Garfield Gilbert Vikse, beloved child and ordained Pastor of the One True King, went to be with his Heavenly Father on May 7, 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Garfield was born in Camrose, Alberta on November 30, 1953 to Donald and Evelyn Vikse. They lived on a farm near Donalda, Alberta, where he farmed with his Dad. He enjoyed riding horses, exploring the coulees, playing baseball, hunting, and fishing. In the winter of 1973/74 he attended the Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute where he met his wife, Marianne. They were married on August 30, 1975 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Camrose, Alberta.

They set up their home on his parents’ farmstead, where he had a mixed farm of cattle and grain. They raised three girls and one boy, with whom he shared his love of camping, fishing, hunting, and telling stories. And whether they were on holidays or bringing a load of grain into Donalda, stopping for ice cream was a must.

In 1997, Garfield left farming and entered construction. In the fall of 2002, he and Marianne moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he attended The Master’s Institute Seminary. His first parish was in Leader, Saskatchewan, 2005-2011. In the fall of 2011 they accepted a call to Kingman and Round Hill, Alberta where Garfield ministered until his retirement in the summer of 2019. Shepherding the body of Christ was fulfilling and brought great joy to his heart.

Garfield and Marianne enjoyed living in Airdrie, Alberta with their son and his family for a couple of years after retirement, then doing some traveling to places they had always wanted to go.

Last September, Garfield’s life took a turn as he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. This past winter, the Lord blessed him with many precious moments spent with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Marianne, daughters Arron (Mark; Rachel & Cello, Kaden, Matthew), Holly (Conrad; Emmett, Jasper, Toby), Julie (Colin; Mackenzie, Jonah, Morgan), and son Jared (Candice; Ada, Cora, Freya), four sisters and one brother. He was predeceased by his father and mother (Donald and Evelyn Vikse); brother-in-law, Afton Olson; niece, Heather Olson; and great niece, Evelyn Adam.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at Resurrection Lutheran Brethren Church in Camrose, Alberta.

A livestream of the funeral will be available on the Resurrection Lutheran Church Youtube page  www.youtube.com/@resurrectionlutheranbrethr9591/streams

Memorial donations can be made to the Canadian Food Grains Bank in Winnipeg, Manitoba or to a charity of one's choice.