Dale Clearwaters was born January 19, 1929, in Pouce Coupe, British Columbia, and passed away in the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice House, Kamloops, B.C., on February 12, 2012. We said goodbye as you got on your horse and rode over the hill.
Alzheimers’ disease robbed Dale of what he once was. Nina was his sole caregiver until he went into hospital on January 24, 2012. She and the family still stayed with him to give what comfort they could for the three weeks he was there.
Dale is survived by his wife Nina of Barriere, B.C., daughter Susan (Ken) Hutchinson, sons Don and Lee, all of Kamloops, B.C., sister Patsy (Henry) Nagel of Dawson Creek B.C., brother Dan (Sandie) Clearwaters of Kamloops, grandchildren Kaleb (Melissa) Hutchinson, Jolene (Ken) Riddle, Jenna Hutchinson, Jonas Hutchinson (Aylah Therrien), Clinton Hutchinson, Shyla (Scott) Jennings, Dane Clearwaters, Heidi Clearwaters (Chad Stuart), great grandchildren Kalyn Hutchinson, Sadie Hutchinson, Ryann Riddle, Keenan Ladd, Chloe Ladd, Quinn Jennings and Sierra Jennings, plus many nieces and nephews.
Dale was predeceased by his parents Ralph and Opal and by his sisters Pauline, Gwen and Nancy.
Horses were always a large part of Dale’s life; he got his first horse at age 13. He owned many horses over the years with two favorites. The first one was Candy; he was born when Dale was 16. Dale always said that “a man was lucky if he ever got to own what was his idea of the perfect horse for him.” For Dale, that was his other favourite horse -- Miss Rusty.
The family lived on a homestead in Baytree, Alberta, moving to Kamloops in 1941. Dale worked at many things in this area over the years. One of the most significant was working for Hasler Bros., and unloading box cars of cement sacks for the building of the Navy Ammo Department (where TRU sits today).
Dale and Nina married August 8, 1953, first living at Canim Lake, B.C.. They moved back to Westsyde, B.C., where Susan and Don were born. They moved to the ranch at Little Fort in 1958 where Lee was added to their family. They spent 37 years developing the original 25 acre hay field into 300 acres of crop producing land. They cleared land, installed two miles of underground mainline and bought three reel hose sprinklers. They sold the ranch in 1995 and moved to Barriere,
Dale took up golf, always being on the course when the sun came up. They spent nine winters in Desert Springs, California, USA, where Dale golfed two rounds every day. He had the thrill of getting a hole-in-one in January 2007. He won a putter for being the most improved player for the month in February 2008.
Dale and Nina were avid carpet bowlers and he bowled until January 12, 2012, with the patience and understanding of the Barriere bowlers. They travelled all over B.C. to bowl, including local events, with B.C. carpet bowlers and in the BC Seniors games, They won numerous medals and trophies. Their last victory was winning the BC Carpet Bowling Gold medal in the triples in 2010.
Dale was grounds keeper for the Barriere Seniors Centre for several years and received many compliments for his efforts. Dale was a charter member of the Mt. Olies Lions Club in Little Fort and a life member of the North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Association. He was also a member of the Barriere Seniors, and Barriere Legion #242.
Following a private, family graveside interment service, a Memorial Service for Dale Clearwaters was held at the Barriere Seniors’ Centre, Barriere, B.C., on Saturday, February 18, 2012, at 3 p.m.
Donations in memory of Dale Clearwaters can be sent to the North Thompson Hospice House Society Box #1, Little Fort, B.C., V0E 2C0.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to North Thompson Funeral Services, Barriere, B.C., 250-672-1999