Wilf's story

A BC pioneer, born in Donalda, Alberta March 25, 1919, Wilfred Joseph Leboe (Wilf, Willie) (named after Sir Wilfred Laurier) was the last surviving of the fifteen children of Anna (Johnson) and Olé Olson Leboe (Liaebø) who shortly after moved to (Crescent Spur) Loos, BC. Predeceased by his siblings: Perry, Percy, Clifford, Violet, Ida, Alvin, Otto, Orlean, Bert, Eleanor, Dorothy, Ralph, Florence and Harold.

At the age of 14, Wilfred was fascinated by new radio technology and self taught how to wire circuits for transmitters and receivers. In his early years, he played hockey, played the guitar, violin, piano, banjo and worked for the CNR to enable him to attend technical training in Los Angeles as a broadcast engineer. Wilf and his brothers founded and operated the Leboe Lumber Company at Crescent Spur, BC that thrived and employed many locals, university students and immigrants.

A legacy of perseverance, his motto was "never be a quitter." Wilf lost his left hand in a mill accident when he was twenty one. While support services at the time were few and far between he felt the loss of being able to play his favorite musical instruments and sports, his faith and ambition was strong. He learned to do things in different and inventive ways, everything from tying his shoes to playing music to peeling an orange with one hand.

In July 1943 he married the raven hair beauty – Margaret Nyeste, five years younger than him. Together they had six children Ernie (Evelyn Vanbeek), Ann (Lorne Welwood), Ken (Gisela Holec), Beckie (Allen Unrau) Lynn (Steve Grice) and Dan (Darlene Cryderman), 16 grandchildren: Karie Leboe, Kurtis Leboe, Rob Sorenson, Charmy Unger, Tammy Dyck, Chris Leboe, Stephanie Olesiuk, Michael Unrau, Tracy Reddicopp, Bradly Unrau, Daniel Grice, David Grice, Jonathan Grice, Riley Leboe, Nick Leboe, Jess Leboe, and great grandchildren. All are living today.

After the family moved to Prince George, Wilf continued to operate the sawmill, and after designing a leather prosthesis made to his specifications, took up aviation. He flew wheels and floats into remote areas of BC for business, pleasure and mercy missions. He loved dogs, having his head scratched, and telling stories. He favored politics and a good debate and passionately supported his brother Bert Leboe (elected member of Parliament) to help open up Northern BC for economic development opportunities.

A man of many interests and ventures, Wilf a realtor for many years, was a founder and supporter of Ness Lake Bible Camp where children could enjoy nature, fellowship and faith. He supported missions and churches from Northern BC to Mexico. Among several languages, he learned to speak Spanish and when he visited Mexico, he preferred to stay at the taxi drivers’ house to experience authentic culture rather than the Hilton.

For many years Vernon, BC was his home. He took pleasure landing his plane on Kalamalka Lake, often greeted by Pooky, the beloved little family dog where ‘the farm’ was surrounded by blossoming apple trees.

Wilf was an early adopter of new technologies and gadgets and his interest stayed with him. When it was known Wilf was loosing his eyesight, Margaret encouraged him to rekindle his radio skills as a hobby, which gave him a new focus. While he lost his sight to glaucoma, he never lost his vision of the big picture and went on to develop and market assisitive technologies for the blind into his 80s. He learned to use a computer while he was blind and wrote the autobiography “Horizon to Horizon” as a family and historical legacy documenting pioneer life in BC. This was completed using his computer with type to speech technology. After the book had gone to press, he was car jacked by an escaped convict. Never a quitter, Wilf used his street smarts and white cane to beat the attacker off.

A friend and mentor to many, Wilf’s last years were healthy, spent enjoying family and visitors at his condo in Abbotsford near his three daughters and extended family. Caregiver Bill (Vu) Nguyen was a faithful and loyal companion.

Fittingly, it was a beautiful sunny day when Wilf was raised to the controls for his last flight. He once again saw the mirrored lakes, the velvet hills, and rainbows along the way.