Obituary of Elmer John Peter Ness

Elmer John Peter Ness was born in Codette, Saskatchewan on October 5, 1927 to Isabella and Hjalmer Ness. The family moved to Alberta and eventually to Chilliwack, BC. Settling north in the Peace River country. John started working as a hired hand on Gerald Querin's farm at the age of 14. He worked there for four years and did a stint in a coal mine for a short time. By 1952 he was working with his dad in a sawmill. He saved his money and bought a gravel truck and soon built up a construction company with cats and other land clearing equipment. Money was tight so sometimes John was paid in produce for doing land clearing or digging dugouts. Some families paid him with eggs and occasionally half a pig. Managing his money carefully, John was able to buy land in the Bessborough area where he started grain farming in the summer months. During the remainder of the year he kept on in the construction business in order to cover the start-up costs of farming. John met his future wife Pat at a Dawson Creek Hospital Christmas Dance in 1968. They were married November 14, 1970. They had 3 children, Lexie, David and Kari. John loved music, especially western music. He played the guitar and enjoyed jamming with friends. At the age of 50, John realized a long-held dream of learning to fly. He only used the flying school's airplanes until he soloed. Then he purchased a single engine airplane, a tandem two-seater Supercub. He flew it to the Dawson Creek Airport for the remaining flying lessons to achieve his pilot's license at age 51. Neighbours and friends found John kind and generous, always willing to lend a helping hand. He was always willing to try new ideas and was a leader in his farming technique of ploughing under the red clover he air seeded instead of using chemical fertilizers. John had a good sense of humour, he was a good listener and very patient. His long life of hard work made him very strong. John was predeceased by his father Hjalmar, mother Isabella and brothers Charlie, Jim and Buck. He is survived by his wife Pat; son Dave (Crystal); daughters Lexie and Kari; granddaughter Skylar; sisters Betty Turner, Genevieve Smart and Jean Smart; nieces and nephews Charles & Alan Turner, Roslyn Schilk, Kevin Jackson, Kathy Bowtell, Ted, Shannon & Link Smart, Corinna Stevenson, Calvin & Ronald Smart, Laura, Robbie & Lance Ness, Donna Meise and Bobby Dafoe. John passed away Tuesday, May 11, 2010 in Dawson Creek, BC at the age of 82 years. A funeral service was held Monday, May 17, 2010 at 1:00 pm at the South Peace United Church; Reverend Marilyn Carroll officiated; Interment followed in the Brookside Cemetery. For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of John to the Child Development Centre, 9001 - 10 Street, Dawson Creek, BC.