On Monday, September 1, 2014 Dave passed away after a long, brave, courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda Belway, his brother Fred Belway (Mildred), his four children; Karen (Grant), Barb, Debbie (Kevin) & David Jr (Crystal), eight grandchildren; Ryan, Chelsey, Eve, Tate, Maya, Callie, Justin and Kayla, his great-grandson; Tristan, and many nieces and nephews.
Dave was many things to many people. The middle child of five sons, Dave grew up fast with an unconventional childhood full of mischief and a strong bond between brothers. He was a loyal husband with an incredible work ethic, always providing for his family. To his children he was a pillar; the person who “no matter what” you would call if you locked your keys in your car, ran out of gas, started a project or renovation, or just needed any kind of sound advice regarding life, finances, or major decision-making. He was always the voice of reason in any conversation. He was a good friend to many. He was a great organizer spending countless hours on various community committees, planning family get-togethers, camping adventures, and arranging fishing trips with the boys. Dave brought people together and got things done. He taught his girls how to shoot guns and his son how to “curl like a Belway”.
Dave wore many hats in his time; mechanic, autobody repair, business owner, salesman, real estate agent and property developer. He was an avid sportsman and excelled in baseball, curling, golf and sports fishing. The outdoors was his refuge, whether it be early morning coffee on the deck with his wife, Linda, lining up on the first tee, reeling in the “big one”, or simply watching the sunrise on a remote fishing lake. Dave lived for those quiet moments, and sought them out whenever he could. He was always eager to share those times with the people he loved, and if you woke up early enough to join him you would see a side of Dave that was truly at peace. He was creative and tied professional quality flies for fishing. He had a green thumb and grew beefsteak tomatoes that rivalled any in town, and his homemade horseradish knocked your socks off (ask the grandkids!). It may surprise some, but Dave took great pleasure in maintaining his own backyard bird sanctuary. He could name off all the migrating species and point out his “regulars” whom he had given names.
Dave was a fierce competitor, always ready for adventure and a challenge. As many of his friends can attest, a small fortune has been won and lost on the course/ice, or after at the card table...this also includes Monopoly with the grandkids!
Perhaps what people will remember most about Dave, however, is his sense of humor; quick, sharp, and slightly twisted, no one was safe from it, we were all touched by it, and we all loved him for it.
Dave will be greatly missed.
“Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and puts itself in our hands. It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.”
Please join us for a celebration of life honoring Dave at the Salmon Arm Curling Club (691-28th St. NE, Salmon Arm, BC) on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made towards the Salmon Arm Junior Curling Program in Dave’s name.
Online condolences may be sent through Dave’s obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com.