I have many fond memories of my wonderful friend Pam. She was an elegant, classy lady.

When she lived in her house just a few minutes from me, we used to go for walks nearly everyday. I really enjoyed our walks and Pam would share her wisdom on various topics, especially health.

Pam often hosted a monthly potluck/movie evening for several friends. It was a time of bonding with great food, conversation and Pam was a gracious and welcoming host in her lovely townhouse.

Pam was the kind of person whose presence made you feel instantly at ease. Positive, warm, welcoming, and genuinely kind, she had a rare gift for making everyone feel valued. Her wisdom was gentle and she always seemed to know just what to say, whether it was a kind word, a moment of encouragement, or thoughtful health advice. 

Pam was more than a friend - she was a source of light and calm, a steady presence, and a cheerleader for everyone lucky enough to know her.

She gave freely of her time, her heart, and her wisdom, and her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched.

I miss her and her spirit continues through the warmth she shared, the kindness she showed, and the example she set.

She will be missed, remembered, and cherished always by those who knew and loved her.

Sincere condolences to the family. I idolized Mrs Lehto as an icon of an elegant, kind lady. 

I was a young girl, friend  and playmate of Jacquelyn and cousin Angela. Mrs Lehto was our neighbor during her years living in Raymond Alberta. Love to the family.

Your mom was such a light in this world. I didn't see her often, but everytime she just made me feel so good. I used to think "What is happening? We don't really know each other????"

That, I believe, was one of her true gifts. It didn't matter to her who you were- you felt her kindness and love. I told Chris & Karen it was like having glitter tossed at you- it got it all over you no matter what, and it stayed. ❤️ Truly such a beautiful lady, inside and out. Thank you, Pam, for letting me feel that love. 

On behalf of David K Elton, Pamela's older brother:

Pam is one of my dearest life long friends. My first memory of Pam took place in 1944 – I was four and a half years old and Pam was two and half years old. We decided to eat some of Mom’s Licorice. We searched and found the Licorice in the back of a drawer in a dresser in Mom’s bedroom. There were only a few pieces of Licorice and Pam and I ate all of them. We then decided to hide the fact that we took the candy by starting a fire in the dresser drawer. Fortunately the fire didn’t get very far before we were discovered.

From that first memory until her passing Pam and I remained the very best of friends . I don’t ever remember having a major altercation with her – we simply adored one another, loved being together, and the Lord gave us the opportunity to intertwine our lives for 82 years.

We went through elementary school , Sunday School, Junior High school, High school and even part of college/University together. Pam was one of Sophia’s bridesmaids in 1964 and shortly thereafter Sophia returned the favor and was one of Pam’s bridesmaids. And 49 years later Pam and both Chris and Karen attended my marriage to Valda in 2013.

On one occasion in January 1965 we were giving Pam and Gene a ride back to Rexburg following Christmas with our Folks and we ran into a snow storm south of Calgary near Carmangay which caused a complete ”whiteout” that was so bad that we were afraid to stop in fear of being hit from someone following us. Gene had to get out and walk in front of the car for a couple of Kilometers to ensure I didn’t inadvertently drive into the ditch.

Pam and I also were with one another for almost all the Christenings of her five children and my six children. Our families went on vacations together in Canada, the US, Mexico, and in 2012 Pam and I went to Barbados together. The attached photos of Pam, one wearing the yellow blouse and her silhouette at sunset on the beach were both taken in Barbados. We often stayed at one another’s homes and talked a lot about all the movies she loved (she would often quote key lines from numerous 007 movies). Pam and Gene bought our first house in Raymond when we moved to Calgary.

Following Sophia’s death in May 2009 Pam and I started attending a number of gala events together in Calgary. I was constantly being invited to gala charitable and corporate events because of my position as CEO of two of the largest grant making Foundations in Calgary (Max Bell and Norlien Foundation) and Director of a third grant Making Foundation (Arthur J. E. Child Foundation). Pam loved to dress up and go to these events with me. She stood out at these events not only her because of statuesque presence, but also her stylish dress and the fact that we loved to dance with one another. Indeed over a period of more than a year (2010-12) Pam and I attended weekly dance lessons together. And, we would often chuckle at the fact that many of my acquaintances at the gala events we attended seemed to “raise their eyebrows” when I introduced her to them as “my sister Pamela Lehto”!

During the last year plus of Pam’s life Valda and I often visited her at the Millrise Seniors Village. While we could no longer understand her due to the advanced Dementia she nonetheless always made us feel welcome with a smile and a hug. Every so often she would introduce me to one of her fellow residences as “my brother”. And, she would always welcome a chocolate candy bar. Her graciousness and generosity always shone through as she would offer to share the treat with us. When we declined her offer she had no trouble at all eating not one but sometimes two chocolate bars herself.

Pam is loved by all my children for her friendliness, her love of life, and her constant happy presence in their lives from the time they were born until they reached adulthood. Time and again, since her passing, my children remind me again and again that being with “Aunt Pam” was always associated with feeling loved and having wonderful times. My sentiments exactly! I look forward to continuing our love for, and association with, one another when we meet again on the other side of the veil death creates that temporarily separates us from one another.

For many years Pam teased me that because she was eating only the healthiest of food she would dance on the graves of all her siblings. I am looking forward to one day dancing with Pam on all of our graves! 

On behalf of Jon Elton: 

Pam was one of my favourite people in the world. I loved Pam as the vivacious, talented, amazing, wonderful older sister I never had.

My first real remembrance of her was when I was about 10 or 12 years old. Pam was 8 years older than I so she would have been 18 - 20 or so. She was seriously dating Gene at the time and my father had just dropped me off in Calgary to spend some time with Brent who was just one year older. It was Stampede time and the Calgary Eltons were in full gear!! Pancake breakfasts with Kitch calling and Grace violining at the dances! I was immediately enlisted in the catering support staff, though I’m sure Brent and I were not much help. Grace was her regular, ‘down to business Whirling Dervish' and Uncle Kitch his usual bigger than life presence. My dad had given me a $20 bill which seemed like a lot of money at the time. First day I was with Pam and Gene and we went to lunch together at a restaurant where I had scrambled eggs, which I remember as it had Anchovies on top which I remember thinking was a horrible idea! Being star-struck with this amazing woman, not knowing how these things worked and with all that money in my pocket, as a good visitor, and to show off a bit, I offered to pay which devastated my $20 bill so I was pretty much broke 1st day of my week at the Stampede with my Calgary cousins! (I remember Uncle Kitch was not impressed as he now had to finance not only Brent’s week at Stampede, but mine too! I remember him 'taking it out' on my dad, his little brother, to whom I had to explain how I had spent the whole $20 taking Pam to lunch!) But it was worth it. She was so alive, so amazing. I was completely smitten and I had boughten her lunch!

Pam did her Persian Kitten and Crazy Barbara pantomime which thrilled me like practically nothing I had ever experienced. So expressive! So talented! So vivacious! I remember thinking what a lucky guy Gene was that I wasn’t 10 years older and would marry her for myself! First cousins not withstanding!! At that age with little experience with women, I remember thinking Pam was pretty much the epitome of what wonderful womanhood was all about! Darn that 10 year difference… and that big blond Scandinavian, Gene!!

Pam came and went many times during my life. I remember when they moved to Vancouver, Gene worked at CKWX and the family lived in a house at the station transmitter in Richmond with a passel of little blond children. Pam, still so beautiful, fun and alive, and of course Gene so big and strong. (Come to think I don’t think I would have done very well trying to steal Pam from him.)

Another time, after Gene had passed, I was in Calgary on business and stayed with Pam at her beautiful townhouse. She was so fun, gracious and hospitable. I stayed in her guest room and on the wall of the guest bathroom was a small plaque with a poem on it. Desiderata, by Max Ehrmann. “Go placidly mid the noise and haste…” We talked about the wisdom contained in that poem. (Pam was always so wise about those kind of things.) I copied it, memorized it, changed and added to it over the years to make it my own and to this day I recite it to myself every morning. Another way Pam changed my life. (You can see my version of Desiderata on my web site. jondelton.com I have also put many of grandpa’s poems up on the site. IYou’ll see my website needs a lot of work.)

In 2005 we had a bunch of Air Miles to use and Mary and I decided to take our daughters, Treva and Sarah and go to England to visit Marquita, Vance and the land of Jane Austin. (Mary is a big Jane Austin fan.) We had enough air miles and invited Pam to join us on the trip and we had an amazing time. Vance and Marquita were wonderful hosts and tour guides! There was nothing they couldn’t or wouldn’t do for us. (Probably didn’t hurt that we had brought Marquita’s sister along with us.) I remember we had visited London for a day or two and rather than go back into London we decided to head the other direction to the land of Jane Austin. That ended up being a very wise decision as that was the day of the Terrorist attacks on the buses and subway in London that closed down the whole city! It was kind of like 9/11 but in London. We were blithely visiting the land of Pride and Prejudice completely unaware of the disaster we had avoided. What a great trip. In 2010 we had another fun time with her and others in the family in Saint George. I have included a few photos of both those times below.

The last time I saw Pam was maybe a year ago or so. There was a children of Kitch and Grace Family Reunion in Calgary I crashed. I have always been so fond of my ‘Calgary Cousins' and almost feel like one of them! Kitchy, Winston, Valda and I, or maybe it was Lora, visited Pam in the home. It was so sad to see her alive and yet gone, but it was nice to be able to say good-bye for what I knew would be the last time. She had always been such an important person in my life. Rest in Peace my dear cousin. I so look forward to when we meet again.

Your Wannabe brother who settles for Favourite cousin, Jon.

PS. Mary, to whom I just read the above also remembers Pam so fondly when she visited us in Vancouver on a number of occasions and the wonderful long talks they had together and the wise advice she always gave.   

I will cherish a lifetime of memories with Pam, including birthday parties, fun adventures, great food, late nights, long discussions, warm and loving moments, always with a lot of laughter.

Jackie Curliss McLellan

Thinking of Aunty Pam and the Lehto’s.  My heart goes out to Marquita, Chris, Carolyn and Melissa.  She loved you all. 

I remember Pam holding me one night during a sleep over.  I got home sick and she rocked me and told me it would be alright.  And it was.  I can also remember a time when we had a bonfire in the back yard.  The next day there was only a little smoke left, but Pam blew on that fire and got little sticks and got it going for us again.  Lots of Christmases and trips with the Lehto cousins.

 Pam was always a friend to us and especially our dad as they got older. I remember her with love and fondness.  I admired her beauty, self discipline, style and grace.  I can see her smile and hear her hearty laugh.  She will be missed.    

Once in your lifetime, there is one blazing Star who transforms the sky by day and by night. 

This Star lights your life, and is, somehow, Always With You.

From the early ‘beginning’  and through to a 

‘Heavenly Pause’,   there is a calm assurance that this

‘Dazzling  Light’ will be with you again.

Love from Carol