Obituary of Susan Gail Sisson

Susan Gail Sisson (Becker)

1958 ~ 2025

Susan Gail Becker was born November 7, 1958 to her mother Rita, and father Ted (Edward). She was raised outside Elm Creek, Manitoba with five sisters, six brothers, no running water, no phone and no power!!! A few of her uncles, aunts and cousins lived with them as well for a while. She remembered that one day the priest came to the house and baptized everyone on the same day. They grew crops and raised cows until Ted passed away in 1983. Rita stayed on the farm and eventually moved into town years later. She passed away in a house fire in 2003.

Susan married her boyfriend Don in 1976 at 17 years old. For their honeymoon they moved to Alberta! That was where the jobs were. They camped their way there in a two-man tent and ended up in Calgary where they moved in with friends. Five other guys, to be exact, and Susan was the housewife: cooking and doing all the laundry! I guess that’s how she became such a good cook! Don got his first job right away in construction. Susan’s first job was phoning and booking appointments for a salesman to make house calls and get a free food hamper. So many people made the appointments and then didn’t keep them, and she’d get trouble. She hated it so much that she quit. Susan then worked at Woolco as a sandwich girl. She had to make all the sandwiches each day for the showcases. She got pretty fast at it!

Don and Susan moved to an apartment in Olds, Alberta, across from the college in 1977 as Don got a job with UGG grain elevator. Susan worked at Days Inn as a waitress and made enough tip money being such a good waitress that they were able to afford to go on holidays to Manitoba. Don worked at UGG until the elevator caught fire and he was offered a job running the UGG in Compeer. So, they moved. Susan worked as a bartender there until their first baby Curtis James was born in October 1981. Since Compeer had no hospital, he was born in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan. Two years later in November 1983, their daughter Pamela Sue was born. She was stubborn and wouldn’t come out, so they took Susan in an ambulance to Kindersley, Saskatchewan.

Even though they made so many wonderful, lifelong friends in Compeer they were ready to move on. The UGG in Castor, Alberta had an opening, so Don took it. In 1985, Don and Susan welcomed their third and final child, Charlene Dawn. They decided you couldn’t find better people anywhere and stayed in Castor. In 1988, they purchased the Castor Bottle Depot and Susan ran it for over 23 years. They also added a feed store, chemical, vet supplies and a Greyhound depot over the years. Don and Susan sold the business in 2011, and Susan got a job at Food Town and then later at the hospital in laundry and then housekeeping. She worked at the hospital for 7 years until her body forced her to quit. She had both knees replaced hoping that it would straighten her back. The health of her body continued to decline. In 2022 she was finally diagnosed with Corticobasal Syndrome. This cousin to Parkinson’s eventually took her life.

During her time in Castor Susan took on many roles in many groups. She was room mom at Theresetta for 12 years, UCW member for 41 years (president for over 20), Castor Little Theatre caterer and secretary, misc. catering Jobs, Hall board secretary, as well as any sport and club the kids did and probably a bunch more we’ve forgotten. She also played baseball and softball in her younger years as well as other sports.

Susan leaves to mourn her devoted husband Don Sisson; son Curtis (Danielle Vanstone) Sisson and their children Alex Vanstone, Kitty Vanstone, and Evie Sisson; daughter Pam (Bruce) Younger and their children Aubrey Younger and Lane Younger; daughter Charlene (Cody Callihoo) Sisson and their children Carter Callihoo and Jaxon Callihoo; siblings Shirley (Don) McIntyre, Kenny Becker, Carole (Russ) Sampson, Glenn (Doris) Becker, Brad (Susan) Becker, Donna Becker and Kathy (Gary) Waschuck; brother-in-law Ray Johnson; as well as numerous other family and many dear friends.

Susan was predeceased by her parents Ted (Edward) and Rita Becker; brothers Raymond Becker, Eddie Becker and Dennis Becker; sister Bonnie Johnson; parents-in-law Charlie and Nellie Sisson and sister-in-law Suzanne Becker.

Susan and her family would like to extend a thank you to the whole Castor Hospital and Homecare team, as well as an extra special thank you to Dr. Jamie Marquart, whose generosity and compassion eased her in her illness.

Celebration Of Life

Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 2:00 P.M.

Castor Community Hall, Castor, Alberta

Memorial donations may be made to the Knox United Church Women of Castor, the Castor Cemetery or to a charity of the donor’s choice.