Bruce Aten passed away peacefully on April 17, 2009, at the age of 91, at Bastion Place in Salmon Arm. Bruce was pre-deceased by his first wife Edna ( nee Stoner) in 1971, his parents Ora (Dick) & Mary ( Jane) , brother Buster, sisters Kate McGregor, Helen Green, Ruth Pallister, Eva Morton, Inez Sutherland, and Phyllis Ferguson. He leaves to mourn his passing daughters Edwina (John) Kurta, Clearwater BC, Mary (Clarence) Rollier Salmon Arm , sons Jerry of Gold River BC and Bill (Jeanne) of Cobble Hill BC, nine grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren.
Bruce was born on Feb.18, 1918 in Tisdale, Sask. At the age of six, his family moved to Salmon Arm, where his parents raised raspberries and strawberries, on ten acres west of town. In 1936, Bruce married Edna Stoner. Over the next twenty-five years, they raised their four children on their dairy farm (currently known as Admeier Farms) five km. west of Salmon Arm.
Bruce was active in several dairy associations, 4-H club leadership, the Fall Fair Assoc., and the Masonic Lodge. After retiring from farming, Bruce worked as an electrician, carpenter and handyman, especially enjoying helping seniors in the area. In his retirement years, he enjoyed old-time and square dancing, rock hounding, lapidary, and wood carving.
Bruce’s family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Kirkman for his kindness and compassion, and to the very special staff at Bastion Place, who cared so lovingly for their Dad over the past two+ years.
A memorial tea will be held on April 25, 2009 at Seniors Activity Centre, 170 5th Ave. SE, from 1 pm to 3pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Bastion Place Bus Fund.
Arrangements entrusted to Fischer’s Funeral Services & Crematorium Ltd., Salmon Arm (250)833-1129, E-mail condolences to fischers@sunwave.net