Beatrice "Bea" Stevenson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bea Stevenson. She passed away at the Esterhazy hospital on December 13, 2025.

Bea was born on May 22, 1932; a daughter to Johanus Jacobus Marinus Roggeveen and Ethel Clare Olson in the Galahad Hospital in Alberta. Bea was the third child of seven children. Bea grew up on a farm about twelve miles southeast of Sedgewick, Alberta. She learned to do chores at an early age; feeding chickens and pigs and milking cows before attending school. Bea went to school from grades 1 to 9 in a little country school called ‘Wyoming’. She had lots of good memories playing ball and going to track and field meets.

Bea took a great liking to horses at a very early age. She would sit by the stove in their home in the winter and draw pictures of horses for hours. In the summer, Bea would always find a reason to ride one of the farm horses. They brought her great joy.

After Bea finished school, she decided to stay at home with her mom and younger siblings and helped on the farm. She joined both the beef and dairy 4H clubs and did very well with her calves. She won a trip to the Red Deer Fair with the dairy calf and two weeks at the Vermilion School of Agriculture, which she enjoyed learning about all aspects of Agriculture.

Bea went on to work at the Sedgewick Hotel dining room and Bearstos Store. From here, she went to Calgary to work at the Purity Flour Mill until the job ended. She decided to take a job up north working in a mining camp as a dining room waitress. This was 300 miles north of Yellowknife, N.W.T. on the Great Bear Lake; a little town called Port Radium. She got involved in the activities of bowling, badminton, curling and summer fishing.

It was here that Bea met Robert (Bob) Stevenson. They fell in love and three years later moved to Edmonton, where they were married. They welcomed a daughter, Sandra Lee Stevenson on November 20, 1960. Bob eventually took a job in Yellowknife, N.W.T. at a gold mine. On October 18, 1962, a daughter, Wendy Joy Stevenson was born. After 2 ½ years, Bob found employment in Esterhazy at the potash mine. The family moved to Bredenbury for a year before buying a quarter section of land near Yarbo and fixing up a farmhouse.

Bea’s love for horses continued on this farm. She thought that there should be a riding club, so they helped to found the Esterhazy Saddle Club in the spring of 1966. This continued for a few years before the club took on the name of The Twin Valley Riding Club to include the surrounding areas around Esterhazy. Bea participated in many gymkhana events and in the Provincials. She especially loved the barrel racing event with her beloved and spirited horse, Sorel-Top. She also loved to show horses at many horse shows around the area. She had many trophies and ribbons that she was very proud of. Many of these ribbons were won with her prized horse, Black Magic. Bea and Bob enjoyed many trail rides and met many great friends throughout the years. Their friends became their family and many great memories and adventures were made.

Bea began a career of bus driving which lasted for 29 years. They always made at least a couple trips each year to Alberta to visit with their families. In 1973, Bea and Bob moved to Esterhazy and sold the farm. They rented a few acres of pasture south of Esterhazy for the horses. Bea found an interest in creating needle point pictures, of horses of course, and made some beautiful works of art. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, watching hockey, ball games and dance recitals. She spent many birthdays, Thanksgiving, Easter and Christmas celebrations with her family.

Bea was predeceased by her parents, Johanus and Ethel, a sister, Ethel (Peter) and brothers, Marinus and Doug (Myrna), brothers-in-law, Ernie Ring and Brian Simms. She will be sadly missed by her daughters Sandra Stevenson and her son Jesse; and Wendy (Tom) Haas and their children; Brett (Haylea), Samantha (Shaun), Aaron (Erika); and great grandchildren, Liv, Piper and Hugh; her brother Allan (Jeanette) Roggeveen, her sisters Doris Ring, and Margaret Simms; as well as many friends and family.