January 4, 1945 - January 23, 2022
Richard Selwyn Hunter (Rick to family and friends) was born in Salmon Arm January 4, 1945, third child of Bill and Ursula Hunter. Life on the farm was tough in those days and spending money had to be earned with hard work. Rick spent his Saturdays doing his "rounds" of the elderly neighbours - chopping wood, weeding gardens, mowing grass, cleaning up the Drive-In Theatre, earning a reputation as a reliable, hard worker.
As a young child he was introduced to square dancing by his parents, the beginning of a love of dancing that lasted all of his life.
BCIT lured him to the "big city" where he learned Hotel Management. This career choice led him to work in Barbados. Returning to Canada two years later, Rick switched careers and went into the new world of Computer Programming. But the wanderbug had been ignited. After three years, Rick climbed into his 1960 Rambler and headed south - crossing Panama by car (a story for another day), down the Pan American Highway of South America, and then up to the big cities in Brazil. There he found a job and a culture that he fell in love with along with his first wife Denilda.
Returning to Canada in 1973, he moved into the world of Industrial Accounting while living in Calgary. When boredom set in, he added hairdressing to his resume, owning and operating 2 salons with his wife, before including night auditor at a variety of hotels into his repertoire.
In 1991 he loaded wife and two children into a Little Chief motorhome and set off for South America again. After a year-long adventure the family returned to Canada in 1992. They moved into the former home of Rick's mother's uncle. It was the first mail-order Sears house building kit ever built in Salmon Arm in 1940. Rick had dreamed of living and retiring in that very house with it's million dollar view.
In 2001 he returned to the world of square dancing where he met Brenda, who quickly became his best friend. Upon their marriage in 2008 he welcomed 4 more teenagers into his life. Brenda and Rick were often seen waltzing across the floor of Glen Eden, and the Enderby Legion.
A strong component of Rick's person was his love of church, of singing, of dancing, and helping others, including the Friends At Christmas dinner (feeding 200 people on Christmas Day) for 16 years. Every year he shared his love of food with gifts of home baked Christmas cakes, fresh pressed apple juice and homemade bread and pies.
He was first diagnosed with cancer in 2015, but in typical Rick fashion he refused to let that minor detail get in the way of enjoying life. In 2016 he took Brenda to visit his beloved Barbados, headed north to the Yukon in 2018, drove to Ontario in 2019, and in 2020, just before the world shut down due to Covid, they spent 9 weeks exploring the beauties of Brazil. In between cancer treatments they went again to the Yukon in the fall of 2020.
In October of 2021 he broke his previous best record by picking 1600 lbs. of grapes in a single day at a local vineyard. Rick's positive attitude and various treatment methods enabled him to live fully until the tenacious cancer gained the upper hand and Rick passed away January 23, 2022 shortly after celebrating his 77th birthday.
Rick's death leaves many more people saddened than were smiling at his birth, a sure sign of a life well lived.
Rick was predeceased by his oldest sister Wendy (Orlando) Pecora in 2020 and is survived by his sister Jane (Eric) Clausen, and "the twins" Ron (Sue) & Ted (Lois) Hunter, plus a nephew and 4 nieces.
He leaves behind his beloved wife of almost 14 years Brenda Smith, and children Angela Hunter (Perry Wuest) of Cobalt ON, Mathew Hunter (Tara Harrison) of Calgary AB, Kyle Jones of Salmon Arm, Michael Jones (Shanelle McQueen) of Chase, Erica Jones (Dave Crutchlow) of Whitehorse, and Risha Jones (James Taylor) of Kelowna. He also leaves behind 5 grandchildren: Jasper & Hans Wuest, Oliver and Emma Hunter, and Perry Jones.
His indomitable spirit remains, closely wrapping all of us in his never ending love.
A Celebration of Rick's Life will be held later this summer.
Share memories and condolences through Rick's obituary at www.fischersfuneralservices.com
Fischers Funeral Services