Arthur (Art) De Lint

September 14, 2020 21 Condolences Print Obituary Send Flowers

On September 10, 2020, Our loving Husband, Father, and Poppy Arthur (Art) De Lint at the age 82 in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, passed away and went home to Heaven to live with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Art was born Adrianus Nicolass De Lint on March 26, 1938 on the island of Sumatra, in the town of TangJong Karan, Indonesia to two very proud parents. He lived there in his loving home until the age of 4 (1942) when World War II infiltrated his world and forever changed the path of his life. He was taken as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese invading army to the first of several concentration camps with charges of him and his family being British spies. During the years he spent in these camps he suffered the loss of his “Pa” and Uncle and was liberated from the camp on May 10, 1945 by the Dutch and American Armies liberating Indonesia. He and his Ma were taken to Malaysia to physically recover from their experience and while recovering he had to learn to walk again due to weakness from lack of food. He knew that throughout this time his Ma did everything she could to protect him and keep him safe. One joyful memory that he had from that time he shared often was while on his journey to Holland he had the pleasure of being on the American passenger ship the M.V.Llangibby Castle for Christmas in 1945. The American Soldiers hosted a Christmas party for all the Children on board. During their time in the camp he came to meet his future Stepdad Bartlett, Stepbrother Bart and Stepsister Annalene. His Ma lost her husband and his Stepdad had lost his wife in the camp and felt that it would be easier to raise their children together so they married. 

In 1957, at the age of 19, he decided to take on a new adventure and immigrate to Canada. Landing in Toronto he stayed with friends from Holland and started a job at a Tobacco farm. There were many days he would walk Yonge Street in search of better employment opportunities. 

During his time in Toronto he would go to the Oregon restaurant every night for supper and in 1958, he met and fell in love with a waitress at the restaurant. This waitress became his treasured and loving wife, Betty. For 58 years they built a wonderful life, home and family together that led to many more adventures. 

Betty, being a good ole Newfie girl, took her love home with her to Newfoundland and they first settled on Woody Island, an outport settlement with little of the comforts we know today. While living there they had their first beloved child Shelley. A couple years later they moved to North Harbour, where bouncing baby girl number 2 came along, Tina. They made another move 2 years later to Swift Current and along came the long-awaited boy, Rodney. As work dried up on the island in 1976, the family left the island and moved to Labrador City.  Baby number 4 was on the horizon and the hope was for another boy. Baby Girl number 3 came into the world and Art was officially outnumbered again with his 3rd daughter, Lorna. 

In 1981, work was again drying up and for the sake of the family’s wellbeing it was decided to move the family out west to Fort McMurray, Alberta.  This is where he continued his career as a Heavy-Duty Mechanic with Syncrude. At Syncrude, Art worked on Team 3 and got to play with big toys. Spending many hours on cold shop floors fixing D10’s and other mine equipment. He loved his profession and his beautiful blue eyes would light up with excitement as he talked about the various equipment around the mine. 

At 55 years of age, Syncrude offered early retirement packages and Art and Betty decided to take it and move to Edmonton, in 1997. Not being ready to be done work, he continued to work as a contractor in Fort McMurray and chose to commute back and forth. Unfortunately, heart issues came about a few years later and caused him to slow down and retire for good. Other health issues ensued in later years with the development of COPD, hip issues, and Diabetes. 

Through these years, Art’s kids went on to marry and brought him great joy with 12 Grandchildren. Art touched many lives along the way with his gentle demeanor, his kind words of wisdom, his listening ear (with the help of hearing aids), and his great love and joy for life. 

Art loved spending time with his large and loud family. It brought him great joy when they could all be together for birthdays, holidays, Christmas parties, summer-time picnics in the park and any other family gatherings where he could quietly observe the interactions and actively participate in the joy and laughter. 

Art also loved spending time with friends over coffee, time at church with his church family, participating in Men’s Fellowship, Bible Study, etc… He touched many lives and always left a lasting impression with everyone he met. He made friends with the children in the neighbourhood as he sat on the porch and watched the joy of them playing. Offer words of advice or some friendly conversation to whoever passed by. 

Art was predeceased by his Father (Pa), Adriannus and his Mother (Ma) Pieternella, his step-father (Bartlett), his Father-in- Law Joshua Barrett, Mother-in-Law Doris Barrett and Sister-in-Law Myrtle Eddy, Stepsister Annalene (Tom) and Nephew Danny Eddy – who was more like a son than a nephew,  and spoke often about many more Aunts and Uncles.

Art leaves behind his loving and devoted wife, Betty, of 55 years; his four children, their spouses and children: Shelley Holden (James, Melissa & their father Kevin), Tina and Mike Foster (Alexander, Miles, Victor & Joshua) Rod and Coralee (Jones) Delint (Kyle, Brianna, Ashley, their mother Michelle, Cassandra); Lorna and Blair King  (Adrianna & Alyssa). He was just a few weeks away from welcoming his first great grandchild (from his grandson James & fiancée Ashley). Art also leaves behind his stepbrother Bart (Els) in Germany, Brother-in-law Walter Eddy (Ivy), his nephew Dwayne and niece Brenda (Colin, Logan, Grace). Aunts Grace Langdon, Marion Jeans and Rose Peyton and many cousins and friends here in Canada and in Holland.

The family would like to thank Edmonton EMS, Edmonton Fire Department and the Staff at the Emergency Room of the Sturgeon General Hospital in St. Albert for all their efforts prior to his passing.

A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, Sept 15, 2020,  at 2:00pm at Northwest Pentecostal Church, located at 9949 169 Avenue, Edmonton.

In lieu of flowers, the family request you make donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Alberta Lung Association, or Alberta Diabetes Foundation.

  1. A beautiful tribute to a beautiful person. Love and hugs to all the family

    • Condolences to the Delint family. Betty I am so sorry for your loss. Art was such a kind gentle man. Thought the world over him as well as you. I remember staying with you guys. Treated me so good. We will miss him. God bless you and your family

  2. Condolences to the Delint Family
    Art will always hold a special place in our Hearts.
    A kind and gentle giant, always with a twinkle in his bluest eyes!
    Rest in Peace Art

    Sharon and Mark Andrews

    • Betty and family
      Sorry to hear of Art’s passing. Sending you our thoughts and prayers at this sad time.

  3. Betty…So very sorry to hear of Art’s passing…I remember him well from our days in Swift Current …He was such a sweet man…Big hugs to you & your family ❤️

  4. Betty, Sincere condolences to you and your family. Art was a lovely man and a great story teller. Sending warm thoughts and hugs! ❤️

    • An earthly loss but a heavenly gain. Rest easy my friend and enjoy your deserved paradise with the Father and those who have gone before you. All of my love to your grieving loved ones and a salute to you for the amazing man and example you were to us all.

  5. Sorry to hear of Art’s passing. Praying God will comfort you all.

  6. So sorry to hear of Art’s passing. Art was such a gentle spirit. Condolences to all the family. RIP Art

  7. My thoughts and prayers are with you Betty and your families Art was a wonderful man who I respected very much when I met you guys in Labrador City Hugs to you all

  8. So sorry to here of your loss Betty, condolences to you and family…

  9. Betty ànd Family we are so sorry to hear Of Art’s passing .Sure would love to be with you Today to help ease your pain .We know He is gone to a Better Place with His Lord in Heaven .We will remember the Good times we had together . We Love you All and you are all in our Thoughts and Prayers God will see you through.God Bless. We Love you all .

  10. We are honoured to have known Art for many years. We called him a great friend spending time with him and Betty whenever we were in Edmonton. We are saddened by his passing but look forward to the glorious hope of meeting again in our heavenly home. We will miss him very much.

  11. To: Betty & Family

    Sorry to hear about Art’s passing, but life has spoken once again reminding us how important it is to accept Jesus Christ as ones Saviour and Lord.

    Art is in a far better place today, absent from the body present with the lord.

    Our prayers and thoughts are with the family, we are praying that God will be your source of strength and healing at this time.

    George and Doris Williams
    Issac and Ivy Williams

    • So sorry to hear of Art’s passing. I knew Art from his days in Mine Mobile at Syncrude. Art was a very humble man and was respected by all. Sincere sympathy to Betty and family.

  12. To the Delint family. So sorry to hear of Art’s passing. He was a good friend and we enjoyed his sense of humour. Our sincere condolences. May he rest in peace.

  13. Condolences to the family. Art worked in Mine Mobile for my father and I worked on Team 3 supporting the team. Art was always kind and was respected by all of us. He has an incredible story of courage and strength. I know he will be dearly missed by all.

  14. Just hearing of Art’s passing. So sorry Betty and family for your loss. You are in our prayers. May God continue to give you comfort and love to face the days ahead. Love Bev & Derek

  15. Betty, Shelley, Tina, Rodney, Lorna and families

    It was sad to hear of Art’s passing. I wasn’t finished high school when your family left for Labrador City. Many years have passed and we have not seen each other for years but I have very fond memories of times spent at your homes in Swift Current. I remember being excited at Christmas when Art received his package from his family from Holland. The cheese was awesome. Another vivid memory which I share with family and friends every now and again is the time he did a trick and brought me from his shoulders and down through his legs and back up again. At least that’s the way I remember it. I was in grade 1 at the time. My twin brother Don thought it was so magnificent he thought he would try it. Needless to say he didn’t stand so far of the floor and he didn’t quite have the strength to put it together and I landed on my head. I was left gasping for breath and thought I was dying. I fainted and ended up with a broken shoulder. Funny now, not so funny then. I will always remember Art’s smile and his love for God. He loved his family dearly. God bless you as you go through this difficult time.

  16. Our deepest sympathies for your family!

    John and Cyndi Deloyer

  17. Sincerest Condolences

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