Obituary of Duncan Merlin Vipond

Duncan Merlin Vipond 1916 - 2009 Duncan Merlin Vipond, also known as Merle, was born May 10, 1916 at Killarney, Manitoba – the first of 7 children born to Duncan and Laura. He had 5 younger brothers, Ace, Clifford, Stanley, Elwyn and Donald – and a little sister, Verlie who passed away at age 6. The family moved to Beaverlodge, Alberta when Merle was 3 years old, and homesteaded until 1923 when they moved back to Manitoba. In 1938, at the age of 22, he moved West with the family, and settled near Rolla, where the 6 boys helped their father clear the land and farm it. When World War II broke out, the 5 oldest boys enlisted in the Armed Service between 1939 and 1942. After 6 weeks training, Merle was discharged as he had frozen his feet the week before enlisting. Merle drove the Highway before it was the Alaska Highway. The road was known as the Nelson Trail. He was one of 12 drivers who supplied the Fort Nelson airstrip with aviation fuel using 1937 Ford trucks. During the construction of the Alaska Highway, he delivered material up the highway, most noteworthy, all the steel for the bridges. In 1939, Merle married Marjory MacLean and had 2 children, Verlie and Ron. The family lived on 106 Avenue in Dawson Creek and Merle helped tend the farms of the brothers who were overseas and continued working construction, building roads and driving truck up the Alaska Highway. Merle remarried in 1960 to Irene Crum and became father to Neil, Brian, Kathy and Carol. He and Irene farmed in Bear Canyon, Arras and South Dawson raising kids, crops, cows and gardens. Merle worked for 26 winters in the Arctic with seismic crews for Bruce Rome and Borek Construction and had many stories to tell about the cold and the snow – cats falling through the ice, the wolves and the bears that kept them company and finding their way in whiteouts. Merle finally retired at the age of 89. He and Irene moved to town in the fall of 2006. Merle will be remembered as gruff and tender, straight-forward and uncomplicated with a twinkle in his eye and a satisfied smile. Merle fell and broke his hip on Saturday, December 12. He had surgery to repair the break on Sunday and came through the surgery with flying colours. Due to a long battle with congestive heart failure, he passed away Friday, December 18, 2009 at the Dawson Creek and District Hospital at the age of 93. He was predeceased by his first wife Marjorie, his wife Irene, brothers Ace, Clifford, Stanley and Elwyn; his sister Verlie; and grandchildren Larry Peter Nelson and Melanie Hollingshead. Merle will be remembered and missed by his children Verlie (Larry) Nelson, Ron, Neil (Rose) Crum, Brian (Anita) Crum, Kathy (Art) Vipond and Carol (Bill) Hollingshead; his grandchildren Peter, Julie (Josh), Terry, Laura, Serena (Shane), Devon (Maryanne), Deborah, Rebecca, Wallace (Bridgette), Allen (Constance), Crystal (Bryan), Troy (Miranda), Trent (Samantha) and 20 great grandchildren. A Memorial service was held December 23, 2009 at the Bergeron Funeral Chapel. Inurnment will be held at a later date. Expressions of sympathy may be made in memory of Merle by way of a donation to the "Dawson Creek & District Hospital Foundation”