Obituary of William Boyd Den Boer

William “Bill” Boyd Den Boer passed away peacefully at the ripe old age of 97 on December 23, 2023, at his home in Prince of Peace Manor in Calgary, Alberta.

Bill was born September 19, 1926, to Peter and Martina DenBoer in Baintree, Alberta. He grew up with his five sisters, Mary, Nellie, Irene, Tina, and Edith, and two brother, Peter and Hank, working on the family farm. In 1946, Bill and his brother Peter formed a farming partnership and rented their father’s land.

Bill married Anne Ternes in 1949 and they welcomed five children: Gwen, Marion, Beverly, Terry, and Keith. Bill and Anne lived on their farm at Nightingale, Alberta, for most of their married life. Anne passed away as a result of cancer in 1975.

Bill remarried Margaret Hagel in 1979 and decided shortly after to fulfil his dream of someday owning a cherry orchard and retired to Creston, B.C. In addition to the cherry orchard, Bill (always a farmer at heart) had a huge garden which he shared with many neighbours. He also took up woodworking and painting and made hundreds of clocks and many coffee tables. In 2021, Bill and Margaret returned to Alberta and moved into Prince of Peace Manor.

Bill was predeceased by his wife, Anne in 1975; son Keith in 1985; grandson Philip in 2020; and six of his siblings, Mary, Nellie, Irene, Tina, Peter, and Edith. Bill is survived by his loving wife, Margaret; children Gwen (Kelly), Marion, Bev (John), and Terry (Belinda); stepchildren Dean (Simone) and Lana; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.