Ronald Kenneth McAlpine

Ronald Kenneth McAlpine of Dubuc passed away on January 24, 2018 at St. Anthony’s Hospital at the age of 92 years.  Ron, tenth child of Annie and Donald McAlpine, was born on March 9, 1925, on the family farm south of Dubuc. 

Ron went to Freedhome School and received his Grade Ten.  After school, he worked on the family farm. In 1947 he worked on a custom combine crew ran by his brother Bill starting in Kansas, with stops in Nebraska, South and North Dakota.   In the winter of 1957 Ron worked in Ontario hauling pulp logs with his brother Stewart and friend Vic Asplund.  In 1959, he worked on Mile One of the Alaska Highway. Because he was non-union the Teamster Union forced the company to let him go. After working there for three months Ron returned home where he operated the family farm until his retirement in 1995.  The mixed farming operation grew wheat, oats, durum, mustard and canola and raised cattle, pigs, horses and chickens.  Over the years, several family members tried their hand at farming under Uncle Ron’s watchful eye.

On December 5, 1964, Ron married Melba Arthurs in Dubuc.  They began their life together on the family farm.  They had three children, Rhonda, Sean and Michelle.

As a lifelong resident of Dubuc, Ron was well known and involved in the community.  He was a member of the Oddfellows and served on the Dubuc Recreation Association, Wheat Pool and Credit Union boards.  He was an avid ball player and curler and took up golf at age 65.  Ron and Melba were members of the Valley Social Club for over 30 years and the Last Oak Golf Club for 15 years.  No description of Ron is complete   without his love of music.  He was well known for his ability to turn a gathering into a concert and singalong with his voice, guitar and piano playing.

Ron is survived by his wife of 53 years, Melba; his children Rhonda McAlpine-Haubrich (John Haubrich), Shirelle/Rhys, Marty, Peyton (Kendall) great-granddaughter Harley; Sean McAlpine (Deborah Priestley-McAlpine), Leigh and Ian; and Michelle Nagy (Dion Nagy), Derrick (Jaime), great-grandson Leander and Stephanie (Shane Fitzgerald); sisters Mary McAuley, Margaret West, Jean (Bill Buchanan) and Vivian Hogarth; brothers Stewart (Marian) and Gerald (Eugenia) McAlpine and many nieces and nephews from the McAlpine and Arthurs families. Ron is predeceased by his parents, Anne and Donald McAlpine; brothers William, Donald Jr., Archie, Laurie; sisters Florence Hogberg, Isabelle Brown, Kay Hoffman, Juhli (Pearl) McCarter and Patricia Bain.