Gerry Melvin Easthope

Gerry Melvin Easthope passed through the veil peacefully the early evening of August 15th, with his wife of 59 years at his side, to be reunited with family members who have gone on before. He succumb to the ravages of pancreatic cancer.

He is survived by his wife Rita of 59 years, daughters; Melanie Lynn, (Lethbridge) and Julie Rae and Robb Winkie (Kansas City, Missouri), sons Boyd Merrill, Colin Reed and Philip Wayne all of Lethbridge.

Siblings, Blaine (deceased) and Deanna Easthope, (Cardston), Dennis Easthope (Raymond), Bruce and Ramona Easthope, (Glenwood), Karen (deceased) and Barry Salmon, (Cardston) and Sandra and Henry Palin (Raymond).

Gerry's parents Lawrence Melvin Easthope and Thelma Rhoda Hill Easthope were married December 1935 during the depression and lived on the Easthope farm. Thelma found it difficult to conceive and were very excited to at last deliver a son in November 1941. Several years later Melvin and Thelma moved the little house they were living in on the farm to the Town of Taber where Melvin prepared it for his family to live in.

Gerry went to elementary school in Taber and then graduated from W. R. Myers High School. During those years he delivered the Lethbridge Herald on his two-wheel bike in all kinds of weather and developed very strong leg muscles.

His best friend was Jim Bodie. They were either at the Bodie home or the Easthope home playing monopoly, many of the games continued for many days and even weeks.

He learned to play the accordion and took lessons from Bill Prewger in Lethbridge. His mother enjoyed listening to him practice as his room was upstairs above the kitchen. This experience introduced him to the world of music. He enjoyed all kinds from classical to country. There was always some kind of music being played either sleeping or awake. He had the opportunity, over the years, to conduct both Ward and Stake Choirs and even wrote arrangements for those occasions.

In February l961 Gerry was called to serve for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the South Australian Mission for 2 years. His Mission President was Elder Bruce R. McConkie. Gerry grew to love the Australian people. When he was released from his mission he travelled alone to New Zeeland and Hawaii. This would not happen today. He met his best friend Jim Bodie on his mission in California, and spent time with him, then travelled back home to Taber.

In 1963 Gerry worked at the sugar factory in Taber for one campaign.

1964 -1965 Gerry attended the Lethbridge College for one year, then moved to Calgary to work. He found a position with a trucking company "Kingsway Freightlines" as a customer service clerk and a rate clerk. This was also the time he met and married his eternal companion Rita Elaine Cushman. They were married in Calgary on February 18, 1967.

The Summer of 1969 Gerry was offered the Office Manager's position for Kingsway Freightlines in Vancouver. They were given only two weeks to pack and move to Vancouver. Rita was employed at the time at a Customs Broker and was unable to give the mandatory 2 weeks notice. They packed one of Kingsway's 45 foot trailers with their goods and set off for the 12 hour trip to the coast.

Gerry's Aunt Shirley and Uncle Cicel Massong lived in Coquitlam, with whom the family stayed until an apartment was found the new apartment was at the top of Blue Mountain in Coquitlam about 2 miles from the border of Coquitlam and Burnaby.

They attended church in the Stake Centre in New Westminster which was a 15-20-minute drive on the 401 highway, where the couple were given many ward and stake positions. If you were from Southern Alberta and a member all your life, your experience was invaluable in that many of the members there, were new to the church, and were not experienced in the fundamentals of church leadership. He also had the opportunity to be a high council speaking companion and taught early morning Seminary.

In 1972 an opportunity to move back to southern Alberta as Terminal Manager for the Lethbridge office came and we packed up another 45 foot Kingsway trailer and stayed with his parents in Taber until they found a house to rent on the northside of Lethbridge. This was also the year that Gerry and Rita with Melanie and Julie were sealed for time and all eternity in the Cardston Temple.

In 1977 it was decided to build a home on a piece of land in the Village of Stirling, and the foundation was dug in December of that year. Gerry and many friends gathered on a lot of Saturdays and week nights to build that home. The family moved in to it the summer of 1978.

The family moved back to Lethbridge in 1982 and again found a home on the north side of Lethbridge.

One of Gerry's favorite positions in the church is gospel doctrine teacher which he enjoyed many opportunities over the years both in Vancouver, Stirling and Lethbridge.

He was called to the High Council in the Lethbridge East Stake in 1992. In January 1996 he was called to be the Bishop of Lethbridge 5th Ward, his most favorite position in the church. He served until January 2001.

At the age of 45 he decided to go back to university here in Lethbridge and graduated with a business management degree. To support the family during that time he worked for Bridgetown Messenger service and also delivered pizza at night. He could study at night in between deliveries. It was with Bridgetown Messenger service that the idea of delivering prescriptions came about and was encouraged by his first clients to start his own business.

So, with a second-hand car, no money, and 2 clients Torak Express was born to provide a delivery service for pharmacies some flower shops and groceries and a lawyer or two. It has since streamlined itself to just delivering pharmacy products, 2 flower shops and some groceries.

Gerry, with the help of co-owner sons Boyd and Philip; the company has grown to service the area of Medicine Hat to Pincher Creek as well as the City of Lethbridge and Coaldale, Coalhurst, Raymond, Magrath Cardston and Standoff. and after-hours Vulcan and Fort Macleod; with 9 cars and 9 staff to service the clients six days a week.

Gerry and Rita have 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Friends may meet the family from 10:00 am to 10:50 am prior to the service on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Northside Chapel (2213 - 6A Ave. N. Lethbridge). The Funeral Service will begin at 11:00 am with Bishop Bradley Low officiating. Interment will follow in the Royal View Memorial Cemetery, North Lethbridge.