SANDERSON

Posted: September 12th, 2022

James Harold Sanderson, age 96, passed away peacefully with his daughter at his side on August 13, 2022 in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan. He had spent the day visiting with his family as his children, five grandchildren and three of ten great grandchildren were present.

Jim was born in the farmhouse north of Piapot on 28 July 1926 to Leot and Marie Sanderson. Jim had an older sister Kathleen and a younger brother Lyle. He attended Cambrai School for Grades one thru six.

In 1938 the Sanderson family moved south to Vance McCarthy’s N3C Ranch. Jim spent his teenage years on this Ranch taking Grades 7 thru 10 by correspondence. He attended Piapot School for Grades 11 and 12, boarding with Pete and Gladys Glascock during winter months. The friendship of their son Clarence and Jim endured for over 75 years!!

Jim learned to drive when he was 12 years old. He bought himself an old Model T Ford at age 14 followed by a 1927 Chevy. Jim took the two vehicles and created a new one to drive to and from Piapot School.

Teaching her first year was the pretty, new school teacher Helen Altman at Stillwater School. Helen would be walking to Mac and Mae Jensens where she was boarding at the same time Jim was heading home from Piapot. Jim offered her a ride in his homemade jalopy. She was brave enough to get in – guess it couldn’t have been all that bad riding in his jalopy as Helen agreed to marry him several years later!!

In the fall of 1946 Jim went to Tech in Calgary to become an Industrial Electrician. On October 26, 1947 Jim and Helen were married in a double wedding with Helen’s sister Betty and Art Nargang on the Altman farm south of Parkbeg. Helen and Jim returned to Calgary, boarding with Isabel and Perce Aikenhead while Jim finished school and Helen did substitute teaching.

Upon graduation in 1948, Jim and Helen returned to Piapot to take up ranching. Jim began building a herd of Hereford cattle – a breed he always believed looked the very best on the green pasture background of Rainbow Valley Ranch!

Helen and Jim were blessed with a daughter Dianne and a son Vance. Eventually the family grew with the addition of five grandchildren. Vance began his ranching career by joining his Dad, working side by side for many years. Jim`s passion for inventing or adding items to enhance his machinery’s performance or building things for the house or in the garden so it would “work better” continued throughout his life.

Jim participated in his community as a Skibbereen School Trustee, in Piapot United Church, President of Piapot Wheat Pool Committee, President of 76 Grazing Coop, coach of Piapot Baseball Team, and Board member of Jasper Cultural and Historical Center. Jim and Helen enjoyed curling at Skull Creek and Piapot Curling Rinks. In later years he watched curling on TV and he was a faithful fan of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Helen was well known for her beautiful flower garden. Jim helped her prepare the greenhouse, plant and pick the vegetables. Jim continued this love of gardening at his house in Maple Creek, growing flowers and a vegetable garden – but his real pride and joy was his rose garden especially when people stopped to admire it as they walked by. He was very proud when his yard was chosen Yard of the Week by Communities in Bloom in 2017.

Music was part of Jim’s life since childhood. Jim had the gift of “playing by ear.” Jim even started saxophone lessons at the young age of 75. In early years Jim played the piano for country dances; in later years he continued to provide those “old time tunes” for the enjoyment of others at SunGlo and Cypress Lodge. Another passion was dancing – from the country school dances to square dance and round dance lessons, Jim and Helen danced 2 and 3 times a week in Medicine Hat – they danced their way to the National Square and Round Dance Jamboree at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver.

To semi-retire Helen and Jim purchased a winter home in Medicine Hat, returning to the Ranch for the summer months. When Helen’s health failed they moved to a home in Maple Creek. Helen passed away in 1998.

Jim’s love of music and dancing had him find a new dance partner in Dorothy (McFaul) Walmark. Jim and Dorothy were married September 23, 2006 in Maple Creek. They continued their mutual enjoyment of music and dancing at the Moose Lodge, their favorite the famous Danceland at Manitou Beach, Sask and Great Canadian Barn Dance at Hill Spring, Alberta. Dorothy passed away in 2017.

Jim continued living in his Maple Creek home, gardening, and doing his own cooking and cleaning until October 2021 when he injured his back requiring a move to Cypress Lodge Assisted Living with his final two weeks spent in Long Term Care.

Jim leaves to cherish his memory his daughter Dianne Ferguson and her children Melanie (Hans) Zieffle and Heidi (Kirk) Mack, Drinnan, Relaile, and Dritan; his son Vance (Pamela) Sanderson and their children, Eric (Terri) Sanderson, Brenna and Sloane; Peter (Kristen) Sanderson, Jack, Emily, and Olivia; Laura (Rich) Girard, Haillie and Matthew; his step daughter Carol Wambeke; as well as Carol Sanderson, June and Don Ferguson, Gladys Altman, Gail Altman, Fern Wudrich, Evie Meston, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 17 at 2 pm in Maple Creek United Church. A private family interment will take place at later date.

Friends who wish, may remember Jim with a donation to the Jasper Cultural and Historical Center in Maple Creek.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.binkleysfuneralservice.com