Bill was born June 16, 1924 into the ranching life, growing up on his family’s ranch west of Millarville. He lived his entire 95 years of life in that area and passed away peacefully surrounded by family on November 11, 2019.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth Joan Kosling, in 1947 and between them they launched and built an independent and entrepreneurial life. First, it was the lumber and logging business. In 1955, Bill became the first in Alberta to use mechanized logging equipment when he contracted west of Nordegg to skid trees out of the bush replacing the horse driven teams of the day with his new “Cat”. After operating in the bush on the Sheep River and Fisher Creek watersheds, he set up a mill he built himself on Joan’s father’s land, now known to all as Kendall’s Mill. It could not have been a success without Bill’s improvisation and mechanical ability to build and fix almost anything with the resources he had at the time and above all, get the job done. The lumber business had its ups and downs including a complete rebuild of the Mill in 1966 when it was totally destroyed by fire but it did see them through some good times and it allowed them to raise and educate their 5 children.
The business employed anyone as long as they were willing to do the work. It included neighbors, indigenous peoples who travelled and lived in the area and those who sought him out. No one was turned away and all were given a chance to prove themselves. The business model changed in the 70’s and they turned to the post and pole business until the opportunity to get back into ranching presented itself in 1978. It started with 10 bred heifers and by the early 90’s they were running a highly respected 120 head purebred Saler cattle operation. To get there, at the age of 59, they went into debt buying a half section just north of Hartel which was just what they needed to support their dreams. Daughter Donna and son-in-law Lloyd were invaluable support in those years to help make it a success.
Bill’s attention to detail and hard work, not only farming his own land, but doing custom farming as well, meant he had extra hay to sell which quickly turned into its own business. He was a perfectionist and was able to produce hay to the high quality needed for export. Life was not all work for Bill. A love of hunting was something that came to him early in life. In the early years it was for the meat on the table, and later, it was his vacation from work. Annual spring bear, sheep and elk hunts were a standard which he enjoyed for many years with his hunting partner and close friend, Nev Cannon. If a rogue grizzly was on the loose or a cougar track was spotted, Bill was the one they called. He also made successful trips to Alaska for Kodiak Bear and Dall Sheep. Trapping also became a beloved pastime when he obtained a trapline permit for west of Turner Valley and then later west of Millarville. Getting into the back country and figuring out the snares and traps was something he truly enjoyed up until his last trip 3 years ago.
In his early 70’s, Bill discovered and enjoyed the game of golf giving him the opportunity to enjoy old friends and build new ones. He had a natural talent for the game with a powerful and accurate swing. As in many things in his life, the journey was as important as the task and almost weekly he would travel 50 miles to Nanton just to enjoy a day of golf with his friends. Bill lived a great life and leaves a legacy his family is proud of. He passed away at Calgary’s South Health Campus after a short illness. The enjoyment Bill had in his last years could not have been possible without his daughter, Laura, whose support, commitment and efforts allowed him carry on his business and to live until the end in the home he built, going out of this life on his terms.
Bill is predeceased by his wife Joan and his brother John and is survived by his brother Frank and his sister Marie (Ron Goodwin) and; his children, Donna (Lloyd Erickson) and their daughter Riel (Phil Shilling) and “adopted” daughter Kathleen Long (Avron Gray), his son David and his three children, Christopher, Gregory and Rebecca, his son Monte (Olwyn) and his two children, Shaun and Lindsay, his son Marek and his daughter Laura. Also to his credit are his 13 great grandchildren.
Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm at Square Butte Hall on Saturday, November 23, 2019, reception to follow. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Square Butte Hall or the Square Butte Ladies Group. To express condolences please visit
www.snodgrassfuneralhomes.com Arrangements in care of Snodgrass Funeral Homes Ltd. (High River) 403 652 2222.
