NELSON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1954

Dona (SPENCE) Miller

 Family:

Stephen, our oldest (a contractor) and wife Kathy, a nurse, and their son Jasper, age 6, live in beautiful Victoria. Our daughter, Shelley, an elementary teacher, and husband Steve are owners of a truss company and live in Kelowna.  They have a four-year-old, Noah and a two-year-old, Amira.  They have just put their fourth house they have built up for sale.  Our daughter Tricia and husband Grant live in Nelson with their two children, Blake, age 11, and Carson, age six.  Tricia has her own dress store on Baker Street and Grant has Caldwell Banker, also on Baker Street.

 Present Activities:

Rich and I are both retired as of this year so will be fifth wheeling and golfing.  We both love gardening and have a large vegetable garden.  I do a lot of canning and pickling.  We both like golfing and go to fitness classes.  I do a lot of volunteering as I have been retired for 12 years: Myra Canyon Trestles, Mission Creek Greenway, Music in the Park in the summer, and many things that the Telus Volunteers help with.  We go to Trinity Baptist Church which has a congregation of 2500, so do a lot of volunteering for them.  It’s a great life in a wonderful town and caring community.

 Work Before Retirement:

Worked for 32 years for B.C. Tel in Vancouver, Nelson and Kelowna, retiring at 55.  Started as a telephone operator in Nelson, worked in Vancouver in the Directory Dept. Public office, and returned to Nelson where I did many jobs, was moved to Kelowna as a business rep. after Nelson closed.  I loved my years with B.C. Tel.  It was very rewarding and a great company to work for!

 Some Memories of Nelson:

• Jimmy Ringrose’s Store – the “huge ice cream cones.”  Slim Porter’s sister worked as clerk, Vi Porter.
• Mrs. Hooking’s store near Lakeside Park.
• The 4-X Bakery (great donuts!).  Beside them was Mr. Lowery’s store and Joyce Stuart’s father was the butcher.  When we had war coupons Mr. Lowery made sure Mum got a jar of peanut butter.
• Swimming lessons at Lakeside Park, and spending every day at the park.  Ed Kelter was my swimming instructor and Joan Farmilo (not sure of right spelling) taught me diving off the 10-feet board.  Wonderful memories of Lakeside summers with the power boat races.
• Camp Koolaree was a wonderful experience and then I went as a Camp Mother when my children went to camp.  So lucky to live in Nelson!
• My Dad was a great fisherman on Kootenay Lake.  Spent all our young years at Woodbury Creek and Kaslo.
• Wait’s News Stand (great milkshakes, even today).
• Gelinas Billiard Hall (milkshakes the men say – I never went in to see).
• The Diamond Grill – the Wahs.
• Mr. Fleming’s store – Chinese gardens and vegetables behind his store.
• Learning to skate at the Nelson arena and also going to Nelson Maple Leaf games.  My Dad and Mum were season ticket holders so we got taken to Trail, Spokane, any games we could!  Skating on Kootenay Lake was great too.
• Civic Theatre Saturday afternoon shows – popcorn and the weekly serials were a look-forward thing each week.
• Mann’s Drug Store!  A great Christmas gift shop when we were young.