Pete Samarodin passed away peacefully at Talarico Place in Castlegar, British Columbia on Wednesday June 4, 2014. Blessed with 91 years of age. Pete was born on March 15, 1923 in the town of Ronalane, Alberta to parents Steve and Martha Samarodin. He was the second eldest of four siblings: Anita, Pete, Nancy and Mary.
In his childhood years in the 1920’s Pete grew up in the village Koch Siding near Slocan Park and attended the Slocan Park elementary school, and attained a grade 7 education as the style was back then.
Pete landed his first sawmill job in Nelson at the Patterson sawmill. Here he worked with his father, and they would often stay in Nelson at the motel during the work week.
At the age of 24, Pete met Vera Nichvolodoff at a Ball game. It was the first time she had ever caught his eye. He brought her back to Koch Siding in his truck to introduce her to his family. Vera was very shy, though Pete was very bold. On December 18, 1949 Pete and Vera were married. They moved to Waneta, where they lived for about a year while Pete was employed as a Teamster driving a truck at the Waneta Dam. Soon after, in 1956 they built their home in Strawberry village, where they began to raise their family. They had 3 sons: Peter, George and Steve.
After Waneta, Pete got a job with Erickson Lumber at the Passmore mill. In time, he quickly moved up to be sales coordinator. The lumber company changed hands three more times: from Pacific Logging, to Triangle Forest Products, to Slocan Forest Products. He stuck with them to the end and worked his way up to sales manager and eventually general manger. He travelled diligently every day for many years, one hour each way, from Castlegar to Slocan City.
In 1973, Pete went on a new adventure and started his own wholesale lumber business, Samarodin Lumber Sales, which he operated for several years. He then returned to the Slocan mill and stayed until retirement.
Pete and Vera also had a chance to travel together to Disney Land, Montreal and San Francisco, and they loved their excursions to Spokane.
A major part of Pete’s life was his involvement and commitment to the USCC organization, which eventually became a priority in his life. In 1949 Pete became the first chairman of the Union of Youth Council and also served his term on the Executive Committee. He was a valuable member of the Kootenay Mixed Choir and spent many years learning new hymns and psalms and leading the psalmist group, prayer meetings and funerals. He would never miss a memorial service, and often would travel to Grand Forks while on the Executive Committee. In 2001 he was honored by a recognition banquet for the 12 years that he served in the psalmists group.
In 1980 a new challenge came his way. His second eldest son George suffered a brain injury after a car accident. George became a number one priority in dad’s life. They stuck together for 33 years.
Pete was predeceased by his sister Anita Samarodin, parents Steve and Martha Samarodin, his wife Vera and son George. He is survived by his two sisters Nancy Pereverzoff and Mary Hoodicoff ; his two sons Peter (Jean) and Steve; four Granddaughters; Melanie, Elysia, Jessica and Maddison Samarodin; fi ve great-grandchildren; Cody, Wyatt, Rian, Liv and Grace.