Kenneth Olaf Sokvitne, beloved husband of Florence, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 in the Vulcan Community Health Centre at the age of 87.
Ken was born in Lomond on June 4, 1921. He rode his horse each day to the Snake Valley School and then farmed with his dad until he joined the army in 1942. He did his military training in Vancouver and Tofino, B.C., was stationed overseas in Britain, Holland and Belgium and was discharged in 1946 then continued farming with his brothers.
On July 8, 1947, 61 years ago, he married Florence Magnuson at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Calgary and later were blessed with two children Dwain and Carol. They continued to live on the farm, which was 100 years old last year, until 1984 when he semi-retired and moved to Vulcan, still enjoying the farm checking daily on cattle and crops.
Upon retiring, Ken enjoyed golfing, travelling, dancing and playing pool. He would rush through his lunch so he could get to the golf course to meet ‘the old Boys’ to have a game of golf. He and Florence enjoyed their travels for over 30 years in a motor home touring the United States, Alaska and Canada. They travelled several times to Europe visiting family in Switzerland and Norway as well as trips to Hawaii and various cruises, always referring to the good times they had on the Panama Canal cruise. Ken also loved to dance and hit all the dance floors from the Accordion Festival in BC to the Old Time Jamboree in Torrington, AB. He loved playing pool at the Senior Centre where the ‘Pool Sharks’ would greet him by ‘Hi Sok’ or, ‘Here comes Sok’ to which he would reply with a smile and a shake of his hand.
As his surgeon said, ‘Ken is tough as nails’ since he miraculously pulled through a heart operation, temporarily lost the use of one leg, many bouts of pneumonia and a broken leg. Another doctor simply called him ‘a Miracle Man’.
He is survived by his son Dwain (Dennette, grandchildren Nathan and Gillian) and his daughter Carol (grand-dogs, Kiska and Chinook), two sisters-in-law Claire Annear and Muriel Sokvitne; two brothers-in-law Melvin and Harold Magnuson; an aunt Margaret Sokvitne who is 107 years old; numerous nieces and nephews and cousins in Canada, U.S. and Norway.
He was predeceased by his parents Nels and Johanna Sokvitne, one sister Stella (Henrickson) Williamson and two brothers Leonard and Edwin, father and mother-in-law Ingvald and Tillie Magnuson, three brothers-in-law Jergen Henrickson, Lloyd Williamson and Ingvald Magnuson Jr. and two sisters-in-law Edna Magnuson and Enid Magnuson.
A Celebration of Ken’s Life was held Saturday, February 14, 2009 at Vulcan United Church with Pastor Reg Berg officiating.
Urn Bearers were his godchildren Eleanor Decker, Kathy Sokvitne, Tom Annear, Loren Henrickson, Loreen Orman and Lyle Helland.
Inurnment was in the family plot at the Vulcan Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, tributes in Ken’s memory can be made to either Bethany Lutheran Church, Box 238, Lomond, Alberta T0L 1G0 or Vulcan & District EMS Service, Box 299, Vulcan, Alberta T0L 2B0.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences to vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.