July 24, 1950 - October 16, 2024
In loving memory ~
Stanley Paul Ginther was born in Great Falls, Montana on July 24, 1950, son of Rae and Grace Ginther who homesteaded near Augusta, Montana. He grew up loving and nurturing plants and animals. He attended school in Moore, Culbertson, and Augusta, Montana. He attended college at Montana State College in Bozeman, studying Agriculture and becoming increasingly involved in the Drama Department. In summers, he helped his father at the family homestead and at a youth camp in the Belt Mountains in Montana.
In 1968 he accompanied his sister, Betty, to Canada and helped her settle in the Northern British Columbia community of Rosswood. After a short period back in the states, he returned to Rosswood, BC and purchased 120 acres. In the following years, he lived and worked at various jobs in Terrace, Vancouver, Haida Gwaii, Nova Scotia, and the Yukon. In the late '90s', Stan met Leon at a rodeo in Billings, Montana. The long distance relationship soon became a short distance when Stan joined Leon in Colorado Springs where Leon worked as a nurse. Their wonderful relationship took them to many places as they both loved adventures and the outdoors: first to a 23-acre parcel near Missoula, MT, and then onto a 280-acre parcel near Potomac, MT.
In 2016, after caring for both of Stan's parents in their final years, Stan and Leon decided to permanently move to the property they purchased atop Tyhee Mountain near Telkwa, BC. It didn't take long before Stan became involved in the Hislop Road community and the Tyee Mountain Trail Society while starting work on the house, shop, yurt, warming hut, hiking/ski trails and bridges. Stan's attention to detail was unparalleled; both in his work as well as in ensuring there were always hot coffee and cookies in the warming hut.
Over the years, Stan worked as a journeyman carpenter, a cowboy in the Chilcotin, a cook in restaurants and camps, and as an owner/manager of an inn/bar/restaurant in Hubbards, Nova Scotia, Stan could figure out how to do anything he put his mind to.
Stan was a great collector of family heirlooms and loved family history. He could always be counted on for a story about his life's adventures or tales of local history. He loved the members of the Telkwa community and was well loved in return. Visitors never failed to raise his spirits. Stan loved adventure, unique experiences, and people who had a story to tell.
Stan died with a smile on his face in the evening of October16th, surrounded by people he loved.
He was predeceased by his father, mother, and sister, Darlene Gilmore. He is survived by his well-loved partner, Leon Shelley, his brother, Charlie Ginther, his sisters, Betty Geier and Mary Sikes, and by many cherished nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the Hospice Society, the Home Care Centre, and the Cancer Clinic in Smithers for their care and support.
You are welcome to celebrate Stan's life with us on the afternoon and evening of November 2, at the Senior Centre in Telkwa, starting around 2:30 pm.
Service Details
2:30 PM