Obituary of Roger Paterson
Roger Paterson
Born: January 12, 1930
Died: March 3, 2023
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of loving husband and father Roger Paterson on March 3rd at the age of 93.
He was born in Shediac, New Brunswick to parents Robert and Dauphine and predeceased by his three brothers Henry, Alfred and Philip. Roger left school at an early age as he was tired of being disciplined for speaking English at the French catholic school he attended.
His early teen years saw him working on his brother Phil’s lobster boat, cutting pulp, farm laboring and a variety of other jobs that would take him across the country, riding the rails, at the age of 13. He joined the Canadian forces in Korea and after twelve months was seconded by the US for a couple more months. On his return he spent a year hospitalized in a sanitarium for T.B. Upon his release he headed north and worked for awhile on the construction of the Goose Bay airstrip then hit the rails again to travel across Canada to B.C. where he gained employment working at the Gang Ranch and others around Ashcroft, Hat Creek and Highland Valley.
His other venues included working underground, horse logging and even rodeo for a short time with the likes of Kenny McLean, Dave Perry and Percy Minnabarriet.
It was in Highland Valley that he met wife Jackie while guiding hunters for her father. After a couple of years, they settled in Spences Bridge while he worked on the new bridge. Deciding to make his own place, he purchased 110 acres and the old station house of Clapperton in the Nicola Valley. After fourteen years he left the fully developed, from sage brush to hay ranch, to move to Merritt.
While never letting roots grow too deep for a particular place the family then moved to Alberta. Four more places were purchased, improved and sold before settling in Lougheed, Alberta for the last couple of years.
Roger was always willing to help someone out and always appreciated the hand up he received from neighbors in the early years. He leaves to mourn his wife of 63 years & 11 months, his sons John (Karin), Dale and daughter Julie (Garett) and grandson Caelan.
The family would very much like to thank the Home Care staff and nurses, Hardisty EMS, Dr. David Hanton, Dr. Stan Ahtemenciuc, and the nurses at the Killam Hospital. You all have done so much to make his last few months comfortable.
No Funeral Service will be held. In lieu of flowers, if desired, donations may be made in Roger’s name to his favorite charity STARS Air Ambulance.
