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On Monday, November 8th, 2010 at 6:23 pm in The Pas, Manitoba, two incredibly proud parents welcomed a beautiful 9 lbs 1 oz. baby boy, Ryder Keestin Armstrong at St. Anthony’s General Hospital.
Over the years Ryder grew into a very specific, brave, loving, spiritual, adventurous and accepting young man. Ryder showed us that his love could grow immensely when his Step-Mom Jenna and Step-Dad Zacc came into his life. He showed each and every one of his family members that they were individually important to him in his own special way. Ryder was a proud big brother who called his siblings Lia and Zacc Junior “my babies”. Ryder would keep his babies busy by hugging, kissing, playing, and talking with them. Ryder was extremely proud of his Cree culture and spent a lot of time at ceremonies with his Mommy, and was always thrilled to go chicken hunting with Zacc. He also loved going for fast sled rides with his Daddy, making living room “fart forts” with Jenna, riding his bike or scooter at the skate park, playing hockey and scoring goals, swimming until his lips turned blue, and fishing for big “fighters” on Rocky Lake, or simply just relaxing at home with family and fur brothers.
January 15, 2019 was the beginning of the hardest fight for Ryder and his entire family, when he was diagnosed with grade 4 Diffuse Midline Glioma in his spine. He showed his bravery throughout this year battling cancer, he never quit fighting to overcome any obstacle that was placed in front of him. A year after his diagnosis on January 17, 2020 at 10:06 am, at the age of 9, Ryder was called to the spirit world, surrounded by loving family at St. Anthony’s General Hospital in The Pas, Manitoba.
He leaves to cherish all of his memories his Mother Alyissa Nelson and Step-Dad Zaccheus Harris; Father Robert Bryan Armstrong and Step-Mom Jenna Purshega; Sister Lia Rose Harris; Brothers Zaccheus Junior Harris, Fur Brothers Cheeko and Leo; Grand Parents Maternal Grandmother Brenda Whitehead-Nelson and Grandfather Norman Nelson, Rosemary Head and Alex Harris, Paternal Grandmother Shelly Armstrong, Grandfather Kevin Armstrong, Kelly and Brian Purshega; Aunties Kaite Nelson Whitehead (Vergas George), Jaime Nelson, Karra and Dallas Hay, Doran and Danny LaJambe, Vanessa Head, Sylvia and Andy Grey; Uncles Matthew Purshega (Erika Scott), Alex Harris (Charlene Spence), Steve Harris; Cousins Mason Whitehead, Myla Whitehead, Rachlan Hay, Ryann Hay, Hanna LaJambe, Tessa LaJambe; Great Grandparents William and Beverly Donaldson and Muriel Armstrong; Godparents Scott and Bobbi Sinclair, Dailynn Berezowicki and Ryan Wilkinson and many other loved relatives and friends too many to mention.
Ryder is predeceased by his Maternal Great-Grandmother Jessie Whitehead (Budd) and Katherine Winnifred Nelson (Sayese); Great Grandfather John Charles Whitehead and Clifton James Nelson; Cousins Terrance Ayrton Troy Kadachuk and Francesca Ducharme Whitehead; Paternal Great-Grandfather Wayne (Red) Armstrong; Great Uncle Bryan Harvey Armstrong and other loved ones too numerous to mention.
Celebration of Life for
Ryder Keestin Armstrong
Saturday, January 25, 2020 2:00 pm
Veteran’s Hall, Opaskwayak, MB
Officiating: Don Brown
PALLBEARERS
Rachlan Hay
Mason Whitehead
Easton Whitehead
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
The Pas Huskies,
Staff and Students from Kelsey Community School,
and ALL of Ryder’s Friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations to The Pas Families Building A Better Community, #newpark623 project, Box 116, The Pas, Manitoba, R9A 1K3 or e-transfers to thepasfamilies@gmail.com or to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, 205 Horton St E, Suite 203, London, ON N6B 1K7, would be appreciated by Ryder's family.
To show your support, please wear your jersey to the memorial service on Saturday.