All Obituaries

After a brief decline in health, Joyce passed away at Columbia House in Invermere where she resided for the past 15 months, on February 15, 2021. Joyce was born to Maurice and Doris Ruault on June 27, 1936 in Cranbrook, B.C. The eldest of 10 children, Joyce was raised in Invermere on the Ruault Family Ranch. She was a down to earth, no nonsense gal who loved farm life. Joyce had a passion for country music and loved to dance. Joyce married William Edward Rauch (predeceased 2016) the summer...

After a long battle with heart disease Keith passed away peacefully in his sleep at home where he was most comfortable, on February 20, 2021. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. If something was broken, he could fix it as well as tear a car motor apart and put it back together again. He started his career in the Armed Forces and was stationed in Germany.  He travelled to numerous countries throughout Europe. After leaving the Armed Forces he married and settled down. He worked on...

After a long struggle with cancer and diabetes, Clarence was called home to be with his Saviour.  He will be deeply missed by his wife, Jane (Haayema), of 60 years.  5 children, 13 grandchildren who called him grandpa, and 11 great-grandchildren who called him pake. Dorothy & John Wikkerink Tiffanie (Ryan) Francis - Hunter, Hailey Tasha (Derek) Anderson - Brooklyn Jack & Karen Vanderschaaf Megan (Nick) Smith - Shane, Brinn Jason (Amber) Vanderschaaf - Opal Owen...

Bill was born in Hoorn, Netherlands, February 28th, 1943. He was the second eldest in a family of seven. Growing up in post WWII Holland was not easy, but the family was able to cope. He acquired a second-hand bicycle as a teen, and took off exploring, travelling to Germany, France and Denmark. His passion for cycling lasted all his life. He attended carpentry school, served in the Dutch army and worked as a long shoreman before immigrating to Canada in 1965. He settled in Calgary, Alta,...

Christiaan Barendregt (Chris) Born in The Hague, Holland on January 28, 1936 to his parents Richard Martin Barendregt and Janke Mostert.  Chris passed over into God’s embrace peacefully on January 31, 2021. He was the middle child in a large family of siblings: Henny, August, Cory, Pete, Dick, Jane, Casey, Hilda, Nick and Andrew. Chris is survived by his partner Carol Wallace and children; Richard Barendregt (Tammy), Ramona Denboer (Robert), Vicky Wallace, and his grandchildren;...

Merle Jacqueline Hamblin (Hagman) beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away peacefully on January 14, 2021. “Jackye” was born on May 21, 1940 in Smithers, BC.  Although she lived and made friends in every part of BC, her home was in the Bulkley Valley.  If you ask any of her children, if there was a need, she would be there.  Jackye put her family’s needs ahead of her own.  She may not have been the one to dominate the room, but for...

Anna Bandstra was born on April 6, 1927 in Moddergat, Friesland, in the Netherlands, to Mame and Aafke Douma.  Anna was the fifth of eight children, having six brothers and one sister. Anna was in school through Grade 6 and then was needed at home to care for the family who lived on a farm near Lioessens, Friesland.   During this time Anna met the love of her life, Taeke (Theo) Bandstra, and they were married on January 18, 1951.  In 1952, with baby John, and expecting...

Robert passed away suddenly in Burns Lake on Jan. 14, 2021. He was born to Swedish immigrant Peter Anderson and Gladys Anderson (nee Ekman, of Smithers), and raised on the Anderson farm on Hungry Hill in Telkwa. From the time he was able to swing an axe (probably even before that), Robert knew hard work. He worked on the farm until taking over after Pete’s retirement. He decided cattle wasn’t his calling and moved to town in the early 1990’s.  Robert was as fearless...

Stephen (Steve) Byron Peterson was born on July 18, 1946 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Byron and Mary Peterson.  Steve earned a degree in Economics from Marquette University in 1968 and came to the Bulkley Valley soon after, where he began his career in the lumber industry.  His passion for learning continued throughout his entire life.  He was forever a student, but his knowledge was frequently sought after by many, making him a teacher as well.  Steve and Patty were...

We are saddened to announce the sudden passing of Lorne Hopps on December 31, 2020. Lorne was a fun-loving man with an infectious laugh and smile. He was always working hard on the family farm, Owen Creek Cattle Co., and he ran machinery in the bush for many years. Lorne loved helping his friends and neighbours, he would give you the shirt off his back if needed. Lorne will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 36 years, Linda; daughters Chrissy and Jamie; and grandchildren Cody,...