Obituary of William Steenson

1935 - 2011

It is with deep sorrow that the family of William "Bill" Steenson announce his passing on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at the "Pines" in Kimberley at the age of 75 years after a courageous battle with brain cancer.

Bill was born on June 29, 1935 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Bill first started playing "pond" hockey as a youngster walking many miles to the closest pond before school to play. In later years he played with the Moose Jaw Canucks and the Moose Jaw Pla-Mors in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan. Bill received a full fledged hockey scholarship to the University of North Dakota where he attended University, while working as a bus boy at the university to help pay for his tuition. Bill followed his coach Bob May to play hockey with the Denver Mavericks and then on to the Minneapolis Millers in Minneapolis, Minnesota before coming to Kimberley in 1960. Bill came to play for the Kimberley Dynamiter Hockey Club and was employed with Cominco (Kimberley Sullivan Mine Operations) until his retirement on March 12, 1994. In 1970 Bill was picked up by the Trail Smoke Eaters to bolster the defense line, playing with Tom Hodges on their European tour.

Bill's many accomplishments in life includes: Induction into the North Dakota Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976, and in 2001 / 2002 Bill was named one of the best 50 hockey players in 50 years by the WCHA. Bill played hockey for the Sioux from 1956 to 1959 and was named to the North Dakota "All American" hockey squad in 1957, 1958 and 1959, captaining the Sioux to their first national title in 1959 with 14 points in 23 games and still remains the UND's only "three-time first-team All-American". Bill actively pursued his love of hockey as player / coach for the Kimberley Dynamiter Hockey Club for many years, as well as coaching the Kimberley Knights Jr. Hockey Club.

Bill was actively involved with the Cominco Mine Rescue operations as team captain, and in 1972 was called to Kellogg, Idaho to help in the rescue of trapped miners at the Sunshine Mine Disaster. Bill donated much of his spare time surveying for the chair lift at the Kimberley Ski Hill, and spent many years building his famous "rock wall". Bill was a family man who devoted his life to his wife Diane and son Len, the Dynamiter Hockey Club and "Fighting Sioux" hockey club from North Dakota and his family from Saskatchewan whom he was very proud of. In his retirement Bill enjoyed his many hobbies which included gardening, golfing, hunting, fishing, hard ball, softball, archery, as well as bird watching.

Bill is from a family of 6 children and was predeceased by both his father James and his mother Ruth Steenson. Bill is survived by his wife Diane and son Len and brothers Jim of Surrey, B.C. and John of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and sisters Ann and Marg from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and sister Darlene in Ontario, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Bill will be fondly remembered by his close friends and colleagues from Kimberley, Saskatchewan and North Dakota where he resided, worked and played hockey.

There will be no funeral service at Bill's request. A celebration of his life will be held at the Kimberley Elks Club on Saturday, July 16, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. Those wishing to make a donation in Bill's memory are asked to contact Ken McTeer for the Kimberley Dynamiter wall of fame, the Kimberley Dynamiter hockey club or to Cominco Gardens.

 

Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Service.

Condolences for the family can be offered at:

www.mcphersonfh.com