Condolences
Dear Jan and Family, I am saddened to hear of Bill's passing. Sending my deepest condolences as you navigate these uncharted waters. May you find peace and comfort in all the beautiful memories and his unconditional love.
Jan and Family.Sorry to hear of the Passing Of Bill.He will always be remembered for being a great Storyteller.Patty(Wife and Sister) and I would sometimes meet at Govenors for Wings and engage in a conversation on what was going on in our Lives as well as what Jan and Bill were Doing.Many memories about stories about him and Peter going on Biking Trips and stories about Whitefish-many involving my brother Ron as well.Condolences to the Rinehart Family at the Diffucult Time!
Barry and Patty Belding
My very dear friend Bill, to me Bill was like a giant Carebear . He was the kind of guy who could talk and talk but more importantly he could listen very deeply. And he always had words of wisdom for you.He had the biggest heart for instance when he first moved out to Rainbow Lake And showed up with some vicious German Shepherd that nobody wanted, and of course, Bill thought he could be rehabilitated ,and Bill took the dog out there just because he had faith in everything and everyone. I have so many more memories of Bill ,he will be deeply deeply missed. I love you buddy
Bill was a great friend, a loving husband and a kind hearted soul. He was my dad’s best friend. I remember him always asking how I am doing, what’s new in my life. Bill and Jan were a huge part of our family, from hanging out at the lake, to going on rides on the motorcycle, and always making us laugh. He was such a good friend to my dad, they would hang out all the time, and he treated him like he was family. I even remember going on the snowmobile when I was a kid in Rainbow Lake, I cherish those moments. I send my condolences to the family, he will never be forgotten.
I have known Bill going on 30 years now. Patty and I first met Bill and Jan in Rainbow Lake in 1990 when I was transferred from Calgary by Husky. We spent a lot of time together. Camping, socializing, curling bonspiels and drinking at the “Old Bar”. I had never snowmobiled before in my life and Bill, in his infinite wisdom talked me into buying my first snowmobile, a Tundra 250. After a year of learning to drive both Bill and I drove to Grande Prairie and bought a pair of Polaris 500 FI sleds. I cherish those moments of riding those sleds together and going on trips together (Kakwa, Tumbler Ridge). I saw Bill for 4 hours the day before he passed. We sat on his desk, both Jan, myself and Bill and reminisced of days gone by. We laughed of the good times we both had skiing down at Big Mountain in Whitefish, MT. Bill and I went for a 3 day weekend in March 1991. Bill thought that we should buy a 3 day pass to save $2 a day on lift tickets. Bill was always thinking of a good deal. However, after the last run of Day 1 he twisted his knee trying to follow me down a precarious slope. Needless to say the rest of the trip was sitting in the bar. At least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. I will miss you always and keep you in my heart forever. Condolences to all Bill’s friends and family.
I will always have a smile on my face when thinking of Bill. Just last week at work one of the young guys was telling me a story of his wife changing a tire. Many years ago the road to the lake In Rainbow was creating havoc on people’s tires. Jim and I had a flat on the way there one weekend. The next weekend I was heading there alone with our two year old. Afraid I would get a flat I asked Bill how long before you guys head down there. He said about a hour. So I preceded to leave knowing they would be along shortly. Well I got a flat. Pulled off onto a lease road. Got Amanda out of truck and sat her on the side of road. I managed to get the tire off the truck. But with the old camper on the back and a cheap tire jack I couldn’t get the tire back on as truck couldn’t go any higher. As I waited and waited for Jan and Bill I was losing my patience, no not me Jan. I kept looking around to make sure no bears. Finally I heard a truck coming down the road. As the truck approached me there was Bill big smile on his face and a camcorder in his hand. He knew I would be freaking by this point LOL. He says to Jan at least she tried. He got a charge out of that. So many memories. RIP Bill
Bill was a cherished friend for over 46 years. He truly was one of a kind. He was able to strike up a conversation with anyone and he was always at the ready to help if needed. We have too many memories to list but one of the ones that makes us laugh every time was when Bill came and met us out in the Shuswap. The cabin we stayed in was right beside a train track. It was a tradition that we would go up and watch the train pass in the dark. Bill grabbed a huge mag flashlight and we all made the trek up a little hill and some steps. The cabin at night is very dark and there are no streetlights. Jim and I had done this several times and were ahead of Bill. Jim was hurrying Bill as the train was almost upon us. As Bill rushed up, he stubbed his toe on a big tree root. While swearing at how sore his toe was and complaining how freaking dark it was Jim looked at him and asked if it occurred to him to turn the flashlight on that was in his hand the whole time. We laughed most of the night and Bill as always took it in stride. Bill had a heart of gold and we are happy to have had him in our lives for as long as we did. We will find comfort in remembering all the good times, but we will miss him immensely.
Jim, Sandra, Jessica, & Sean Robertshaw
Somehow poor Bill always got dragged into helping me move. It was almost always -30 and snowing, and still he would show up with his truck and a smile and try and keep the peace as my parents and I squabbled about what goes where, and how I had accumulated so much stuff. He would help load boxes, finding a little extra space here and there, chuckling to my dad that he was glad he had boys ;) I am sure he was annoyed at having to keep helping me move- again, but he was always there.
Bill also took me on my very first motorcycle ride. After a stern safety lesson, he made me change into my thickets jeans and jean jacket, full sneakers (I begged him to wear my new sandals) and gloves. I can still vividly recall holding my 8 year old arms tightly around his leather jacket. I can only imagine how nervous he must have been knowing my mother was anxiously pacing at home awaiting our arrival as we “sped” through the neighbourhood. He delivered some home safely and it’s a memory I still have 22 years later.
My deepest condolences to you all.
Jessica Robertshaw (Jim’s daughter)
There are so many good memories and good times, where does a person start, he was the best breakfast maker ever, i don
't think we will ever drive around Calgary without think of him tellng us the best way to get somewhere or eat. We had many holidays together as families and our children cherish every one because we were great together on vacations and Bill always knew where to go and the best things to do, he loved having fun and doing sporty things. He was the best friend a person could have. never judged, always there for whatever a person needed and frequenlty was. He will be loved, missed and thought of often by the whole Darling family
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