Kenneth Lee Sutherland

Kenneth Lee Sutherland

1933 - 2026

Ken was born in Swan River, MB Mar 27, 1933, and lived with his parents in Bowsman in a small house with no electricity or running water for many years of his young life. He went to Bowsman School, and his favorite class was math or playing baseball. He hunted & fished with his dad and brothers and later worked for his brother Dynie delivering groceries and helping out at the Red & White store.

In his teens he moved to Flin Flon for a period of time and lived with his sister Irene and brother-in law Jack Higgs and worked at the Co-op grocery store. In 1951 he was accepted into  the RCMP and moved to Regina SK to attend RCMP Depot training. Back in those days there was no money, so no one had a car except one trainee attending had one that he won in a raffle.

After training Ken was stationed in southern Alberta where he met Vi who was working at the hospital in Ft. McLeod, they fell in love and were married in 1957. Ken was stationed at many places in Alberta, and they had 4 children.

Ken and his family lived in Ft. McMurray from 1969-1974 where he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. He always said that it was the best place in Alberta, and there he met many lifelong friends he kept in contact with until his passing.

When retirement from the RCMP came along in 1977 Ken & Vi bought a 1/4 section of land with an older house nearby Bowsman and moved there with the 2 youngest children Bert & Jim. Brian and Linda both remained in Alberta for many years until moving to the valley later in life.

Ken worked for his brother Donnie driving a log truck for a few years and did crop adjusting in the summer. An opportunity for a Shell bulk fuel depot came up in Birch River and Ken was selected to operate it. Ken was very good with people and numbers, so this was a great fit for both parties. Ken did well at these endeavors and later had taken over the Shell bulk in Swan River as well.

Ken purchased Birch River Sporting Goods & Hardware in the 1980's and his son Bert ran the store successfully for several years. Ken, along with brother Donnie, Barry Stevens & Cliff Cook formed Northland Rail Line Salvage in the late 1980's, and the company employed many local people and removed and sold rail line material in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Ken & Vi spent many years camping at Whitefish Lake with their children and grandchildren getting a seasonal lot there for many years. Ken was also very active in the Bowsman Lions Club doing several executive positions and put in over 40 years with the Lions. He was the Lions district governor for Manitoba/NW Ontario/Northern US for 4-5 years and his passion for helping people was prevalent in the Lions Club years.

He worked tirelessly collecting batteries, selling tickets, Billy Beal derby, helping put up the tent, it didn't matter he was there to help the Lions Club succeed. When he was selling 50/50 tickets he could smell if you had money in your pocket and he would get you to buy a ticket. There aren't many people in the valley that he didn't sell a ticket to.

Ken also was one of the volunteers that worked hard for three years to build the Bowsman curling rink.

Ken also volunteered with CancerCare Manitoba, and he and wife Vi drove many residents to and from appointments in various places in Manitoba, and any mileage money paid was donated to the Bowsman Lions. He was also involved in the Community Foundation of Swan Valley in the early years of its founding.

After Vi passed away you would find Ken at his daughter Linda's store daily keeping an eye on things, making sure she was running her store right. Ken moved into the Lodge in March 2024 where he spent his final two years until passing.

He was a wonderful man who loved his family and friends and loved volunteering helping people. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends and everyone who knows him.

Predeceased by his loving wife Violet Sutherland Aug 17, 2018, his parents Alexander Mackenzie Ross Sutherland, Fanny Elizabeth (Oliver) Sutherland, 6 brothers, Clarence, Spike, Roy, Donnie, Dynie Sutherland & David Oliver, 2 sisters Florence Phillips & Irene Higgs & grandson Corey Sutherland.

Survived by his 4 children, Brian & Simone Sutherland of Kenville, MB, Linda & Len Bird of Swan River, MB, Bert Sutherland & Nichole Lumax of Bowsman MB, Jim & Claudia Sutherland of Birch River, MB, 9 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren & numerous nieces & nephews.

If friends so desire, memorial donations in memory of Ken may be made to Community Foundation of Swan Valley Box 1509 Swan River, MB R0L 1Z0 or Bowsman & District Lions Club Box 222 Swan River, MB R0L 0H0.