Theodore (Ted) Hector Hansen died on March 27, 2021.
Ted is predeceased by his parents, Blanche and Howard, and his daughter Julie. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nadeane, his sons Robb (Betty-Sue), Dean (Jacquie), Mark (Margaret), and Matt (Juliet), his 10 grandchildren Matthew (Kristen), Thomas (Becky), Mitchell (Steph), Theodore (Ally), Chloe, Jack, Neil, Kevin, Jake (Rebecca), and Kathryn, and his four great grandchildren, Callie, Johnathan, Sophie, and Emma.
Ted was born in Kamloops, B.C. on October 28, 1935, and raised on the family farm in Little Fort, B.C. He graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Physical Education degree in 1957.
In 1959 Ted was recruited into the wholesale lumber industry. He thrived as a salesman, with his outgoing personality, incredible sense of humour, and reputation as a man of his word. Following his career in lumber, Ted and Nadeane moved to Whistler, B.C. in 1995 where Ted sold real estate and volunteered as a mountain host with Blackcomb for 20 years.
Ted was an avid golfer his entire life. It was a love/hate relationship. When Ted wasn't skiing or golfing, you could find him fly fishing at Taweel Lake. Taweel has been a second home to the entire family for generations. Ted's early years at the lake were spent as a fish boy at the camp and driving the Jeep road.
Ted's true love was for his family. It was the overriding purpose of his life and the focus of every decision he ever made. His devotion as a loving husband, father, and grandfather will be his true legacy for eternity. He will be forever loved and remembered in the hearts of his family and friends.
John Hilliker
John Featherston Hilliker (23 July 1935-14 September 2021), died peacefully at home in Ottawa from complications of Parkinson's disease.
He was predeceased by an infant sister, Elizabeth Anne (1932), his father, Albert deForest Hilliker (1953), his mother, Ethel Featherston Hilliker (1984) and his cousin, Helen Cole (2017).
Born and raised in Kamloops, B.C., John graduated from Queen’s University (BA, 1958), Brown University (MA, 1962) and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (PhD, 1968). He joined the Canadian foreign service in 1958 and served as Consul in Jakarta, Indonesia. He left to pursue his doctoral studies and taught at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, before returning to the Department of External Affairs as historian in 1975. As head of the Historical Section from 1986 until his retirement in 2003, he became a leading authority on the history of Canada’s foreign relations. He was general editor of the series Documents on Canadian External Relations, architect of the Department’s official history project and senior author of its three published volumes, and contributor to numerous scholarly collections.
As Parkinson’s restricted his independence, John was sustained by his family of friends: Christopher Cook, the late Greg Donaghy and his wife Mary, Doug and Margaret MacDonald, Lolan Merklinger, Pat Steele, Elayne van Snellenberg and Mary Halloran.
Grace Hopgood
Grace passed away March 24, 2020 at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC in her 85th year.
She was born in Kamloops to parents Mary and Harry Hopgood. Mary graduated from the Royal Inland Hospital School of Nursing, the class of 1923, and Harry was a CPR conductor. Grace attended Stuart Wood and Kam High.
In the early 1950s, her family moved to Vancouver. Her beautiful soprano voice led her to sing in the Elgar Choir, a Vancouver-based young people's choir. With the choir, she travelled to Britain.
After Grace graduated from King Edward High School, she and her friend applied to BC Tel where they were hired as telephone operators. A few years later, Grace met a handsome young sailor, Harry Beeson, on a train. They were soon married and relocated to Nova Scotia, where Harry was stationed at the Naval Aircraft Base, Shearwater. Son Tom was born in 1956 and daughter Beth in 1957. A few weeks after the birth of Beth, they flew back home to Vancouver in a very cold and noisy DC-3 aircraft. Grace returned to work at BC Tel, and in 1961, a daughter, Alwyn, was born. After the children had grown up, she joined the BC Tel Choir. The choir sang at Expo '86 for Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
After she retired from BC Tel with 37 years of service, Grace enjoyed 30 cruises and a number of trips which took her to many areas of the world. Because she was interested in travel and enjoyed entertainment, for a number of years, she was in charge of organizing entertainment at the Richmond Seniors Centre.
Health issues caused Grace to move to Prince George to be nearer family. Her home was always open to family and friends. With assistance, she maintained a lovely flower garden which was admired by all.
Grace was a colourful character and she had a kind and generous heart. During her entire life she had great empathy for homeless cats and dogs. Every time, she would fall for the line, "There's a box of puppies over here that no one wants." Unable to resist, she would see them and save them and take a few home. Papillons, Poppy and Tilley (2018), and crazy cat, Frieda were good company for Grace in her later years.
Grace is predeceased by her parents Mary (Howe) and Harry Hopgood, her sister, Isabel (1995) and her son Tom (2004).
She is survived by two daughters Beth Beeson and Alwyn Blanchard, her grandson Brian Blanchard, her sister Dorothy Evans, nieces and nephews, and extended family members.
