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Lloyd Fay Vandergrift 1907 - 2000
Lloyd Vandergrift, resident of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, passed away on November 19, 2000 at 93 years of age. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. on Nov. 22, 2000 at the Bergeron Funeral Chapel. Lloyd's cremated remains were interred in his wife's grave in the Dawson Creek City Cemetery.
Lloyd was born on September 21, 1907 in Oldham, Nova Scotia, the fifth child of J.W. Vandergrift and Sarah Maude Ferguson. They moved to Ponteix, Sask. in 1910, to a farm in the Glenvern district, and Lloyd went to school in the Westerleigh School.
He met his future wife at the age of eight while attending school. In 1930, Lloyd and Luella Adams were marriage and farmed with Lloyd's dad for seven years. In 1937, they moved to the Peace River country in Dawson Creek. They built their first home at 1444-104th Avenue, while he worked as a mechanic for Aspol Motors.
In 1942, he bought a truck and went hauling on the Alaska Highway, and then in 1943, he started farming with the purchase of the Mackay half section.
To make extra money during these times, he went custom combining in the United States in 1946 and 1947. In 1948, they built a new house at the same site, moving the old house to another lot and for some years had it as a rental property. They continued farming until 1975, building the farm up to 2,000 acres and in that time the farm became known as Hillcrest Farms Ltd.
On Aug. 12, 1943, Lue and Lloyd had a baby girl, Fay Fern. She graduated in Dawson Creek and was marriage to Dwain Clease in April of 1960. Two grandchildren joined the family; Loreesa Ann, born Nov. 12, 1960, and Lloyd William was born June 5, 1962. Loreesa marriageMurray Tenove, and they have two children, Adam, born in 1991 and Dillon, born in 1992. They now reside in Edmonton. Lloyd marriage Sharon Hall, and they have three children, Breena, born in 1984, Tyson, born in 1986, and Tanille, born in 1989. They reside in Dawson Creek.
Travelling whenever they could gave Lloyd and Lue much pleasure, and they made many trips to visit relatives, see the country and just generally enjoy themselves. They traveled to Hawaii with a group of friends and went on a farm tour of New Zealand and Australia. In the later years, they had a motor home so they just went wherever and whenever they could. On some of these trips, like Disneyland, the rest of family would join them in the southern climate over the Christmas Holidays. The last trip Lloyd and Lue took was up the Alaska Highway, which they both enjoyed very much.
Lloyd had many accomplishments, he worked hard for the things he believed in, including 29 years on the Credit Union Board and 21 years on the Co-op Board, he often said, 'If the Co-op didn't have it, you didn't need it.'
In 1975, Dwain and Fay took over Hillcrest Farms Ltd., and Lloyd helped out on the farm to keep busy. Lue and Lloyd retired and moved to Rotary Village in 1982, until Lue passed away on July 14, 1983. Lloyd was marriage again to Viola Martin and they lived in the home that Lloyd had built in 1948, for five years.
Lloyd kept busy with senior citizen activities; dancing, playing pool, cards, bingo and carpentry.
He also enjoyed coffee at the Co-op with his friends over the years.
While living in Rotary Village, Lil Dilworth and Lloyd became companions, and both moved to Rotary Manor in 1998.
In September of 1987, a large party was put on by his daughter Fay to help celebrate his 80th birthday, and again in 1997 for his 90th birthday, and many family and friends came out to celebrate.
Lloyd will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his companion Lil Dilworth; daughter Faye (Dwain) Clease; grandchildren Loreesa (Murray) Tenove, and Lloyd (Sharon) Clease; great-grandchildren Adam and Dillon Tenove, Breena, Tyson, and Tanille Clease; brothers and sisters in-law Helen Vandergrift, Veda Meier, Joyce (Carl) Torio, and Ed (Ronnie) Adams, as well as many nieces and nephews and friends.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Bergeron Funeral Services & Crematorium Ltd., Dawson Creek, B.C.
Alice Elizabeth van Herd
1918 - 2000
Alice Elizabeth van Herd passed away in Kelowna General Hospital on November 16, 2000, at 8:20 a.m.
Alice was born in Revelstoke September 18, 1918 to her parents Daniel and Annie Husky and is the eldest sister to Mary (Gravelle) Pelletier.
She grew up in Edmonton Alta. During the war she worked in an aircraft plant in the accounting department.
She marriage Walter Jellis and had Elaine and Danny, but later the couple divorced and Alice raised her two children by working for a real estate firm in Edmonton.
After her two children grew up Alice moved to Dawson Creek where she met Kevan van Herd in 1968. The two were marriage June 21 1969 and each were in business until their retirement in 1985 to Kelowna.
Alice had opened a Craft House store selling craft material and HallCraft Greeting Cards, but had to sell it in 1976 due to ill health.
Alice had a serious operation for cancer in 1977 and was given only five years to live, but she managed to live in spite of having to undergo five more operations, each of which were life threatening.
Kidney failure finally overtook the long suffering lady, and she was hospitalized Nov. 9, went into a coma and passed away in her sleep Nov. 16, 2000. She is no longer in pain for the first time in nearly 23 years.
Cremation followed immediately according to Alice's last wishes. A Memorial Service will be held in Kelowna at the Trinity Baptist Church on Dec. 4 when Alice van Herd's family can assemble from Toronto and Edmonton.
Carl Waren VanWechel
1924 - 2000
Carl W. VanWechel, 76, of Naches, passed away late Saturday afternoon, July 8, 2000, at Providence Yakima Medical Centre.
Carl was born Feb. 10, 1924 at Moxee, WA. to Harold and Dora (Jongewaard) VanWechel. Carl was raised and educated in Moxee, Yakima and Naches areas and graduated from Naches High School in 1941.
Carl marriage Barbara Harkema in 1943 and they lived in Seattle and Kalameth Falls, OR. before moving back to Yakima in 1946. They had two children, David and Kay. Carl operated orchards for several years and owned a hardware store in Naches before switching to the beekeeping business.
After Barbara's death from cancer, Carl marriage Alice H. Hansen of Chehalis WA. in 1962. She and her four children just became part of Carl's family. In 1964, they moved their beekeeping business to Mile 24 of the Alaska Highway north of Dawson Creek. In 1979, Carl and Alice turned the Canadian bee venture, known as VanHan Apiaries, over to a daughter and a son and their families and returned to Naches where he did some part-time logging and operated another bee business until his retirement at age 76.
Carl's great enjoyment was his family. He enjoyed woodworking by making stepstools and rocking chairs for his grandkids and, when time allowed, he loved hunting and fishing with his good friend Dave Hull. He took pride in his home and yard and raising 4,000 Christmas trees.
Carl was a member of the Naches Presbyterian Church, the Naches Grange, the Washington State Beekeepers Association and the Inland Christmas Tree Association.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Naches Presbyterian Church or a charitable organization of the donor's choice.
Carl is survived by his wife Alice, son David VanWechel of Yakima, daughter Kay and husband Don Kilpatrick of Naches, son Dale Hansen and wife Sue, daughter Christy and husband Rick Thomson all of Farmington, B.C., son Mike Hansen of Chehalis, WA., son Lyle Hansen and wife Cindy of Walla Walls, WA., nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Also mourning are sister Eleanor Hacker and brother Leland and wife Marion VanWechel all of Yakima and a sister Mary Van Horton of Multinomah, OR. and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased in death by his parents, Harold and Dora VanWechel.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, July 12 at 2 p.m. at the Naches Presbyterian Church in Naches. Inurnment took place Thursday, July 13, 2000 at the Claquato Cemetery in Chehalis Cemetery in Chehalis, WA. Arrangements entrusted to Keith and Keith Funeral Home, Yakima, WA.
Loyde M. Vlahovic
May 2, 1941 - January 18, 2001
Loyde was born in Trail, B.C. on May 2, 1941. He was raised in the Trail area and worked on various jobs in the Kootenays until he and his family moved to Dawson Creek in the early-1970s.
Here, Loyde was a student in the agriculture program at Northern Lights College because he had an interest in ranching in the Peace. He dabbled in farming for a short time, but then went to work for Aero Paving Ltd.
He stayed with Aero until he became the owner-operator of Able Paving Ltd., doing small paving jobs around the Peace. While with Aero Paving, Loyde suffered serious burns in a fire at the Aero Paving shop on Hwy. 49. Loyde suffered from those injuries for many years.
Loyde left Dawson Creek in the late-1980s for the Okanagan to be closer to his family. He remained in Winfield until a few years ago when he moved to the Lower Mainland to work as a Teamster in the movie industry.
Loyde passed away on January 18, 2001 after a battle with cancer.
His wife, Sharon, and his father predeceased Loyde. He is survived by his children, Grant, Michelle and Vicki, his grandchildren, his mother, several brothers, and his companion, Penny Monkman.
His many friends and business associates will miss Loyde.
Claude Adrian Vincent
1930 - 2000
Claude Adrian Vincent was born November 14,1930 in Roynac France, the eldest child to a family of one brother and three sisters.
Claude moved with his family to Morocco when he was nine and they immigrated to Canada when he was 19 years of age settling in the Dawson Creek area.
Shortly after his arrival, Claude started a contracting company working in the oilfields until 1955.
Following his father's illness, he assumed responsibility for the family farm at Golata Creek.
Claude was an avid researcher of farming practices and product marketing. As a result he was chosen by the government to travel the world promoting the Peace River area and its farming products. He was also instrumental in the research of dehydrating alfalfa and again travelled to Europe on behalf of South Peace D.I.
Claude was gregarious, loved animals and the solitude of the land. He passed away suddenly on Jan. 20 in Edmonton, Alberta at the age of 69 years.
He was predeceased by his father, Leon Vincent.
He is survived by his mother Elise Vincent; sisters, Solange McIntyre of Seattle, Wash., Mireille Chinn of Grants Pass, Ore., Josette Edwards of Osoyoos, B.C., and his brother Michel Vincent of Dawson Creek.
Funeral Services were held on Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. from Notre Dame Catholic Church.
Reynar's Funeral Home and Crematorium were in charge of the arrangements.
Audrey Mae Vipond
1925 - 2000
Audrey Mae Tower was born on May 11, 1925 in Pouce Coupe, British Columbia, the third child of Claude and Eunice Tower. Audrey had two older siblings, George and Belva, and one younger brother, Wayne. Audrey was raised with her family north of Rolla. Audrey passed away at the age of 75, in Dawson Creek, British Columbia on August 2, 2000.
A funeral service was held on August 7, 2000 at 2 p.m. at the South Peace United Church in Dawson Creek, BC, officiated by Reverend Judy Hare. Interment followed in the Rolla Community Cemetery, Rolla, BC.
Belva recalls Audrey's early passion to sing and to dance. Audrey sang alto with the choir and enjoyed the time and the friendships made with them.
After World War II, Audrey began dating Stanley Lorne Vipond. On January 15, 1946, Audrey and Stan were marriage in the Rolla Mission by Reverend Bob Thomas. Stan recalls his marriage to Audrey as being happy, one in which endured everlasting love, their love remained strong throughout their 54 years of marriage. It helped them through the rough times and was evident in the way they chose to live.
Audrey and Stan had five children, four sons Art, Marvin, Gene and Scott, and one daughter, Lorna. They raised their family on a farm near Rolla and then moved to Dawson Creek in 1968.
Audrey worked for years for the Kodiak hockey team in their store called "The Wise Buy". Audrey worked for years helping her husband and sons in their construction company. Audrey and Stan owned and managed a convenience store named "The Bar Maid". Stan recalls the years there as some of the best years they had.
Audrey and Stan gave the gift of love and time to their children. Their home was always a central point for kids to meet and to visit. Audrey and Stan traveled with their sons to hockey and baseball games, some in which Stan coached. There was never a time when they were too busy to be there for their kids. They enjoyed visits from family and friends. Most times this involved games of cards, and the cards would be out before everyone got their shoes off at the front door.
Audrey enjoyed doing handicrafts, she made beautiful homemade quilts and embroidered articles. She kept family and friends well supplied in home made mittens, scarves and socks. Gifts she gave were almost always home made, something that says a lot about Audrey as a person. Audrey was not fancy or frivolous. She did not dwell on materialistic values, she was a genuine and honest person. She knew the important things in life and she shared these values with all who knew her.
Audrey loved her grandchildren, the darkest day would suddenly be a bright one with a surprise visit from one of them. Audrey faced many challenges in her life. She fought a battle with severe Diabetes for many years. She has recently faced kidney failure and vision impairment, she met these challenges with strength, passion, and optimism.
The last six months of her life Audrey spent in the prince George Hospital. She faced the realities of her health issues with a brave heart. She won the hearts of her doctors, nurses, and caregivers. She adopted the team at prince George as her "extended family", and never complained about the long stay in the hospital. She made many friends and made the best out of an unideal situation.
Audrey loved life, but more importantly lived to love; her love is evident in the people who gathered to celebrate her as a person. Audrey had qualities to admire. When faced with ultimate death, Audrey chose to wait until her daughter-in-laws could come to prince George to visit. She chose to hang on long enough to be brought back to Dawson Creek, to the husband she adored, she chose to come to where her grandchildren could more frequently visit and to a community where she loved to live.
Audrey leaves to mourn her husband, Stan, children, Art (Kathy) Vipond, Marvin Vipond, Gene (Chris) Vipond, Scott (Tammy) Vipond and Lorna (Scott) Gibson. Grandchildren, Allen (Tracey) Vipond, Crystal (Scott) Vipond, Tracy (Marc) Boulianne, Tanya Vipond (Doug Mazanek), Tamara and Courtney Vipond, Jessica and Josh Vipond, Marcia and Nicole Scott. Great grandchildren, Katie, Justin and Krystie Vipond, Kaelynn Moore, Allyssa, Kayla and Shelby Boulianne. Sister, Belva (Glenn) Ireland, and brother Wayne (Martha) Tower.
Audrey was a unique person, who leaves us with memories of an ordinary, but extra-ordinary person, with the love and values she shared with us throughout her 75 years. She is gone but most certainly will never be forgotten.
Funeral Arrangements were entrusted to Bergeron Funeral Services & Crematorium Ltd., of Dawson Creek, British Columbia.
