Randy Walter

January 28, 1953 - January 20, 2024

In loving memory ~

Randy Walter passed away quietly on Saturday, January 20, 2024, with his family and some close friends at his side.

Randy Howard Walter was born to Howard and RoseMary Walter on January 28, 1953, in Stockton, California. He was the youngest of four children. Randy spent much of his youth living in Big Lake Ranch, where his parents owned and operated a small fishing camp on Big Lake. He made pocket change digging worms for the fishermen. He went to the one-room schoolhouse and remembered the all-day event of going to town on the gravel road. The family moved back to California for him to go to high school, where he helped his father farm rice and walnuts at different times. He got his agricultural mechanics diploma and worked for Case Tractor for many years.

In the 1990's he moved back to Big Lake, where he was a mechanic at Grassland Equipment in Williams Lake for over 30 years. He knew many ranchers as far away as northwest of Vanderhoof to southeast nearly to Barriere. When you walked downtown, he seemed to know everyone, and he was always there to help family and friends when anything broke down.

He spent many years living with and caring for his parents, often taking them on road trips to various states to visit family and friends. After his parents were gone, he found a wonderful partner to share his life with. Eileen Alberton was by his side for the last 12 years and was a very important part of his life. His social life blossomed once he met Eileen, and he became involved in many new things with her. He loved to travel, and they managed to go on one Caribbean cruise with his daughter Leslie and her husband.

Randy had 3 daughters and 2 bonus daughters that were his world. Cindi, his oldest and his twin girls Leslie and Carrie, and Mimi and Danielle, who joined the family with Eileen. So many daughters, we wonder why God put all women in his life.

Randy is survived by his wife Eileen Alberton, Daughters Cindi (Ken), Leslie (Brian) and Carrie, Mimi (Scott) and Danielle (Taylor). He has 9 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter, and he was proud of and loved all of them! He also had many nieces and nephews. His sister Cindy Jacobsen (John) still lives on her family ranch at Tyee Lake. Randy is predeceased by his brother Howard.

Randy loved playing tricks on people and joking around. Cindi's favourite memory is going to monster truck rallies, while Leslie always loved the road trips. They also fondly remember going to the bush during summer visits to Big Lake, often for the day, to cut firewood; and racing the rowboat against the kayak!

While they were growing up, Randy loved to hear his girls sing. He would refuse to play the radio on road trips and would make the girls sing until they begged him to allow them to stop. He didn't care what people thought of him, or was that just to embarrass his daughters? One time he took them to the store wearing cut-off shorts, knee-high socks and cowboy boots, with a dirty unbuttoned dress shirt! He thought it was funny, but the girls were mortified by his appearance. This is Carrie's fondest memory.

Success in life is by the number of people you touch in the journey we all call life... Randy for sure touched many people!

A celebration of life will be held at the Big Lake Hall on July 6, 2024, from 1:00-4:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to your local 4H Club, or to the Canadian Cancer Society in his name.