Jan 29, 1939 - Jan 8, 2018
Walter Levick, a Sheridan Lake resident, passed away on Monday, January 8, 2018 at the 100 Mile House District General Hospital after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
Born in Williams Lake January 29, 1939 to Sheridan Lake pioneers Steve and Kathy Levick, Walter lived his entire life in the Interlakes area. The youngest of four, Walter grew up working on the family ranch and in his parent's steam-powered sawmill and guide outfitter businesses. He home-schooled until Grade 5, then attended Lone Butte Elementary and later Williams Lake High School. After a year studying engineering at UBC, he returned home, met and married Joanne Swennumson.
In 1959, he purchased a portable sawmill and went into business sawmilling in numerous locations with partner, Harry Powell. Eventually he left the logging and sawmill industry and started a business in road construction. Levick Enterprises Ltd., which he previously partnered with daughter, Karen and son-in-law, Dick, and now run by his son, David and wife, Cheryl, has been a part of the development of the Interlakes and South Cariboo areas since 1968.
Walter lived his life with passion, ambition, and a strong work ethic.
In the late 70's, he grew to love the sport of snowmobiling and participated in numerous cross country races with his future son-in-law, Dick Farmer. He took part in developing the successful Snowarama for the local Lions club and later building the local ATV trail network. That trail-building passion later led him to be involved with ATV BC as a director.
He supported community endeavors and devoted many hours and resources to the efforts of the Roe Lake Recreation Commission to help build facilities for the community.
He loved to hunt and fish and tested his marksmanship at local turkey shoots and then trap and sporting clay events throughout BC.
From the time he was a child, Walter wanted to be a pilot, and finally, in his 40's, he attained his pilot's licence, going on to own and fly several light aircraft. He handcrafted skis for his planes so he could fly into many local lakes for ice fishing. This led to his building and flying his own gyroplane, with grandson Michael's assistance, and being certified to instruct other pilots.
Walter loved country music and dancing. He and Joanne enjoyed many happy hours on the dance floor, their specialty being the polka.
The past few years curtailed Walt's multiple activities, but he still enjoyed fishing with friends, Cy White and Rick Tear; operating the excavator at the gravel pit; enjoying beers with the guys at the end of the day; and taking long drives throughout the country with daughter, Barb showing her the back roads and telling a lifetime's worth of stories.
A respected and multi-talented businessman, contractor and master mechanic, Walter is the last of his generation from the pioneering Levick family.
Walter was predeceased by his sisters, Jean, Margaret and Evelyn; and is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joanne; their children, Karen (Dick) Farmer, Barb (Mike) Matfin, and David (Cheryl) Levick; grandchildren, Michael Farmer, Becky (Ken) Cassidy, Axel, Zack and Allison Matfin, and Ariel and Ian Levick.
Walter also leaves four great grandchildren, Roman, Monte, Delilah and Atlas Cassidy.
The family will hold a celebration of life at a later date. No flowers please; a donation to the BC Lung Association would be appreciated, specifying for IPF Research.
Cariboo-Chilcotin Funeral Services entrusted with the arrangements.
Condolences can be sent to the family care of cariboochilcotinfuneralservice@gmail.com
Cariboo-Chilcotin Funeral Services