Mrs. Benita "Pete" Joan Percival

Mrs. Benita “Pete” Percival of Blackie, Alberta passed away at the Foothills Country Hospice in Okotoks, Alberta on September 23, 2023 at the age of 69 years. Benita was born in the town of High River, Alberta on March 20th 1954. She was the second of three daughters born to Roy and Muriel Meadows of Blackie. The Meadows were chicken farmers and as such Benita spent many angry childhood mornings crouched in a dusty feather laden chicken coop hunting for eggs before heading off to grade school in Blackie. Benita attended Senator Riley High School in High River, Alberta and graduated in 1972. She attended the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and received her Medical X Ray Technology Certificate in 1974 becoming a registered Radiological Technician. At graduation she was presented with the Bell Memorial Award for her academic achievements. Benita married farmer Gregg Percival, also of Blackie, in 1975. Benita and Gregg could have been said to have been high school sweethearts except that they had been secretly dating since kindergarten. Benita and Gregg celebrated 48 years of marriage and had 3 children. In 1978 Benita and Gregg purchased their first piece of farmland along the Bow River across from Carseland. Together over the next 45 years Benita and Gregg would work as a team and grow the family farm which consisted of grain, hay as well as cattle. Benita also worked as a Radiological Technician at the High River Hospital for over 30 years supplementing the family income whenever she could slip away from her first love of being a devoted wife and mother. Benita loved to cook and bake. Pies were her favorite (a proclivity she passes down to her daughter Trina). Sunday dinner was a weekly staple at the Percival household. Sadly in 2010 Benita was diagnosed with a rare debilitating and ultimately fatal neurological disorder for which there is no cure. For 13 years Benita resisted steadfastly and courageously until her very last breath at 7:40 am on the 23rd, day of September 2023. Gregg with the help of caregiver Dee were able to keep Benita in their home until the final days. Benita is survived by her husband Gregg, her daughter Trina Dunn (Greg Dunn), and her two sons Chad Percival (Amanda Percival) and Dane Percival (Megan Percival) as well as 7 grandchildren. She is also survived by her two sisters Brenda McMorris and Rhonda Meadows (Jessie Michalchuk); mother-in-law Elinor Miller and her sister-in-law Linda Hurl. A Private Celebration of Life will be held. If desired, Memorial Donations may be made to the Foothills Country Hospice – www.countryhospice.org . Caring for the family is Lyle Reeves Funerals of High River (Craig Snodgrass) 403.652.4242.

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Mrs. Benita "Pete" Joan Percival

March 20, 1954 - September 23, 2023