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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our Dad, GrandDad, brother, uncle, son, and friend. Dad went through a short, courageous battle with CLL/SLL cancer, which he succumbed to recently at the age of 66. He did things his way right to the end, choosing a natural death free from hospitals and medications. Dad was born in 1947 in Grand Forks to Pete and Tena Verigin. He had a challenging childhood where he was forced to live in New Denver in a government run residential school from ages 7-12. Despite this, he went on to achieve a full education, got his G.E.D. and did several other courses mostly in Technology. Dad kept every certificate, award, and badge he ever received in his lifetime right back to his childhood. Education was important to him and he was proud of his learning accomplishments. From 1970-1972 he achieved a Diploma Of Technology from B.C.I.T. He had a variety of careers in his lifetime from working in carpentry to computer consulting in Vancouver. He was married and had three children of his own. Dad taught us how to love nature, and we have wonderful memories of driving up back mountain roads seeing wildlife as we four by foured. Dad moved us to Hawaii, California, then back to the Kootenays. He spent the end of his life living in Nelson, B.C. Dad enjoyed walks through the beautiful parks of Nelson and especially loved walking along Lakeside. He dedicated much of his time to righting the wrong of residential schools with Doukhobor children, and was a well known advocate for New Denver Survivors. He will forever be remembered for advocating for Human Rights for all people regardless of who they are and where they come from. Dad devoted some of his time to helping others by being a volunteer at The Gathering Place, a homeless shelter for struggling youth and adults in Vancouver. We will miss playing cards while drinking a Coors Light (his fav.) with him! We will also miss hearing about his love for golf! He leaves behind his Mother Tena, sister Angela (Cecil, Chris, Wanda), brother Cecil (Ruby, Derek, Cindy), daughters Melanie, Marla (Lyle), Michelle, grandson Kaylan, granddaughter Breanna, as well as several other extended family. He was predeceased by his father Pete. At Dad’s request, a celebration of life will happen this July at Dove Hill in Castlegar, B.C. Condolences as well as memories of Dad can be sent to riverratz@shaw.ca. As he always said in life which we feel is applicable with his death, “All is well with my soul.”. Love you forever, big hug!



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