Sadly, we announce the passing of Denton Eugene Orde of New Minas in Dykeland Lodge, Windsor, Nova Scotia on July 17, 2024. Denton was born in Maitland Bridge on January 20, 1927, the son of Percy Austin Orde and Myrtle Harding Rawding.

He went to work at C.F.B. Cornwallis in 1943 until 1944 as a carpenter. He returned to Maitland Bridge after his parents lost their home to fire, helping them re-establish a farm in Kempt. In 1950 he married Jeannette Chute, daughter of Bernard and Lois (MacLean) Chute of Caledonia, Queens County. Together they farmed and he worked in the woods until 1954 when he went to work with Nova Scotia Power Commission at Harmony Hydro-electric station. He accepted a transfer to Bear River/Sissiboo Developments in 1957. While in Bear River, he upgraded his education through ICS correspondence courses in electrical and electronic fields. In 1975 he went to the Black River system near Wolfville, as Superintendent of the "Valley Hydro System". He continued to work in this area until his retirement in 1987, when they moved to New Minas.

During his retirement he pursued numerous personal interests including the Kings Historical Society and became involved in Genealogy. As his interest in this grew, he spent many days and evenings pursuing information and compiling his findings as two self-published books on the Orde (1997) and Rawding (2000) families in Nova Scotia. He spent hours in his workshop repairing and restoring many chairs, rocking chairs, tables, building bookcases and other projects which were shared with family members. He was involved in amateur radio during the early 60's and 70's, learning Morse code and building his own ham radio. As VE1AKI he made friends locally and had contacts all over the world.

Denton was a man of faith accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour early in life through the preaching and teaching of the Shantymen's Mission. He was baptized and grew in faith providing leadership in churches over many years. He served as Deacon in Bear River and New Minas Baptist Churches and was actively involved in the building of the new church and later expansion projects. He was a lifetime member of Gideons International, now known as Shareword Global. He started with this organization in the late 1950's after answering an ad in the Freepress Weekly to be provided with copies of the New Testament to hand out in schools. Out of this grew his steadfast support working to provide copies of the Bible in many areas, including grade 5 school children, hotels, hospitals and prisons, both locally and around the world.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Jeannette, and their children, Burdette (Garnet) Uhlman, Berwick, NS; granddaughter, Andrea Robbins-Trimper, (great grandchildren, Carey and Abigail) Lower Sackville, NS; daughter, Shirley (David) Dugas, Bear River, NS; granddaughter, Sarah Marshall (great grandsons, Owen and Evan) Sunken Lake, NS; granddaughter, Katherine (Dave) Trenholm (great grandson Benjamin) Coldbrook, NS; granddaughter, Emily (Matt Symes) (great granddaughters, Ellington and Audrey) Moncton, NB; son, Kevin (Cheryl Bain) Digby, NS; granddaughter, Sharayah (Riley Gamble) Killaly, SK.

Survived by his brother, Eric Orde, Granville Ferry, NS; and predeceased by his sister, Leona (Lawrence) Ford and brothers, Gerald and Myrna (McKinnon) Orde of Vancouver, BC; Harry and Hannah (Cunningham) Orde of Maitland Bridge, NS; sister-in-law, Joan (Scott) Orde as well as nieces and nephews and much-loved son-in-law, Donald Robbins.

The family have greatly appreciated the care provided by Dykeland staff who went out of their way to enrich his stay and make him feel content and cared for.

The funeral service will be held in the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville, on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 11 a.m., Rev. Wayne Merrill will officiate with a reception to follow. For those unable to attend, a livestream of the service will be available. A private family interment will take place in Mount Hope Cemetery, Bear River at 3 o'clock the same day.