BILL VALGARDSON

1912 - 2005

"Gone Flying"

It is with deep sadness that the family of William Elmer Valgardson (Bill) announce his passing at the Taber Hospital on Monday, January 24, 2005 at the age of 92.
He was surrounded by his loving family. Bill will be sadly missed by his wife Donna (married July 10, 1948, Taber) and his seven children; Billy (Sandra) of Taber and their children Lindy (Ryan) Tanner, Scott, Amber and Kara; Blair (Gail) of Taber and son Dylan; Sherman (Glennda) of Taber and their children Eric (Tami), Mark (Jennifer), Raegan (Jeff) Hill, Lauren and Julia; Sheila (Cameron) Calder of Alpine, Utah and their children Christopher, Jordan, Courtney and Mackenzie; Julie (Scott) Larsen of Prescott, Arizona and their children Zachary, Ciara, Isak, Micah and Spencer; Joann (Alan) Jessop of Draper, Utah and their children Tanner, Kylie and Carson; Sharon (Brent) Morrison of New Dayton and their children Parker, Kole and Tait; four great grandchildren Kennedy, Mason, Kelsie and Morgan; brothers and sisters Norma (Van) Haslam of Taber, Thelma Rawsthorne of Calgary, LaRue Carter of Calgary, Howard (Torrie) Valgardson of Taber, Ethel (Bob) Stephenson of St. George, Utah, Ronald (Connie) Valgardson of Taber and Garry (Patti) Valgardson of Taber. He was predeceased by his parents and two brothers-in-law Cliff Rawsthorne and Alfred Carter.
Bill was born in Taber on March 19, 1912 to William and May Valgardson. He lived his entire ninety-two years in Taber and loved the town and the people. Bill spent his early years attending school in Barnwell and then in Taber. He worked hard on the family farm along side his dad and developed stringent work ethic. He loved the land and raised sheep and cattle in the river bend area of the Old Man River. He also farmed sugar beets and grain. Bill was an entrepreneur starting Riverbend Ranch, Vauxhall Sand & Gravel Co. and Custom Concrete Co., later known as Riverbend Rock Products. He was mechanically inclined and could fix nearly any piece of machinery. Bill loved his shop and used it daily in his work and also for his creative outlet. He built his own treadmill and tinkered with several innovative inventions.
Along with loving to work, he loved adventure. He could keep his family and friends entertained for hours with stories of his harrowing experiences, many of which we were amazed he had survived. He had a passion for motorcycles and airplanes and was always more comfortable riding and flying than doing almost anything else. He flew his airplanes for forty years and didn't stop until he was eighty-two years old. He was an amazing man, purchasing a new motorcycle at ninety-one and riding it until he was ninety-two.
His greatest love was his family and he was very devoted to and concerned about each of them. He loved to travel to the States to visit his family, but was always eager to return quickly to his home in Taber.
Bill also had a passion for people.  He loved to visit with everyone and he never met a person he didn't like. He was always quick to offer his hand and ask how you were. Anyone who knew him well knew his signature answer to "How are you, Bill?"  It was "Not too bad, still kickin'."
Bill lived the virtues of honesty, generosity, sincerity and integrity and expected his family to do the same. He will be forever missed by all of us.
Relatives and friends are invited to meet with the family at the Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Friday, January 28, 2005 from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. and at the church prior to the service from 9:30 A.M. to 10:40 A.M.  
The Funeral Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Taber Stake Centre, 4709 - 50 Avenue, Taber on Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 11:00 A.M. with Bishop Ray Gardner Conducting. Interment to follow at the Taber Memorial Garden.