Obituary of Raymond Harry Van Steinburg

Raymond Harry Van Steinburg 1923 - 2017 Raymond Harry Van Steinburg, 94, of Wycliffe, British Columbia peacefully passed away on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital. Ray is survived by his children, 5 grandsons and 2 great-grandchildren. Ray was born near Moosomin, Saskatchewan in 1923, but his family moved to the Kootenay Lake area while he was still young. Ray maintained a mine engine from the age of 14 and then later in his teens worked on and helped manage a dairy before joining the Canadian Armed Forces to fight in World War II. During the war he drove a wrecker all over Europe helping the troops keep moving, often crossing into enemy territory to collect Allied transports and other vehicles. When the war ended he volunteered to stay and help clean up to help our European allies get back on their feet and carry on after the war. Ray returned to Kimberley, British Columbia after the war and worked at Cominco for a short time before taking over a taxi stand and grew it to be a thriving business in a post-war time when it was difficult to get cars for personal use. He was the first to bring 2-way radios into the Kootenays as a way to better serve his customers. Ray married Edythe Mae Derricott in 1951 and later that year they moved to Wycliffe where they started a dairy and egg business. In 1959 they sold the dairy cattle and started buying Horned Hereford beef cattle. Together they built Pine Butte Ranch. Ray was incredibly active in the ranching community serving on boards and committees for several decades in nearly every area of the beef industry and land stewardship. He was presented dozens of awards and citations in appreciation of his work locally, nationally and even internationally. Not one to be told how (or when) to live his life by doctors, Ray exceeded medical expectations many times throughout his life. On February 9th he was told that he only had 3-4 days to live due to cancer complications. He proudly outlived this last prediction by 20 days. A gathering will be held to celebrate Ray's life in the spring when it is easier for friends and family to travel and calving season is over … for Ray, the ranch always came first. Memorial donations may be made in Ray's name to the East Kootenay Regional Hospital. Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Service. Condolences for the family can be offered at: www.mcphersonfh.com