January 4, 1934 - September 12, 2018
It is with a feeling of great loss that the family of Harold Kenneth (Ken) Newhouse announce that he took his final ride on September 12, 2018.
Ken was born on January 4, 1934 in the Frontier, Saskatchewan District, the eldest child of Wilma and Harold Newhouse. He grew up in the South Trail area of Southwest Saskatchewan where he attended South Trail School. He then rode the range "cowboying" the prairies until August 1956, when he arrived in Invermere, B.C., continuing to cowboy on the Elk Horn Ranch and he also made a living cutting Christmas trees (long before the time of Christmas tree farms). He relocated to Cranbrook, B.C. and started working for C.P. Rail on April 5, 1961. He continued his love of all things "trains" until his retirement 32 years later in 1993. He loved being a railroader and made many lasting friendships with his co-workers. He lived his last 25 years of retirement in Cranbrook enjoying fishing (he was referred to as the Mayor of Premier Lake because he spent so much time there), watching major league baseball (an avid fan he recorded the score of every game he ever watched in his little black book), and feeding his addiction to the Weather Network. He was a long-time member (51 years) of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Cranbrook Aerie 3032. He was a man who loved the outdoors- he loved the world better when it stood as God created it. He found his spirituality not in a church but in other places-the dim, quiet starlight of the prairies, in the soft lapping waves on his favorite fishing lake or running his railway locomotive through the glorious mountains. He was a man who was kind to the person who was down, square and generous to all, he was never mean or small in his actions, and he loved and cared deeply. He was as honest as "the horse between his knees", his deeds were his life tribute that will be his lasting legacy. He loved genealogy and family heritage and in his life his family was the most important thing.
Ken is survived by his children: Kim Lees (Tisdale); Randa (KC) Stone (Lethbridge); Steve (Lynne) Newhouse (Cranbrook); Rene (Matt) Newhouse-Gillespie (Calgary); friend and former wife Betty-Ann Newhouse (Cranbrook). He also leaves behind ten grandchildren: Katurah, Kenny (Latoya) and Rolly Green; Taylor (Tucker) Rucker; Alexa (Josh) Levair; Daniel Zimmer (Kelsey Stewart-Reynolds); Keeley, Stevie, Kendrey and Adam Gillespie; and three great grandchildren, Qiana and Mekhi Green and Augustus (Gus) Rucker. Also surviving him is his sister Sharon Stolz (Frontier); sisters-in-law Mary Newhouse (Shaunavon) and Shirley Newhouse (Regina); and brother-in-law Barry (Laura) Bakken (Edmonton).
He was predeceased by his parents, Wilma and Harold; four brothers Gordon, Wes, Randy and Glenn; a brother-in law Roland Stolz; and in-laws Ruby and Alf Bakken.
A Graveside Ceremony will take place on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 2 pm at the Climax Cemetery, Climax, Saskatchewan, followed by a reception and program at the Frontier United Church Basement. All are welcome. Binkley's Funeral Service of Shaunavon (www.Binkleys.com) is in charge of the arrangements.
A Celebration of Life will occur in Cranbrook, B.C. in the near future, date TBA.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Ken's memory to the East Kootenay Foundation for Health, 13 - 24th Avenue North, Cranbrook, B.C. V1C 3H9.
Binkley's Funeral Service of Shaunavon