Ardelle Ross (King)

July 17, 1942 – January 25, 2025 

With broken yet grateful hearts, we announce the passing of Ardelle Dawn Ross on January 25^th, at Grace Hospital, with her family by her side.

Ardelle is survived by and will be deeply missed by her children, Derrick (Rhonda), Brent  (Chris), Leah, Lorne (Robin), Charlie (Aliescha) ) and Don; siblings Bob King (Margaret) and Gherri-Lynn Plante, (Lloyde);  grandchildren Sarah (Cassie), Maggie, Ella, Tyler, Kian, Nixon & Harper; nieces and nephews, Brian (Robyn), Darlene, Wayne (Barb), Jeff (Yvette), Scott (Brooke), Brent (Kristyn)

Her passing is also mourned by her aunts Grace Taylor and Dorothy Webb, her in-laws, as well as great-grandchildren, great-nieces, nephews and cousins too numerous to mention but whom she loved so dearly and who brought immeasurable joy to our mom’s life.

Predeceased by her parents, Art & Grace King (Cumbers), her husband Vic Ross and her son-in-law, Duane Kabaluk.

Mom was born and raised in St James, with the exception of 2 years spent living in BC during the Great Flood of 1950. Growing up, she made lifelong friends while developing her VERY healthy competitive streak as an athlete.  Mom excelled in fastball & 5 pin bowling, as well as dancing – participating in the many dance classes her mom taught. She also taught dance to many children herself in the St James/Bourkevale communities and made friends everywhere she went.

Mom was also an Honour Roll student all through school, which set her on a very successful career path in the then, male-dominated field of banking with CIBC.  She began working as a bank teller and retired as the Head of Human Resources for Western Canada.  Mom was held in very high regard by all who worked with her and for her and was a very valued resource and mentor for anyone who crossed her path in the CIBC world.

She was extremely involved in the Manitoba Gun Dog Club for many years, helping out by doing what she did best – feeding the masses during trials, among other things and always cheering on Charlie’s dogs, especially his beloved champion, Pink.

No one ever had a more ferocious cheerleader, than Mom!  A cheerleader for all who got so much joy from watching her family in their endeavors – whether watching Bob bowl or play hockey, her niece and nephews playing baseball and hockey, all of her grandchildren in their sports of choice and of course, her Winnipeg Jets!  But no one had a bigger fan than her children -whether it was hockey, soccer, competitive swimming, bowling or dog trials – Mom could be heard a mile away, telling it like it was!  There is no doubt her own competitive streak, which ran wide and deep, roared to the surface when something was on the line…As her brother says, she always played to WIN the game!

Mom loved to travel and took many enjoyable trips (if a casino was involved, well, even better!) which included short trips to South Beach or Shooting Star Casino and longer getaways to Las Vegas. She spent many hours making the VLT’s at Assiniboia Downs, pay for her time!  Her little trips with Don and some of her oldest friends were special times she cherished.  Some of her most treasured times were spent in BC and Maui with Gherri, Lloyde and her West Coast family. She would’ve kept going forever if she could.

Mom also had a deep love of horses and horse racing (and yes, even betting the ponies on occasion!) as well as a keen eye for talent, recently zeroing in on a young foal a few years back, who caught her eye and is headed for big things. We take comfort knowing that Mom is with Nannie & Grandpa in the “King Suite at the Finish Line”, cheering on all the right horses and hopefully showering some of her good luck down on all of us!

Mom never did anything half-way, crocheting hundreds of dish cloths, tea towels, blankets & slippers to help Leah fundraise for leukemia research following Duane’s passing. She loved baking for others, watching sports on tv, her 2 hour phone calls with Gherri, her monthly lunches with the Bowling Ladies and making others happy.  She was just, quite simply, one of the kindest, sweetest, most generous and genuine people you would ever be lucky enough to meet.

Many times, life was far from easy or kind to Mom, but you would never be able to tell, for it only seemed to serve to make her even kinder and more generous with anyone she cared about – from her colleagues and friends, to “her VLT girls” at ASD and most especially, us, her lucky family.  Family was absolutely everything to Mom and it showed in every aspect of the life she lived. Gherri called her “my truth” because she always knew Ardelle would be her biggest fan but also her best critic whenever she needed a “tuneup”…lol…

Giving to others was Mom’s motto and always brought her so much joy. Everyone benefitted from that generous nature, especially when she brought out the Christmas baking or dipped into her Lindor chocolate stash and brought you “just a couple” (by a few, she meant a Ziploc bagful!)

We would like to thank our Auntie Margie for all the times she drove mom to various appointments over the years.

To know Mom, was to love her – our hearts are truly broken…and while we are deeply saddened by our loss, we are equally grateful that she has been spared any further suffering or pain.

A Celebration of Life will be held June 8, 2025 at 1pm in the Terrace Dining Room at Assiniboia Downs 3975 Portage Ave.  Flowers gratefully declined. Donations may be made to the cause so dear to her and Leah’s hearts: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk (for blood cancer research)