William Martin LaBounty

On Monday, March 17, 2014 Mr. Bill LaBounty (1916~2014) of Oliver and Rock Creek passed away peacefully at McKinney Place Extended Care at the age of 97 years. A Memorial Service of Remembrance for Bill will be held on Friday, April 4, 2014 from St. Mary’s Kettle Valley Church in Rock Creek at 11 o’clock with Rev. Ray Turner officiating. Interment of his urn will follow in the Rock Creek Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Wild Life Association Hall (across the street from the Fairgrounds).

Bill was predeceased by his beloved wife Mary (2006) and will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by his family including his five children, Tom (Lynda) of Peachland; Jeanette Strandberg of Danville, Washington; Alfred (Louise) of Westbridge; Jane (Al) Gove of Peachland; Cliff (Yvonne) of Rock Creek and stepson Peter (Valerie) of Ladner; half-sister, Mary Kabatoff of Penticton; very special friend Elsie Mathers; twelve grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill was predeceased by sisters, Evie, Blanche, Alice and Annabelle; brother, Clarence; half-sister Ruth; half-brothers, Frank and George as well as two sons, Norman and Billy; three grandsons, Robert, Ronald and Bobby.

Bill was born at Springhouse, B.C. to William Francis Xavier and Zena Mae (Haskins) LaBounty. His mother passed away when he was only two and a half years of age when he was taken to live with his Aunt Edith Eva’s family and grandfather in Eden, Iowa for four years. Returning to Canada he started school in Keremeos and later went to work for the mine in Hedley. Bill joined the army in 1943, took his basic training in Vernon and returned from duty in 1946. Bill moved to Osoyoos at that time and started working for the cannery where he met the love of his life, Mary. They moved to Rock Creek where they built their farm from an abandoned air strip that they purchased with help of the DVA. They started out with ground crops of potatoes and asparagus, some pigs and cattle. They had to put the first herd of cattle down to disease and then bought a herd of registered Herefords. Times were tough and to make ends meet Bill drove school bus and then worked for the department of highways, sitting in the back of the truck sanding the road by shovel full sometimes spending the nights up Christian Valley. As Bill’s age went up his property size went down, moving from Rock Creek to Osoyoos to Oliver.

Oliver the years Bill has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion in Keremeos when it first opened, member and President of the Greenwood branch and members of Osoyoos and Oliver branches as well.

His hobbies were visiting with friends and family, fishing hunting and camping but most of all admiring in awe the beauty of nature and all it has to offer. Always willing to lend a helping hand Bill will be truly missed.

Arrangements entrusted to Blaine Krist of Graham Funeral Home, 5920 Kootenay Street, Oliver, B.C. (250) 498-3833. Your message of condolence, sharing your fond memories of Bill may be sent to: www.grahamfh.com