Dean Scoular SUGGETT
March 8, 1930 (Bentley, Alberta) to June 26, 2023 (Edmonton, Alberta)
Dean Scoular Suggett of Edmonton passed away peacefully, on Monday, June 26, at the age of 93.
Dean married his beloved wife Donna on July 3, 1959, enjoying 63 years of marriage.
Dean grew up on a farm near Bentley, Alberta among his loving parents, two sets of grandparents and five brothers and sisters. He was always grateful for the childhood he was able to experience growing up on the farm. He attended a one room country school, played hockey and baseball all during his growing up years. His family was very musical hosting dance parties in their parlour. Dean learned to play fiddle listening to his uncle , mom and grandparents and he went on to play fiddle in several country orchestras where the community danced all night long. He started hunting with his father’s hunting party at the age of 16 and later enjoyed many years in the bush with his two sons enjoying the peace and tranquility of the Alberta foothills. Dean had a very creative and sensitive heart and wrote about his life including numerous poems which are now keepsakes for the family. He loved being active and his time away from work was always with his family engaging in sports such as downhill and water skiing and camping. The family always had fun and adventurous summer holidays in the Shuswap.
Dean first attended Olds College and completed an Agriculture diploma. He then chose to pursue a career in wireless communications, beginning with an electronics diploma from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in 1956.  Dean’s first trip to Canada’s north was a one year adventure beginning in 1956 as a radio operator (morse code) in Coppermine, on the coast of the Artic Ocean. He played fiddle with the Inuit for their drum dances as they had incorporated Scottish fiddle music passed on to their community by the early explorers.  He then returned to the farm and met and fell in love with Donna.  They married and began a seven year adventure beginning in Yellowknife, then Dawson City and finally Fort Smith. Their boys were born in Yellowknife and their daughter was born in Dawson City.   After purchasing their home in Edmonton in 1966, Dean worked for Communications Canada. Family life and retirement were filled with adventure; camping, skiing, hunting, traveling, summer vacations in the Shuswap, and many winters in Vancouver with their daughter and her family.Â
Dean was preceded by his parents (Cecil and Gertrude), brothers (Irvine, Barry) and sister (Barbara). Surviving Dean are his wife Donna, sisters Margaret and Kathleen, sons Jack (Maureen) and David (Maureen), daughter Anne Jopling (Tom); seven grandchildren: Ben (Kayleigh), Katherine (Jesse), Natalie (Mac), Sean, Grace, Ellen (Scott) and Nairn; and four great-grandchildren: Ezra, Levi, Torin and Josie.
Dean’s family wish to thank all the people who helped us with Dad’s final adventure with special thanks to Dr. Fraser Armstrong, Peter Ajang (personal home care) and the beautiful staff at The Good Samaritan Dr. Gerald Zetter Care Centre.
The family want to offer a special message of gratitude to Dean’s granddaughter Grace whose care of and commitment to her grandpa in the last year of his life allowed him to stay in his family home almost until the end. She offered sweet and gentle love and support that will be eternally appreciated.
Dean and Donna had a beautiful life together and were so loved by their family and friends.
From a handwritten note by Dean
…My lasting thoughts.
More times than I could count, I have been away on those cutlines (hunting), beyond the sound of all vehicles. Only the odd squirrel may sound. It is my feeling the quiet is so perfect you could hear it. God gave me that. He must have for it to happen so frequently. I feel sure one does not need to belong to a church or faith. Only the Almighty Lord himself. Because one does not attend a church regularly does not keep God from being with us. Your own faith is something he accepts.
I’ve had a perfect life. Dean
A family celebration of Dean’s life will be held at a later date.
Our most sincere sympathy, Jack, Maureen and Family. It is never easy🙏 Loraine and Cam Turcotte
Aunt Donna, Jack, Maureen and your entire family. Our deepest condolences. Uncle Dean was such a kind soul and always had a joke for every occasion. I have such good memories of him and so happy to see him and Aunt Donna at our reunion last September. Our prayers are with you all during this difficult time. All our love.
Kevin & Joan Suggett
Hi Donna, What a wonderful summation of Dean’s life! The photos are priceless! You probably know that I grew up in Lacombe where my dad and grandfather owned hardware stores in Lacombe and Bentley. So I was familiar with the Suggett surname. I like to think that Dean’s family shopped in one of those stores! I would like to share the following with you. “The one who leaves happy memories dancing in our thoughts has given the gift of timeless moments worth holding in our hearts forever.”
Take care,
Janet Monk
Jack, Maureen, Donna & family, what an absolutely precious tribute you’ve prepared and shared about Dean and his beautiful life. What a full and rich and wholesome life! Pure gift. Dean’s closing comments were so beautiful, and absolute truth. Our love and condolences to you all. May you find joy in your wonderful memories, peace in knowing he’s fully alive and fully free, and comfort and strength in God’s loving and gentle presence.
Norma & Don Giovanetto
Donna, we all loved Dean and it’s been a true honour to have known him. My deepest condolences to you and your family.
Our former neighbour let us know about Dean’s passing. Our condolences to all. We know he will be greatly missed on this side but welcomed by others on the Other Side, including Sandra who was so very fond of him.
My condolences to the family and friends of Dean. I counted Dean as one of the best Supervisors I worked under during my career with the Government. He was missed when he retired and is missed more than ever now.
Dean was one of those very special people that I had the pleasure to meet. I nicked named him Sir Suggett of Bentley. Yes he will be missed by us all.
Dean was an occasional colleague back in the DOC days, always with the humour and always appreciative of a good pair of flight boots. Rest well friend. May your loved ones remember you happily ❤️
Mrs Suggett (Donna) -our sympathies to you on Dean’s passing. It was so good to see you both last July at my Dad’s 85th birthday celebration.
Jack, David & Anne – it has been many years since we’ve seen you, but I still remember the times our families spent together on those weekend camping trips to Mulhurst or Miquelon Lake. We’ve kept current with your parents thru their long lasting friendship with our parents. Very sorry for the loss of your dad. Blessings to you and your families.
Greg & Susan Jorgenson
Wayne and I send our deepest condolences to Donna and your family. Dean was such a wonderful and thoughtful person. He was a mentor and friend to both Wayne and I. Although we haven’t been able to visit in person the last few years, we have thought fondly of you both often. We still are using the beautiful pine nightstands that Dean handbuilt for us in 1987. Dean will be missed, but never forgotten.
My condolences to Dean’s family and friends. I had the pleasure of working with Dean in adjoining District offices to the Edmonton district (Grande Prairie and Saskatoon). You could not ask for a better person to work with. I will never forget his amazing sense of humor and his memory for jokes. However it was his values and his friendly, helpful nature that really stood out.
David, Maureen, Sean, Grace, and Donna: We are so sorry to hear that Dean has passed away. We enjoyed getting to know him and Donna when you (David and Maureen) lived just across the street from us. He was a pleasure to know.
You are in our thoughts.
Deepest condolences to you and all your family.
Claire, David, and Colleen.
Dear Donna and family,
I am so sorry to hear of Dean’s passing.
Our deepest condolences
Take care Donna. Joan and Dave Campbell
Donna, Our condolences to you and your family. We will not forget Dean’s friendly smile and keen sense of humour. Saturday coffee will not be the same without him.
Donna please keep in touch with the old gang.
Sincerely Amy and John Kramer
Donna and the family:
Dean was one of the good people. There is a great need for more like him. Sympathy to all.
Terry Gibson, Fallbrook Calif.
My deepest condolences. Wil miss his kindness and the conversations we had while I served him at Meadowlark Safeway. Sincerely, Wanda
Condolences to Dave, Maureen and family. I did not know Dean, but he sounds like quite the character who was loved by everyone he met. A simple life well lived with family and friends always close by and a quick friendly smile to share. Great pictures and memories.
Take care, Cory
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