Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Baldy Family - Rest in Peace, Mike Bland

Marnie, Jane and Mike in September

Mike Bland celebrated his 88th Birthday yesterday with Crowsons and Belliveaus, but last night he had a heart attack. He passed in the Penticton Hospital this morning.

Our thoughts are with his wife Jane, daughters Marnie and Charmian, and granddaughters   Sola (Mitch) and Mia. Mike Crowson and Mike Bland were life long friends.

Blands have been part of the Baldy Community for many decades – one of the lower mainland families who built here and made the long drives for their families to ski. Later they moved to Kaleden.

If I have the order right, it was a chain of friends having friends stay at their cabin, then building their own. Days invited Ozannes, who invited Crowsons, who invited Blands, then the Smiths built next to Blands.

In their younger years, Jane and Mike were very active in the community – Jane presided over pot lucks and Christmas Eve hot chocolate, and I recall Mike working on repairing the deck at the lodge, and he also served on the Community Association board.

Mike still skied a bit after a knee replacement. Mia’s paternal great-grandfather was Willi Tenning. At the grand opening of the Sugar Lump Chair. Mike wanted an easier run with his titanium knee, so I took the opening run of Tennings with Mia, and Mike opened Fairweather with Randal.

In the last while, both Jane and Mike have had some health challenges, and haven’t been able to enjoy their cabin as they once did. The second and third generations are looking after the cabin now.

2011, Mike Bland, John and Margaret Giltrap, Virginia and Mike Crowson
2011, Marnie, Mike, Gary, Mia


1 comment:

Campking said...

So sorry to hear. We became next door neighbours some time ago. He was a very nice gentleman, our condolences to his family and friends.