Peter Roch, was born on April 2, 1928 in Notre Dame Delourdes, Manitoba and passed away on May 28, 2005 with his loving family at his side.
He is survived by his loving wife, Erline, daughters, Vicki (Ed) Reierson, Linda (Bruce) McLean, Diane, Brenda (Robert) Galbraith and son, Wayne (Debbie) Roch, along with 14 grandchildren, Steve & Brian Thiessen, Alanda, Reanne & Denton McLean, Ryan, Jared, Brayden & Travis Roch, Kurtis & Korban Roch-Payne, Ashley, Eric & Mitchel Galbraith.
He is predeceased by his parents, Lucy & Edward Roch, sisters, Angie & Cecile.
Pete’s mother Lucy moved her family to New Westminster in 1945 when Pete was 17 years old. He met Erline in 1949 and they married February 25, 1950.
With a true pioneering spirit, Pete moved his young family to the remote place called “the Cariboo” in 1956. Living 25 miles out of the small town of Quesnel they had given up the comforts of running water, electricity and indoor plumbing for the dream of owning and developing a ranch. Throughout his 50 years in his beloved Cariboo, Pete ranched, owned and ran the community (Narcosli or then called “Buck Ridge”) store and gas bar, worked as a faller, truck driver, owned and operated a supper club called “The Devil’s Den” in Quesnel, all the while developing more land and always being involved in some horse related sport with his children.
Pete’s passion for animals began in his childhood. Somewhere between 6 and 10 years old he braided binder twine to make a harness for 2 calves that he trained to hook up to his wagon so he had help to clean up his mother’s garden. While he owned the community store he bought thoroughbreds that had attitude or foot problems. He reshod them, worked them with his special touch, then went on to race them. He won or placed in every race he ever entered. He never spent a day of his life in the Cariboo without a horse. He had all of his children involved, whether it was walking his race horses to cool them out, to flat races, gymkhana, barrel racing, team roping them to team penning and sorting. He put on team ropings at his ranch along with team penning events in his later years. When team penning became too involved for his health he went back to gymkhana with his grandchildren and his community, right up to one year ago. His drive and competitive spirit inspired others to drive and strive for more from themselves. He loved horses full of spirit with lots of go and they returned his love which was so obvious when you witnessed them standing for hours, untied, patiently waiting for him to finish trimming their feet from his little stool he sat on taking many rests in between.
He was the pillar of the family and a pillar in the community. He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Sear, the Palliative Care Unit nurses and home care nursing staff for their compassionate and loving care of our beloved husband and father. Thank you to Richard and Ron from Clayton’s Funeral for their gentle, compassionate guidance thorough a difficult time. Thank you to the community of Narcosli for all your support an hard work and to all those who came to Dad’s memorial.
Thank you all so very much.