Tribute

It is with a heavy heart I have to announce the passing of a most unusual man. His approach to life, his one-liners, his intelligence will be sorely missed by those he leaves behind – not to mourn but to remember just how special he was to those fortunate enough to have been touched by him.

Flying over the mountains and down the river in his ultra light, to sailing the Sea of Cortez, to terrorizing the countryside on his ATV, to fishing in the streams and lakes, were his favourite pastimes.

Rad was born in the small town of Jamestown, Kansas. His family joined the trek west to California at the height of the Great Depression. A stint in the army during WWII and finally deciding he was not content, turned his eyes north to Canada where he fell in love with the country. In 1974 he became a proud Canadian citizen. He loved the mountains, the lakes, the streams and the people.

Shortly after arriving in Canada, he managed to procure a lease-option to purchase the S-Half Diamond Ranch on Premier Lake. Rad soon discovered it wasn”t going to be sustainable as a guest ranch and proceeded to form a syndicate, much to the delight of those lucky enough to become a part of it. The syndicate allowed him to purchase a ranch just north of Premier Lake which he subdivided in 1971 – again, much to the delight of the families lucky enough to have purchased a lot – he retained one half of the ranch for his own use.

In 1971, he moved onto the Rafter Lazy B Ranch with his wife, Fay. They tried their hands at dairy farming and it was not unusual to find Rad either sitting under a tree with a cow”s head in his lap, singing to her, or perhaps riding around on his tractor or engaged in the other jobs necessary to farming. After three years, he decided farming was fine but there must be other ways so he returned to his advertising expertise and spent some years working for the then Kootenay Advertiser. I am sure those who spent their Friday nights putting the paper to bed, will remember how that time became about as good as it can get working any job. Rad worked till he was into his 80”s and would have continued on longer had his health not started to deteriorate.

Rad passed away peacefully in the place he loved, close to the stream he fished, the mountains he loved and with those he cared deeply for close by. He will be missed.

Rad leaves behind his wife of 40 years, six children, five step-children, nine grandchildren and soon to be five great grandchildren. At Rad”s request, there will be on service.