Henderson, Kenneth Wilson –
On Tuesday, June 9, 2009, Ken passed away peacefully in the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital at the age of 91 years.
Ken was born in Calgary, Alberta on June 5, 1918. He attended school and university in Calgary and joined the Princess Patricia Squadron in 1940. He was stationed in Yellowknife and Nova Scotia, as he was not allowed to go overseas due to a childhood disease.
In 1943 he met and married Frances Rotter. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary April 17, 2003. Ken and Fran moved to Salmo in the mid 1940-s, where their daughter Ann and son Barry were born. Ken worked at the Canex Mine as an accountant until 1953, and there were some wild stories about living in a mining camp. Ken ran the F.R. Rotter Lumber Co. office until 1968 when he and Fran moved to California. There they owned a business in the agriculture field for 15 years.
In 1982 they retired and returned to Salmo. In 1997 Ken and Fran built a new home, where Ken could better look after Fran who was in a wheelchair. He was her care provider for 6 years and deserved a medal for the wonderful care he gave her. Ken enjoyed golf up until the age of 87, when he out his clubs away. He was an avid sportsman all of his life and enjoyed fishing, hiking into all the mountain lakes, hunting and biking. His children and grandchildren all have many memories of those fishing, golf and hiking trips. Ken moved to Castlewood Village in Castlegar in 2007 and enjoyed his time getting to know new friends.
Ken will be missed very much by his daughter Ann (Jim), son Barry, sister-in-law Mary, five grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Ken was predeceased by his wife Fran of 60 years; his mother Cora, father Bill, brother Gil and sister Helen. There will be a private family celebration at a later date. Cremation has taken place. Al Grywacheski of Personal Alternative Funeral Services has been entrusted with arrangements.
The family has requested no flowers, but donations may be made in Ken’s memory to the Salmo Supportive Housing Society, PO Box 370, Salmo, BC V0G 1Z0. The Henderson family would like to extend their deepest gratitude for the wonderful care and surroundings Ken received from the Castlewood Village staff during his last years.