Frank Halver “Bud” Rokosh passed away in Bastion Place, at 6:00 pm, February 12, 2013. He fought gracefully for 43 days, after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour on New Year’s Day. As he lived, he chose to die- naturally-declining any invasive medical interventions.
He is survived by his wife of almost 56 years, Alvina “Ellie,” his son Randy, daughter Jeanne, brother Roy, sister Yvonne “Bonnie,” and many extended family members and friends. He was predeceased by his Mother, Alma, and his father Frank.
Bud was born in Revelstoke, BC on December 29th, 1936. He grew up in Solsqua BC. He met his wife Ellie in Sicamous, where they married and spent their lives. Bud was a pioneer in the Sicamous area and contributed to many of the businesses, buildings and events you see today. In his younger years, he was a voluntary loans officer for the Credit Union. Back then, currency was different, and Bud knew in order to support his friends and community members, he needed to be creative. He was known to take cows for loan guarantees. While the Managers were not always pleased with his approach, his team had the lowest loan default rate in the Valley. Bud also had a great love for music. He sang and played saxophone in countless bands in almost every hall in the Okanagan Valley. He and his wife built their first family home “on the hill” where they raised their children. He loved baseball and spent his young adulthood playing first base for the Eagles. He and his wife passed their love of baseball onto their children, with him coaching his son in Little League, while his wife coached their daughter in softball. He also loved the Shuswap Lake. He and his family could be found at Marble Point most Sundays in the summer. Bud was an avid lover of nature. If you ever went walking with him, you were bound to learn something you had never thought of, about how Mother Nature worked. Following his retirement, he became an avid fan of golfing and Tim Hortons. He loved his coffee. But his visits to Tim’s or the golf course were more about his conversations with friends, and his opportunity to visit both people he did and didn’t know. He will be forever remembered for his gentle and kind nature, his love of laughing, his kindness and compassion, and his tradition of Miller Time on Friday nights.
At Bud’s request, he asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. At the request of the family, arrangements for a memorial will be planned for the spring, with further details announced at a later date.
Online condolences can be sent through Bud’s obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com
Funeral arrangements are in the care of Bowers Funeral service, Salmon Arm, BC