Skip to content

December 16, 1931 – April 9, 2015

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of William (Bill) Nelson of Barriere, B.C.

He will be missed by his wife of 62 years, Norma, his children Carole, Dianne (Wayne), Shirley (Jim), Ian (Jo), Gary (Cheryl), his 10 grandchildren Sharon, Sandy, Kristen, Spencer, Tara, Braden, Brittany, Tanya, Scott, Kaylee, his four great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Born to Mabel and William James Nelson of Barriere, B.C., Bill had a long history in the North Thompson Valley. His grandparents moved to Barriere in 1911 to establish a sawmill and build Barriere’s first hotel.

At six years of age Bill moved with his family to Kamloops where he went to school and spent many enjoyable years horseback riding with his friends from the ranching community. He told stories of pasturing his horses where Walmart is now, and rode range from Lac Le Jeune to Cherry Creek and beyond.

Although he loved the cowboy life, his primary occupation was woodworking. He spent 25 years as a journeyman carpenter, and in the latter part of his carpentry career he became part owner of Wilson and Dalgleish Construction.

Whether he was building a china cabinet or a barbed wire fence he took great pride in his work and always strived for perfection. Anybody who ever built a fence with Bill would agree with this. He worked hard with precision and accuracy and taught his children and grandchildren to do the same.

In 1953 Bill married his devoted wife, Norma, and they started their family.

He never lost his desire to return to the country life, and in 1963 he bought his first ranch on Dunn Lake Road in Barriere. For the next 10 years Bill juggled city and country life until finally, in 1974, he bought a larger property, moved his family to the North Thompson Valley, and pursued his lifelong dream of being a full time rancher.

Bill was fortunate to have good health up to the moment of his passing. His last weeks were spent feeding cattle, building fences, driving his four-wheeler, and working in his woodwork shop with his grandson Scott; exactly what he loved doing.

A tea will be held May 16, 2015, 1-4 p.m. at the Darfield Hall. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Bill’s name to the charity of your choice.

Service arrangements are entrusted to: North Thompson Funeral Services in Barriere, B.C., V0E 1E0. Condolences can be sent to the family via: wwwNorthThompsonFuneral.com.



Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.