Frederick John Walker

Frederick John Walker, 1942-2023

Frederick John Walker was born February 19, 1942, in the Medicine Hat Hospital to Jack and Florence Walker, who were working at the Medicine Hat Feeding Company Ranch at Tilley. After four years, and the arrival of sons Ken and Ron, they moved to the Box Springs area north of Medicine Hat.

The brothers attended school at Terra Nova until they were bussed to Medicine Hat. Many happy years were spent trying to grow wheat or oats, and raising beef cattle. They milked cows and sold cream. The boys made their own fun riding the milk cow. Fred’s rodeo career began! His mom heard the cow bellowing, ran to see what was wrong and found Fred trying his best to stay on.

The family always had horses so Fred became a first-rate horsemen and exceptional roper. He won buckles at Brooks in 1958 in Junior Calf Roping and the next year for fastest time in calf roping at Medicine Hat Roping Club.

He met his future wife Diana by ‘accident’ when she overturned a tractor in the ditch. He and Wayne Page were part of the rescue crew. That was the summer of 1962. He was working for Al Goodine. The two farm hands later did fall work for Jim. He needed help for the winter but only needed one helper. They tossed a coin: Fred “lost” and his life took a turn.

Diana, daughter of Jim and Helen Ball, and Fred were married in the Oyen United Church on a cool, windy October 22, 1966.

With eight heifers in tow, a wedding present from Jim and Helen, the newly weds headed for Medicine Hat where they settled in for the winter on Fred’s parents’ ranch with Fred’s younger brother Ron – wind generated power, outdoor plumbing and no TV!

In April of 1967, they moved to the government experimental station at One Four, south of Medicine Hat near the US border, where Fred attained a wrangler’s job.

Diana stayed in Redcliff for a week with Fred’s cousin to await the birth of their first-born. Diana was transported to Medicine Hat Hospital by neighbors Mo Snyder and Garnet Leach. Lee Ann arrived April 21.

That summer the Walkers spent most of their weekends rodeoing in Montana.

In the spring of 1968, they returned to Oyen area to care for Jim’s cows and horses at the 12-section lease just north of the Red Deer River. That fall they bought a mobile home and moved to Oyen.

Dale was born August 15, 1970. Being a weekend, Fred was gone to a rodeo so after waiting for Jim to watch the end of FBI at 11 p.m. Jim and Diana headed to the hospital. Grandpa Jim would have been there for the arrival but he had gone out for a smoke and couldn’t get back in. Dr. McCracken phoned Jim the good news.

They purchased NW28-27-4-W4 from Jim in 1973 and bought a modular home. Jim and Fred put it on a basement as the crew from Edmonton only delivered the house! It has been their home for 50 years. Fred raised cattle including purebred Charolais, Black Angus and Longhorns. He was so proud the day his father turned over the -7- brand to him for both cattle and horses.

Six foster children were part of their family during the seventies.

June 16, 1983 Fred and Diana were blessed with son Travis, born in Foothills Hospital. Fred was to be best man for his 72-year-old uncle Alphy Johnson who was getting married, for the first time, two days later in Ontario. Fred left that night, picked up his mother and Ron and drove to Ontario. They attended the wedding and returned Monday morning to take Diana and Travis home where they attended a Lions meeting that was a surprise baby shower.

Amanda completed the family making her appearance August 23, 1985, again by appointment, as Diana wanted to attend Lee Ann’s SCHS awards night later that week. Dr. Hoang allowed not only Fred to attend the birth but Lee Ann and Dale as well.

Fred enjoyed rodeo life from 1954 to 1985 competing in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Wyoming, California, North Dakota, Oregon and Montana. He won buckles, trophies and five saddles competing in all events in the Saskatchewan Amateur Rodeo Cowboys Association, later known as Canadian Cowboys Association. He won Saddle Bronc (1964), Saddle Bronc, Bareback and All Around (1965); Bull Riding (1970 and 1971) and All Around (1971). He turned pro in 1972 and was $9 short of winning the Permit Holder Award that year, losing to Brian Claypool. He had two trademarks. He wore one pant leg over his boot where he kept his wallet and even after he quit smoking he would often light a cigarette in the chute and still have it in his mouth when he dismounted.

In 1974, he began picking up for Kesler Rodeo Stock including Calgary Stampede (1976-78), and was a stockman at the Calgary Stampede (1974-84). He hauled Kesler bucking stock (1978-85).

In 1979, he began judging and was picked by the cowboys to judge the Canadian Finals in Edmonton that fall. His photo on the book ‘Rodeo Cowboys The Last Heroes’, was taken at that event. He continued to judge until 1985, then helped out at the Oyen and Cereal bull-a-ramas until 2004. Buffalo & District Agricultural Society presented Fred with a Certificate of Appreciation for continued service toward the production of the annual Buffalo Rodeo 1975-2015.

Besides ranching, Fred worked nights during the winter at Acadia Seed Processing Co-op (1979-81); was a commercial grain hauler with his own truck and trailer (1979-92), and a seasonal truck driver for Oyen Concrete (1995 to 2013), taking a year off to drive fuel truck for Farming Valley Investments. He long-hauled cattle, grain, salt, fertilizer and hay for Jason McKee (Oyen to Ontario) and produce for Rod Hertz (Alberta to Saskatchewan, Washington, Idaho, Oregon and California). During the winter months he was an occasional driver for I.W. Kuhn, Vortrax Construction, Mike Holoida and Bruce Simmons.

Fred took flying lessons in the fall of 1975 at Oyen Airport. The next year Fred and Jim purchased a 1959 Cessna 172 from George Bishoff. A building was erected on the farm to serve as both hanger and shop. The Walkers enjoyed many flights with the Oyen Flying Club and personal journeys throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan and Montana. They sold it in 1992.

In the 1975, Fred joined the Oyen Lions Club. Over the next 25 years he enjoyed working on community projects, traveling and developing lasting friendships. He served as bar man, tail twister and treasurer taking on the role of president in 1988-89, Zone Chairman 1990-1991, Region Five Chairman in 1991-1992 and a second term as president in 1997-1998. He was granted a Life Membership in Lions Foundation of Canada in May 1989.

What an adventure in 1992, when he accompanied his Mom on a three-week holiday to Sweden to visit relatives on her side of the family.

He had the pleasure of climbing in with the Girletz boys when they took their bulls to PBR in Las Vegas from 1999-2002. Then BSE hit and they couldn’t cross the border. Those stories will stay in Vegas!

He became a life member of Big Country Agricultural Society in 2010 and took great pride in working the ground for several winters for barrel racing series and rough stock events.

In the fall of 2016, Fred’s family began to notice that his decision-making skills were failing. He was diagnosed with early onset frontotemporal dementia. He was admitted to Big Country Hospital in July 2021 and in August was moved to Good Samaritans in Medicine Hat. April 1 of 2022 Alberta Health Services allowed him to move to Sagewood in Strathmore. October  19 of this year when he was accepted into Oyen Extended Care.

He passed away December 19 with daughters Lee Ann and Amanda by his side. All of his family was able to spend the last days surrounding him with love, laughter and music.

Life will not be the same without Fred/Dad/Grandy but sharing photos, memories, support, laughter and most of all our love will take us forward into new adventures, developing new ways of ‘chasing cows’ throughout our lives, realizing we can be unique, true to ourselves yet be a bit of a rebel.

Fred is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Diana; daughter Lee Ann Kuhn (Sheldon), and daughters Kaylin (Nathan) and grandbaby Renn, Shaina, and Brittany (Dave); son Dale (Stacie) and children Vance and Mya; son Travis; daughter Amanda Paetz (Craig), and children Asher, Ada, Archer and Aislyn; daughter Debby Schmitt (Chuck) and children Stephanie (Brady) and Robby (Ashley); brother Ron Walker; sister-in-law Malinda Good (Don) and daughter Jamie Wagstaff (Quinn) and granddaughters Hannah, Haylee and Olivia; as well as extended family Dwayne Blume  (Rhonda), Carmen and Dixon; aunt Gladys Knodel and cousins.

He was pre-deceased by his infant sister Lorraine (1944), father Jack (1981) and mother Florence (2010); brother Ken (2017); father-in-law Jim Ball (2007) and mother-in-law Helen Ball (2010), nephew Ashley Good (2001).

A Celebration of Life was held at the Royal Canadian Legion, Oyen on December 30, 2023 with MacLean’s Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Memorial tributes may be directed to: Community Foundation of South East Alberta, with memo line stating Prairie Crocus Foundation (in memory of Fred Walker) prairiecrocusfund@cfsea.ca, 104-430 6 Ave S.E., Medicine Hat, AB T1A 2A8 or charity of Donor’s Choice.

Thank You

The Fred Walker family is overwhelmed with the support shown by family and friends prior to and after Fred’s passing in Big Country Hospital Extended Care, Oyen December 19, 2023.

Thank you for all the expressions of condolence: flowers, phone calls, texts, emails, cards, gift certificates, hugs, food brought to the house and to the extended care and memorial donations.

Thanks to all who came from near and far to join us in a Celebration of Life showcasing Fred’s trophy saddles, his buckles, two trophies representing the many displayed at home, scrapbooks with rodeo photos and a look at his well-worn rodeo gear.  Thanks to Ralphie Thornton for enhancing the stamping on one saddle.

His friend Connie Cox summed it all up when he said, “As a rancher and part-time rodeo rider, there’s a better way to make a living but no better way of life.”

And how special it was for the family to be greeted by the familiar faces of the Oyen Lions Club who formed the Honour Guard for the processional.

Fred would have been so proud to be ushered to the front of the Legion by his sons: Dale and Travis; sons-in-law Sheldon Kuhn and Craig Paetz; and two of his grandsons Vance Walker and Asher Paetz as well as honorary pallbearers: Randy, Ray and Kevin Girletz, Don Ball, Ron Howe, Dick Granell, John Campbell, Bob Robertson, Louie Schepp and Dave Sather (both unable to attend). And to have all four generations of his family together including 6-month-old great granddaughter Renn.

Thanks to Master of Ceremonies Randy Girletz and his side-kick Ray Girletz. Their tribute and humorous stories brought laughter and a reminder that Fred lived a full life, on his own terms!

Thanks to the musicians Michael and Marie Kulyk, Jerilyn Norris and Clarke Huston.

Thanks to granddaughters Kaylin, Shaina and Brittany Kuhn for reading Baxter Black’s poem “I Know You’ll Miss This Man” and their presentation of Travis’s 4-H speech “My Dad” given 32 years ago at 4-H speak-offs on his dad’s 50th birthday.

Thanks for the power point so skillfully put together by Lee Ann and Travis. Photos bring back memories and give us the opportunity to share with others a lifetime of happiness and reminders of family gone before us.

Thanks to Kelly Skappak for preparing the lunch and family friends Linda Bingeman, Vicki Smale, Janice Tanaschyk, Gwen Bergen, Mary Wenzel, Dianne M and Dianne C Ball, Betty Walker, Savanna Tye and Sheila Howe who brought all the sweets and Linda, Vicki and Janice who set them out and kept the trays full.

Thanks to those who eased Fred’s journey over the last three years: Big Country Hospital staff; Good Samaritans staff in Medicine Hat; Sagewood Care Centre staff in Strathmore and finally Oyen Extended Care staff.

Thanks to the Sibbald Colony Carpenters (Eddy and Rachel) for crafting the very special urn. Fred will be laid to rest in the Sunnydale Cemetery at a later date.

We can’t even begin to express our thanks to MacLean’s Funeral Home for their guidance and expertise in putting together a Celebration of Life exactly as we wanted it. Pam went above and beyond and is still assisting us with loose ends. Thank you, Pam, from the bottom of our hearts.

Thank you to anyone we may have missed who helped us throughout the day. We are truly blessed.

Thanks to Oyen & District Health Care Foundation for the welcomes and very much appreciated refreshment and snack cart sent to Fred’s room.

Special Note: Thanks to the Big Country Agricultural Society for having a one-minute silence in Fred’s memory at the New Year’s Eve bull riding.