November 28, 1936 - April 22, 2024
In loving memory ~
We have lost a very loved father, stepfather, brother, son, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, and friend.
Wes had many chapters to his life. From Elma, Washington growing up with his brother Wallace and sister Mary Ann on a dairy farm with a large and loving extended family nearby - he had a wonderful childhood and fell in love with horses. After College at Pullman, Washington (Forestry Degree) he married his high school sweetheart Nora Nermo. He had dreamed of homesteading and wanted to move as far north as possible and so together with his new wife Nora and good friends Mike and Mary Hovde bought a place in Vanderhoof, BC in the late 1950's. As he was still at that time a US citizen, he was drafted and spent two years in Korea, then after the war returned to Vanderhoof - this time with 2 new children in tow!
In 1974 Wes and Nora and their two girls (Linda and Shelly) moved to Williams Lake and spent many years on Fox Mountain Road making good memories and lifelong friendships. He worked with a good crew (many also becoming lifelong friends) at what was then called the Ministry of Highways.
In 1984, Wes met and fell in love with Mary Ann Moir, and began a new chapter in life, farming and raising cows at several farms in the Buckridge area. He had the time of his life. Sadly in 2020 Mary Ann passed away.
In 2021 Wes decided to sell the farm and move into Williams Lake where he lived with his daughter Shelly and son - in law Bill. He began to winter in Yuma and loved the warm weather and the desert. It was on the way back from another successful Yuma adventure, that Wes suddenly got ill, and was in ICU in Penticton, where he passed away.
Wes leaves behind his daughters Shelly (Bill) and Linda, brother Wallace and sister Mary Anne (David) Stepson Van (Kathy) Stepdaughter Kay and Stepson Mark (Kathy) and 10 grandchildren and many beautiful great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Mary Anne, his parents Carl and Leola, and brother Jerry.
He will be missed but never forgotten.
At Wes' request no formal service will be held, so a small family gathering to spread his ashes at "the old farm" on Lee Road will be held in early summer.
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