Bondy of Magrath. He was predeceased by a daughter Jean in 1966 and a grandson Vincent Balderson in 1964.
Funeral services were held in the Magrath L.D.S. Chapel Friday afternoon, October 26th with Bishop Alan Dudley officiating. The family prayer was offered by Horace Ririe. Mrs. Charlotte Fletcher presided at the organ for the prelude and postlude music and accompanied the choir in the singing of the opening hymn "Lead Kindly Light” conducted by Mrs. Inez Gibb. Invocation was offered by Jay Hamilton. Speakers for the service were Lolavee Jensen, who included in his address the biography of the late Mr. Ririe, and Pres. James Bridge. Special musical numbers were vocal solos with Bishop L. B. Tanner singing "Crossing the Bar" accompanied by Mrs. Vinessa Hamilton and Mrs. Jeannine Jensen sang "The Lord's Prayer" accompanied by Mrs. Emma Dahl. Closing remarks were given by Bishop Alan Dudley following which the choir sang as the closing hymn "Abide With Me 'Tis Eventide". Benediction was offered by Shelton Ririe. Honorary Pallbearers were members of the Magrath Lions Club. Active Pallbearers were Steve Gruninger, Lon Hovey, Lyman Turner, Robert Mikado, John Bourne and Ted Hocking. Ushers were Watson Ririe, Fred Strate, James B. Ririe and Ted Law. Mrs. Elizabeth Davies attended the family guest register. The floral tributes were under the direction of the First Ward Relief Society and carried by members, friends and members of the Magrath Trading Co. staff. Interment took place in the Magrath Cemetery with Lloyd Ririe offering the graveside prayer. Christensen Salmon Funeral Home were in charge of arrangements.
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A favorite quote of the late J. Alfred Ririe: "Thank God every morning when you get up that you have something to do that day which must be done, whether you like it or not. Being forced to work, and forced to do your best will breed in you temperance and self-control, diligence and strength of will, cheerfulness and content, and a hundred virtues which the idle never know." - Charles Kingsley.