VIK
Bill Vik of Rimbey, Alberta passed away peacefully, with family by his side, at the Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the age of 89 years.
The following was written by Bill, himself:
My Life by Bill Vik
“I was delivered into this world on May 20, 1930 in the Taber Hospital to my parents, Joseph and Teresa Vik. My parents immigrated from Hungary. My grandfather was the first to arrive in the 1920s, followed by my father in 1926. My mother followed in 1928 with my brother, Joe and my uncle, John. They were sponsored by Ted Allen who owned a farm east of Taber on which my grandfather, my father, and Uncle John all worked. I do not recollect my early years on this farm.
I recall moving to a farm two miles west of Taber, to another farm owned by the Malloe’s. They owned and ran the lumber yard in Taber. My best recollection was when I started school in Barnwell in 1937, and remember walking to the school bus in the cold winter, a half-mile walk. I do not recollect anything of importance happening on this farm other than our walk to Taber to the movies every Saturday afternoon to the matinee, which was 25 cents.
My next note of interest was our move to a farm north of Barnwell. This farm was purchased by my father and uncle, jointly. How they managed this, I will never know as they were dirt poor. By now our family was complete when Bert and George were born on this farm. Brother, Joe, myself, and Barney – which made five boys. Growing up on this farm and going to school was very hard, as I spent a lot of time away from school helping on the farm.
When I left school, I enrolled in a vocational school in Edmonton studying diesel automotives. After I received my diploma, I returned to Taber and went to work for Campbell Electric as an apprentice electrician. I never followed the things I studied in Edmonton, but it gave me a lot of experience on engines, which served me well, and I never regretted taking the course.
In 1950, I left Campbell Electric and went to work for Calgary Power, as it was known then. I started on July 20, 1950, and worked in the district office in Taber, then spent time on the construction crew, from there to the Picture Butte district, then back to the Taber district office. While in Taber, I met and married by wife (Winifred Jackson). We were married on November 11, 1953. Our children were all born in Taber; Brian in 1956, Cathy in 1959, and James in 1964. We built two homes and a four-suite apartment block during our time in Taber.
In 1965, we were on the move again to Lacombe. This move lasted a year and a half, and then we moved to the farm known in the area as the original Rimbey Farm, ½ mile west. This was our last move with TransAlta Utilities, as I retired in 1982 after 32 years. Retirement did not work for me, so I went out and bought a truck and Caterpillar tractor which I worked for a couple of years. I ended up selling the equipment.
The Rimbey Farm, which we had been renting, came up for sale and we were given first option to buy it, which we did. I worked the farm and worked for TransAlta for 20 years. After I left TransAlta, I went to work during the summer for Alberta Hail and Crop as an adjuster for a couple of years, then moving on to work as an inspector for the Apiculture Department as a bee inspector for a couple more years. I had considerable knowledge in this field as I had kept bees for 25 years, starting in Taber.
In 1992, we sold 142 acres of the 230, and we had approx. 75 acres left. We started a driving range and golf course on the 75 acres, and operated it for seven years. In 2008, we sold the 75 acres and the golf course, keeping one acre where our present house is located. During my life, I have belonged to several organizations in all the communities we have lived. In Taber: the Kinsmen Club, Fire Department, and Curling Club; in Lacombe: the Curling Club, and Masonic Lodge; and in Rimbey: the Lions Club, Curling Club, and Masonic Lodge. To this day, January 8, 2015, we still reside in Rimbey.”
Bill will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his wife of 66 years, Winifred; and his three children: Brian (Janice) Vik of Edmonton; Cathy (Jeff) Bryant of Lacombe; and James Vik (Elaine Mcinnes) of Edmonton; as well as six grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren. He will also be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by two brothers, Barney (Tootsie) Vik of Taber; and George (Marilyn) Vik of Chilliwack, B.C.; his sister-in-law, Helen Vik of Calgary; in addition to many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and several close friends. Bill was predeceased by his two brothers, Joe and Bert.
A Public Memorial Service in Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held at the Rimbey Christian Reformed Church, Rimbey on Monday, January 27, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. with the Reverend David Holmes officiating. He will be laid to rest in the West Haven Cemetery, Rimbey at a later date. If friends desire, memorial tributes in Bill’s Memory may be made directly to the Rimbey Health Services Donations Program, c/o Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre, Box 440, Rimbey, Alberta T0C 2J0 (www.rimbeyhealthdonations.com); or to the MG Society of Canada, c/o Treasurer, Myasthenia Gravis Society of Canada, 247 Harold Avenue, Stouffville, Ontario L4A 1C2 (mgcanada.org). Condolence messages may be forwarded to the family by visiting: www.ofc-ltd.ca
Service and Cremation Arrangements for the Late Bill Vik entrusted to the care of
