Mike Byron

JANUARY 17, 1931 – JULY 14, 2013

Mike passed away peacefully at home on the morning of July 14, 2013. His wife of 52 years, Bev and his three daughters, Francie, Jacquie and Deanie were with him.

Mike is survived by his wife Beverly and three daughters Frances (Doug); Jacqueline (Brent), Nadaene (Charlie) and their children: Braden, Bailey, and Josie; Jonah and Ella; Michael and Ryan. He is also survived by two brothers, Kenneth Byron, Sr. and Terrence Byron, as well as many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by two brothers, Colin and Howard.

Mike arrived on Salt Spring Island in 1934 at the age of three with his family. He graduated from the high school in Ganges in 1949 and then enrolled in the teacher training school in Victoria. At the age of 19 he was hired by the Surrey School District as principal of a Primary School. Mike spent 11 years teaching in various Surrey schools and was principal for 10 of the 11 years. It was here that Mike met his wife Bev, originally from Slocan B.C., who was a teacher in one of Mike’s schools. Mike established the Prince Charles Boxing Club and was actively involved in the Valley Gateway Amateur Boxing Association.

In 1961 Mike accepted a position as P.E. teacher at the Gulf Islands Elementary Secondary School, and Mike and Bev moved to their farm on Beaver Point Road. Mike taught a variety of subjects during his years on Salt Spring including P.E., English, Law, Social Studies, Science, and Community Recreation. However, he is best known for the Agriculture program, which he developed in 1973. Mike retired from teaching in 1988, having been in the classroom for 38 years. He always said, “And I enjoyed every day of it.”

As well as teaching, Mike also ran a full-time farming operation, mostly cattle in the early years, and more recently, a large flock of sheep. Mike and Bev carried on a barbecue business for 25 years, cooking lambs for a variety of celebrations.

Mike was very active and well-known in the farming community. He was a member of the Farmer’s Institute since returning to the Island in 1961, and was either secretary or chairman of District A Farmer’s Institute (Vancouver Island) from 1977 to 2000. In 1976 he was the fire behind reinstating the Salt Spring Island Fall Fair which had lapsed since the 1950’s. In 1998 the Farmer’s Institute named Mike Volunteer of the Year and the BC Institute of Agrologists named him Agriculturist of the Year for the province of BC.

Mike was also well-known for his community contributions. In 1973 Mike was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce and in 2009 Mike and Bev were awarded a Community Service Award.

In so many ways Mike shared his skills and knowledge and strengthened the Islands agricultural roots. There is hardly a student or teacher who doesn’t have a story to tell or a lesson learned from “Uncle Mike”. He gave the gift of generosity to all who met him, always lending a hand without question. No task was ever too big for Mike. He lived his life with courage and perpetual energy. Now the Heavens will take on the boundless spirit of Mike Byron.

Many thanks to the doctors, nurses and support staff at the Lady Minto Hospital for their kindness, care and attention during Mike’s stay.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Canadian Red Cross.

Service details to follow in next week’s paper.

Lorna Simpson

September 7, 1921 – June 26, 2013

Lorna Simpson passed away peacefully at her beloved ‘Innisfree’ with her family and pets by her side on June 26th, at the age of 91. Lorna Pendreigh was born in Edinburgh, Scotland Sept. 7, 1921. Lorna met Ernest, her future husband, at the tender age of 11 while holidaying in Kilfinnan and they were married in Scotland on August 8th 1940.

Lorna and Ernest emigrated to Canada with their children Douglas, Gordon and Carol in 1949. With another 4 children in tow they settled in West Vancouver, where Mum, a renowned hostess, made everyone feel welcome and at ease. They retired to Salt Spring in 1969. Mum’s loves were of course Ernest, who predeceased her in 1999, her children, her pets of all varieties from peacocks, to deer, to her parrots and of course her two wee dogs Jessie and Sassy who never left her side right until the end. Mum had an enduring love of music, god and nature. No one will ever forget Mum playing the piano at numerous family gatherings, the massive family excursions (convoys) and her love of flying in the helicopter with Gordon. The good memories too many to write. A kinder, more gracious soul has never been taken from this earth.

Mum’s 7 children (and partners): Douglas, Gordon (Clair), Carol (Merv), Keith (Jody), Randall (Terry), Janet (Harvey), Heather (Milt), 15 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren are left to celebrate her wonderful life. 

There will be a memorial gathering at Central cemetery at 11:30 am July 9 followed by a reception and lunch at 112 Arbutus Rd. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lady Minto Hospital foundation or the animal welfare society of your choice would make Lorna very happy. 

Kurt Hengstler

October 17, 1926 – June 24, 2013

After an extended hospital stay, (Arthur) Kurt Hengstler passed away quietly the evening of June 24, 2013 at Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island at the age of 86. Kurt will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 64 years, Esther Hengstler, and his 4 children—Walter, Ray, Arnie, & Marlene. He will be fondly remembered by his 6 grandsons, Ben, Chris, Kevin, James, Jameson, and Connor, as well as his great granddaughters, Samantha, Brooklyn & Ellery.

Kurt was born in Punnichy, Saskatchewan on October 17, 1926. After growing up on the farms of Saskatchewan, Kurt traded farming for West Coast fishing in 1942 with his first boat the 124 where he had to pull salmon net in by hand. He returned to Saskatchewan in 1947 during which time he met and married Esther Bratushesky. Kurt returned to BC fishing in 1955—gillnetting for salmon on the Fraser River and chasing herring in Georgia Strait—while raising a family with Esther in Richmond. In Richmond, Kurt named his 4th boat, the Marlene H –for his daughter. Kurt named a later boat, the Marita Lea, after his first daughters-in-law. (Esther suffered from perpetual sea-sickness—so she was glad no boat was ever named for her—or she might have felt obligated to travel in it!) Kurt moved to Saltspring in 1972 with Esther and youngest son, Arnie, where he fished both salmon and crab. Here he built his salmon gillnetter, the Gulf Isle, with his sons, Ray and Arnie—whose own boats came from the same mould. From 1984 to 1994, Kurt spent winters on Salt Spring building approximately 50 fishing boat hulls with his partner, Pat Fraser. During the summers, Kurt & the Gulf Isle served as a test fishing boat for the Pacific Salmon Commission on the “Cottonwood Drift” of Fraser River from 1969 to 1995.

Throughout his hospital stay, Kurt often spoke of the remarkable kindness and attention he received from all the nurses, aides, staff, and doctors at Lady Minto—and as his family, we witnessed it firsthand. The family would like to say a special thanks to Dr. David Woodley who supported Kurt throughout his various health issues and extended hospital stay, as well as the other doctors who cared for him. Perhaps our greatest thanks goes to the many nurses of Lady Minto whose care and attention eased Kurt tremendously in his last days. Only in a community such as Salt Spring could we be blessed with such a professional, caring lot of special individuals who tend to our sick, elderly, and dying, with grace and love.

At Kurt’s direction and request, there will be no funeral services. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation in recognition of the wonderful service Lady Minto Hospital provided to Kurt over the last year.

Harold Melvin Fryer

4 Sept. 1918 – 13 June 2013

On Thursday, June 13, 2013 surrounded by family, Harold (“Hal”) Fryer passed peacefully away. Harold was born in Neepawa, MB and lived his early childhood in Brookdale, MB and Neepawa. After graduating high school, he attended Radio College in Toronto before returning to Winnipeg. There he met and married Maurine Edith, his wife of 72 years. He was active all his life as an amateur radio operator (“ham” radio, VE7 ALJ) and this led to his profession in the Federal Department of Transport. During his 35 years in this work he lived in Regina, Swift Current, Ashcroft, Abbotsford and Richmond. He was promoted to Radio Technician and maintained the lighthouse beacons along the B.C. coast. He was very active in the Freemason’s Organization as well as the Eastern Star, and was Grand Master of the Freemason Lodge in Richmond in the early 1970’s. He enjoyed travel, with Great Britain as a special interest. In 1972 he fell in love with Salt Spring Island and in 1976 he and his wife moved there. They enjoyed participating in Admiral Freemason Lodge and Salt Spring Eastern Star. He and Maurine were both active members of the Salt Spring Amateur Radio Club. A recent special honour was a lifetime membership in the Radio Club.

He is survived by his loving wife, Maurine Edith. He is also survived by one brother, George Oliver Edward (Ted) Fryer, and 3 children; Kathleen Elizabeth (Ron) Weisner, Beverley Jean (Alex) Galbraith and James Harold (Anne) Fryer. He is survived by 5 grandchildren Lianne (Chris), Jeffrey (Stacey), Michael (Sarah), Stephen (Kelly) and Kimberley (Victor). He has 6 great grandchildren , as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.

A special thanks is given to Dr. White and the staff of the Extended and Acute Care Units at Lady Minto Hospital for the thoughtful and sympathetic care he received throughout his time with them. Special thanks also to the Palliative Care helpers. A Memorial will be held at the Masonic Hall on July 28th. A tribute to Hal Fryer can be viewed on Hayward’s Funeral Service website: http://www.haywardsfuneral.com/

Marjorie Lomas

MARCH 11, 1917 – JUNE 12, 2013

Marjorie Lomas passed away peacefully at home on June 12th 2013 at the age of 96. Marjorie was predeceased by her husband Reginald in 2007

Mum is lovingly remembered by her children, John, Nigel and Yvonne and their families and her eight grandchildren, five great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Marjorie was born in Winton Lancashire on March 11th 1917, as a young woman she worked for Gardner Diesel Engines. During the war years Marjorie worked at the Royal Ordnance Factory in Manchester. She was also an officer in the Special Constabulary Service and the Fire Brigade.

Marjorie was married in 1946 and lived in Macclesfield England where she raised her family. She emigrated with her family to Victoria, Canada in 1967 and moved to Salt Spring Island in 1976

Mum will be missed by the many wonderful friends she made over the years in the hiking club the swimming group the Anglican Church and at Brinkworthy Place. She loved working in her garden where she felt God was present in the beauty of nature.

Special thanks offered for the loving support from family and friends both here and in England as well as the staff at Lady Minto Hospital and the Comunity Health Services.

Funeral Services will be held at All Saints Anglican Church on Saltspring Island BC on Thursday June 20th 2013 at 2:30 p.m. with a reception to follow at the church

Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation.