Kenneth James Bowman of Whitewood, SK died at the age of 87 on Thursday, March 20, 2014 at the Broadview Union Hospital. He was born on February 2, 1927. It was the end of a long journey with heart disease that began in the later years of his farming career in the RM of Silverwood.
Kenneth was predeceased by his parents Percy and Ella Bowman and his beloved wife Doris who died on July 18, 2012 after 64 years marriage. Her companionship was dearly missed by Kenneth in his last period of life. He is survived, and will be missed, by his two sons and daughters-in-law, Dale and Lorraine of Fernie, BC and Ross and Jane of Regina, SK; his five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, whom he treasured, Jackie (Peter) and Allister Miles of Halifax, NS, Ann (Nels), Seth and Eden Amundsen of Fernie, BC, Janelle (Jason), Sophie, Max and Stella Seidler of Lumsden, SK, Mark Bowman of Fernie, BC, Matthew (Lindsay), Jack and Luke Bowman of Lumsden, SK. Also left to cherish his memory are his brothers, Gordon (Agnes) of Calgary, AB, Melvin (Myrita Huhtala) of Whitewood, SK, Leslie (Pauline Green) of London, ON, and Alan (Valerie) Bowman of Edmonton, AB; sister-in-law Marguerite Scott of Rosetown, SK and brother-in-law Alvin (Helen) Westberg of Saltcoats, SK, along with numerous nieces and nephews and their families.
Ken grew up on a farm near Whitewood, attended St. John's School and married his childhood family friend, Doris Westberg in 1948 and together they built a successful farming operation over the next 50 years. They raised their two sons and were active in their community, building lasting friendships. They enjoyed many trips to Regina and Fernie to spend time with their grandchildren.
In 1991 Ken and Doris moved from the farm into Whitewood where Ken began a machine shop repair business with equipment he had accumulated as a hobby during his farming career. Always willing to repair anything that was brought to him, he spent many hours of his retirement puttering in his local shop and slipping over to “Archie’s” next door for morning coffee to catch up on the town events.
The family wishes to thank the local residents who provided immediate care and ensured emergency services were provided and personal matters attended to during Dad’s last critical event at the local post office. Whitewood is a very special and supportive community. We also wish to thank the staff and caregivers at the Broadview hospital for their kindness and compassion.