It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Wendy Byrnes (Saffarek). She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on October 27, 2025.

Wendy (Mom, Grandma) was loved and respected by all who knew her. Her vibrant spirit lives on in her husband Glen, children Neal (Amie), Aaron, and Kimberly (Adam), grandchildren Dexter, Gavin, Madeleine, and Riley as well as her siblings Kurt (Jeanette) and Lisa (Carlo).

Wendy was a woman of innumerable talents, relentless optimism, and incredible resilience. She was never afraid to face a challenge, and always put family first. She was born and raised in Smithers, BC, with her career taking her all over the province and globe, including some especially memorable years in Adelaide, South Australia and Nelson, BC, before settling in Kamloops where they enjoyed the last 21 years. Wendy and Glen lovingly shared over 50 years of their life together – a partnership to be admired, filled with laughter, loyalty, adventure, family, and friendship. She loved being outdoors in any capacity, taking beautiful photos, tirelessly tending to her gardens, and nothing made her happier than carving fresh tracks on a bluebird day. She lived her life with purpose, determination, and a selfless commitment to family, right up to the very end.

While her physical presence will be deeply missed, and there will forever be an unfillable hole due to her absence from this world, her legacy of strength, resilience, compassion, and love will never die.

William (Bill) Thomas Price was born on December 9, 1932, in Houston, BC, and passed away peacefully at the Prince George Hospice, with family by his side, on November 10, 2025.

Bill grew up on the family farm in Houston, where they raised cattle and sawmilled lumber. From an early age he developed a strong work ethic and a keen business sense. He later struck out on his own with a dozer, skidding trees and building roads. In Smithers he met the love of his life, Helmy, who worked at the Royal Bank. They married, started their family, and together built a life based on hard work and mutual support.

Through honesty, integrity, and perseverance, Bill grew his business into a successful highway construction company, becoming a general contractor on major projects across the province. From a very young age, his older son Jack was by his side, working and learning the business, and later his younger son Dean also became involved. Bill was equally proud of his four daughters, who became hardworking and successful, shaped by the example set by their parents.

He enjoyed family trips, international travel with Helmy, and later pursued his passion for flying-earning his private pilot’s licence, building an airstrip and hangar at their Mud River farm, and owning several airplanes. He loved flying to the Norman Lake cabin and landing on the ice in winter. When not flying, he enjoyed growing hay, plowing fields, and tinkering with engines and old trucks on the Mud River farm he and Helmy shared.

Bill was predeceased by his parents Jack and Claudia, brothers Ron and Cliff, sister Gloria, and grandson David. He is survived by his beloved wife Helmy, his wife of 68 years; children Bev (Mike), Cheryl (Duaine), Julie, Linda (Richard), Jack (Terina), and Dean (Lauren); sisters Nancy and Mavis; and numerous grandchildren and

great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be planned for a later date in the spring.

He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

Despite anything, Naomi’s family always held her dear in the deepest recesses of our hearts. Naomi was the kindest of souls, fiercely protective of her little brother, and in her heart always loved and held dear her two amazing children

Kellan and Amaya. Naomi was once a successful Smithers businesswoman; a homeowner and she had an innate skill for interior design.

Naomi suffers no longer and is finally at peace. Love’s last gift from her family is heartfelt remembrance – we love you, Naomi.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Northern Society for Domestic Peace – Passage Transition House where Naomi worked for a time.

Born May 26th, 1950, Died Oct. 26th, 2025

Raised in a loving home on a farm in rural Wingham, Ontario, she was a great helper and learned useful skills quickly. Although a lifetime type 1 diabetic, she managed this trial well. She became a practical nurse and in 1973 arrived in the Hazeltons by train and began working at the Wrinch Memorial Hospital. She purchased a mobile home and moved it to property she acquired in New Hazelton. After a long friendship, she and Earl Sargent decided to live together, and this became their forever home. They had a wonderful life, full of love and support for each other through life’s highs and lows. In the early 1990’s Wanda completed a two-year course at Northwest College and became a Registered Nurse. In November of 1997 she underwent a triple bypass heart surgery. Recovery was slow, but she handled it well. Wanda was a loved member of the Mountain View United Church and secretary for Skeena TV Association. She was a great quilter and belonged to the “Roche Stitchers”. She sewed and knitted as well. She was a great organizer and was relied upon often to coordinate functions ranging from birthdays to funerals. She was a member of the South Hazelton Women’s Institute since her arrival and held many executive positions and attended many conferences. For perhaps the last 30 years, the seniors Christmas dinner was mostly her doing. She had a wonderful way with people and had many friends near and far. In mid-September she went on a much-anticipated two-week cruise around Great Britain with her friend Sharon and Sister Lorna and her husband. Less than a week after departure, she became very ill with Pneumonia. Rather than seek medical attention on shore, she stayed aboard getting help there. Her condition worsened on September 30th. Earl took her off the plane and straight to emergency in Terrace. After six days in the ICU, she was airlifted to Prince George where she experienced much medical intervention but could not recover. Wanda accepted her death courageously and passed away peacefully on October 26th with Earl and Maureen Sargent by her side. Wanda was predeceased by her parents Ken and Beulah Mason and her older brother Peter Mason. She leaves behind to mourn her death, her loving, lifelong partner Earl and his siblings, her sisters Nancy (O’Dell) Glen, Lorna (Bruce) Williamson, and brother Barry (Brenda) as well as many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers and cards, please donate to the Canadian Diabetes Association in her name. A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring of 2026 – Date to be announced.

Our Madi, a granddaughter, mother (Orion), daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend. Madi will live on in the hearts of all who loved her.

Celebration of Life

Saturday, Nov 15, 2025 at 2pm

Telkwa Community Hall

Zoom ID# 894 2909 1980

password: 20010120

After a 10 year long battle with cancer Dad passed away in Houston Hospice/Respite surrounded by family.

Dad was born in Smithers BC, where he grew up in Houston on Valley Creek Ranch. At 17, Dad left the ranch and went to vocational school on Vancouver Island for Heavy Duty Mechanics. Once there he met Sandra Akerley, they married in 1965, soon after they left the island and moved to Prince George, where they had 3 children. In 1975 they moved permanently to Houston. In the 80’s, they started a trucking company titled Juan Andersen Trucking Ltd. where they worked first with Long Trucking and numerous people . Juan decided that wrenching sounded better and sold his company to Shane and Juan stayed on as the mechanic. Dad later went to Groot Bros Contracting and then to Wilson Bros Contracting as the mechanic where he retired in 2015. 

That year Mom and Dad also celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. 2015 also brought us loss, Dad lost Mom. In 2020 Dad met Grace Sullivan and they married in 2022. Grace stayed by his side until his passing. Dad was a hard working, caring,dependable, kind man who would do anything for others. Dad loved fishing, quadding, camping,and spending time with his kids.

Dad is survived by his wife Grace and her family, Tammy (Irvine Hiebert), Shane (Pollyanna), Missy (Derrick Winsor) grandchildren: Cole, Rei, Keisha, Nate ,Chel ,Erin, Shad, Airelle, Kelton, Emily, Shanea, Rod and 5 great grandchildren: Emersyn, Cadence,Tessa, Ryker and Scottie.

Juan is predeceased by his first wife Sandra, his parents Harry and Jule and his sister Maxine Bell.

We would like to thank the Houston Health Center for the exce;llent care and compassion. Dr.Dykstra for your time with him and BC Cancer Society who were there for him from the start. Thank you all.

There will be NO FUNERAL SERVICES as per Dad’s wishes.

In Loving Memory ~

It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Iris Doreen Mahood (July 5,1924-October 20,2025). She was born in Dauphin Manitoba and is survived by her grandchildren Michael (Heather) Trigiani, Robert Mahood, Lisa Bowd, Carol (Kevin) Jamison, Corrina (Nishant) Mahood. She also was blessed with her great grandchildren, Gabrielle, Kyle, Tristan, Joey, Colby, Danielle, Georgia, Katie, Megan, Abigail. As well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Iris did not really enjoy school, so her father signed her up for secretary school to learn shorthand, she excelled in this. In 1943 she signed up for the army as a secretary. She served from 1943-1946 in Shylo Manitoba where she earned a two-stripe corporal secretary. This is where she met her husband David and moved to Telkwa, BC in 1946. They had three children Patricia Ann Trigiani, Robin Mahood and Frank Mahood. Iris worked for the school district 54 and was the first secretary of Walnut Park Elementary. She finished her career working in the board office. Iris was also a talented pianist and was a member of the Bulkley Valley Players, she also dabbled in theatrics.

After retiring Iris enjoyed learning how to play golf. She travelled all over the world with her close and great friends. She was an amazing quilter, cross stitcher, and knitter. She managed to win first place prizes for many years at the BVX. She truly enjoyed playing crib at the Legion and was always happy when she came home with money even if it was two dollars.

She will leave a hole in many of our lives that will be irreplaceable, her strength, spicy, firecracker wit was one of a kind! Even though she is gone we are comforted knowing she had a full life that touched many people in different ways. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

Our family would like to announce the passing of our beloved husband, dad, grandpa, and GP, Frank Rippel, on October 10, 2025, at the Bulkley Lodge, at the age of 98.

Dad was born in Warsaw, Poland, on February 23, 1927. He immigrated to Canada with his parents, Rudolf and Maria, and four older brothers. The family homesteaded at Loon Lake, Saskatchewan, where four more siblings were born. In 1934 Rudolf suddenly passed away, leaving Maria a widow and the children without a father. The family stayed in Loon Lake until 1943, when they moved to Osoyoos, BC.

Dad worked at various jobs and eventually settled in Prince George. This is where he met the love of his life, Eva Lehoux, a farm girl from Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, who was working as a nurse in Prince George. They dated briefly (10 months) and were married in Meadow Lake on May 4, 1954.

Dad worked on the pipeline throughout BC and also on the W.A.C. Bennett Dam before venturing into logging. The family moved to Houston in 1972, where Dad eventually started his own logging business. Dad and Mom weren’t ones to sit idle; whether it was a trip or two to Hawaii, Vegas, Reno, or a road trip down the Oregon Coast, they enjoyed life to the fullest. They made a few trips up to Hyder, Alaska, taking some grandkids along as “decoys” when they purchased items that weren’t allowed back over the border—but everyone always made it home safely. They spent many enjoyable summers with their boat, Blue Yonder, on the ocean with friends. Sometimes there were as many as five or six boats all headed out to Bishop Bay or Butedale, tying up for the night before the storytelling began about the big one that got away. We enjoyed many family dinners when they returned home with fresh crab, halibut, and salmon.

They retired and moved to Telkwa in 1993, setting up a trailer on Doug and Lori’s farm and continuing to enjoy life. Wanting something to keep them busy, they began making burl bowls, canes, and walking sticks. They would go north for the summer and, alongside their friends George and Frieda, sell their creations to travellers. Their bowls, canes, and walking sticks can be found all across Canada, in the United States, and even in Europe.

Dad is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Eva; sons Ron, Les (Ken), Garland (Val); and daughters Bev (Gary) Woodbeck and Lori (Doug) Brook. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Gaya (Thomas) Robinson, David Rippel, Jason (Noemi) Woodbeck, Robbyn (Sheldon) Emberley, Rob Brook, Randy (Kim) Brook, Brittany (Zach) Davies, Nicole (Tony) Frech, and Jordan Rippel; and by 14 great-grandchildren: Ben and Jillian Rippel, Lucas Woodbeck, Tyler and Riley Emberley, Abby (Syliss) Brook, Mikenna, Eli and Ethan Brook, Oliver and Blair Davies, Celleste and Gerald Frech, and Everett Rippel.

Dad was predeceased by his parents Rudolf (1934) and Maria (1965), along with all of his siblings: John, Karl, Leo, Ed, Liz, Joe, Rose, and Hilda, as well as infant granddaughter Jennifer Rippel.

Many thanks to the staff at the Bulkley Lodge, where Dad had resided since November 2024. Prior to that, Mom and Dad lived at the Meadows Assisted Living Complex in Smithers; we are very grateful to the staff there for their support in helping them stay together. Mom moved to the Bulkley Lodge in January 2025 after a brief separation from Dad. The time apart was difficult for both of them, and once reunited they blossomed.

No service by request.

With a father who commanded ships over oceans, Joachim developed a keen interest for exploring places remote and faraway. He also developed a passion for the agricultural as a pupil of the LSH Boarding School in Holzminden, Germany, helping to grow vegetables on school grounds due to wartime food scarcity. This combination of interests would shape his destiny. Thus, after completing agricultural studies in Germany, Joachim spent several years working on agricultural research estates in Switzerland. He kept a special place in his heart for Switzerland and undoubtedly the beauty of the Swiss Alps inspired his decision to settle in the spectacular panorama of the Bulkley Valley.

In the early 1950s, Joachim crossed the Atlantic to discover and explore North America and hone his farming skills on a dairy farm in Surrey, Canada. On a trip to Germany in 1959, he met the love of his life Erika, at an equestrian ball and soon after they were married. Joachim traveled back to Canada with Erika in 1960, where he returned to farming in the Lower Mainland. Thereafter, always keen to further expand his knowledge, Joachim moved with his family to California, the leading agricultural state in the U.S.

Then, in 1967, having purchased a dairy farm, Joachim, Erika and their two daughters moved to Telkwa in the Bulkley Valley. Later in life, Jack managed the Copper River Ranch of which he had many fond memories, notably of the stunning scenery, fascinating encounters with wildlife and many interesting people who came to marvel in its beauty. Joachim loved the Bulkley Valley and its history deeply, often expressing enormous gratitude for the happiness and opportunities it had offered him. Jack was a dedicated member of the Smithers Rotary Club which he took great pleasure and pride in.

Interested in his roots, when Poland was accessible again after the end of communism, he was delighted to visit the place of his paternal lineage, the medieval Castle of Tenczyn. Another place, that Joachim cherished for reasons of family and fascination was the Yukon. No matter his state of health, there was never a moment that he could be convinced that he couldn’t instantly get up and travel there. Despite great physical hardships, Joachim always kept an invincible state of mind and loved life. When on his deck he heard the whisper of wind through the leaves of the now majestic trees he had planted long ago he would look you in the eyes and say, “You know this is paradise”. And yes it was.

It can be said that no one who met Joachim would forget his vibrant, engaging personality, his infectious positivity, wit and keen intelligence. Those who had the chance to engage in a discussion with Joachim would not forget his profound interest in world affairs, arts and culture, people and places. His treasured, eclectic collection of books is a testament to this. Music was one of Joachim’s great joys, with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart the pinnacle of this art form in his view.

Everyone is welcome to Jack’s interment at the Telkwa Cemetery on the 28th of October at 11:00 am with a service to follow at 1:00 pm at the St. James Anglican Church at 1636 Princess St., in Smithers.

In loving memory ~

Lee Ferguson Michell was born in Smithers. BC. Unist’oten. House chief: Knedebeas, Warner William. Lee is survived by his; LOVING MOTHER: Lht’at’en, Doris Rosso, SISTERS: Tracey & Bella Michell (Travis & Destiny), BROTHERS: Ervin (Fern, Toni & sons Riot & Rebel: Myranda and Cody Michell), Hanky. Sterling & Clinton Michell (Tanicia Wright and son Lucious). SPOUSE: Evangeline Alfred, Step daughter: Caryssa Nikal Husband Brandon Mouck & family, Step-Son: Bryer Nikal & daughter. LEE’S DAUGHTER: Alexa-Mae Martel, husband Nevan, children: Dante, Stephanie, Khyren. Monell, Christian, Alexandar, Avery and Aiden Martel. DAUGHTER: Leila Williams, Step-daughter: Avannah Michell. SONS: Cyrus Michell and Riley McKinnon Brothers from the MORICETOWN CUBS: Desmond McKinnon, wife Sherry & family, Conrad Nikal, Eric Jim, among other team members, both past & present. Predeceased by his FATHER: Wes’tes. Lawrence Michell. LATE SISTER: Sylvia William and NEPHEW: Julian Duncan. LATE STEP-FATHER: Henry Tony Rosso, Those who knew Lee, will remember him for his unwavering love for his family and children. He was known for spreading love and kindness to everyone he encountered. He touched the lives of many with his profound sense of humour, generosity and outgoing nature. Lee left a lasting impact on all who crossed his path. He is also remembered for being a hard-working entrepreneur in Silviculture, he loved baseball as well as a passion for music, of all genres. “Those we love never leave us. They become our guardian angels in the outfield. At Peace in Heaven and forever in our Hearts.

IN LOVING MEMORY FROM HIS FAMILY: MICHELL. ROSSO AND WILLIAM:

Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces & Nephews