On June 21, 2007 Mr. Ronald William Bregoliss passed away peacefully at the Overlander Extended Care Hospital, Kamloops, at the age of 86 years.
He is survived by his wife Thelma, his son Steve (Judy) of Kamloops, and three grandchildren; Shana (Chris) Semrick, Kristin Bregoliss and Ron Bregoliss, also by his brother Gordon (Bea) and family. Ron was predeceased by his sister June Koch, his mother Winnie and father Ernest.
Ron was born on April 10, 1921 in Revelstoke, B.C., where the family resided. His parents moved to Kamloops in the early 30s and started Bregoliss Grocery and home on 6th & Victoria Street. He attended St. Ann's Academy where he met Thelma. Ron served as a carpenter and aircraft engineer during the Second World War.
He returned to Kamloops and married Thelma Biswell in 1946. He continued working as a carpenter at Tranquille Sanatorium.
Ron was an entrepreneur and not destined to be a long-term employee. He started a house construction business on the side while still working at Tranquille. In 1949, he was building houses full time.
Ron also started the Volkswagen dealership and garage Sky Chief Service. He also started a gravel pit concrete aggregate business that later became Yellowhead Sand and Gravel. He started Bregoliss Construction that became the heavy duty part of his contracting life. This put him in the wilderness and mountains that he loved so much. He led men to achieve almost impossible tasks. They built ski lift developments, mountain micro wave communications systems, fish spawning grounds, subdivisions, mountain roads and highways, aerial tramways, bridges, hotels, gravel pits, crushing systems, and hard rock aggregate and limestone quarries. Plateau Construction is still operating today.
Thelma and Ron bought their dream farm east of Kamloops. Ron always wanted to grow things, so he farmed alfalfa and for their show Arabian horses. Winemaking, singing, hunting, fishing and showing horses were busy pursuits as he approached retirement.
He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather to his three grandchildren. Ron was a 4th degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus. In 1986, Ron suffered a head injury at 65 years and struggled thereafter. His tenacious nature drove him to learn how to walk, talk, and function again. He farmed until his strokes required him full care. He resided at Overlander Extended Care for the last 3 1/2 years surrounded by loving family and wonderful caretakers.
