TORBERT, KENNETH WESLEY


We mourn the loss of “the famous” Dr. Kenneth Wesley Torbert who passed away peacefully at home in the care of his loving wife on Saturday, February 1st, 2014 at the age of 79 years young. Ken was born March 10th, 1934 in Rapid City SD. He leaves to mourn his wife Anita, nee’ Altman, 3 daughters; Shireen (Brad) Wilson of Winnipeg, Beth of Vancouver, Heather of Winnipeg, and Jeannette Gibson, the mother of his children; three grandchildren, Ryan (Brandi) Wilson, Kerri Wilson and Nikki Torbert and one great grandson Jaxx Wilson.

Ken was an awesome and generous stepfather and esteemed roll model for Anita’s family; Michele (Daryl) Sachkowski, Chris (Dan) Roode, Dion (Joanne) Vandale, Pam (Beau Jean) Fouquette and Kurtis (Lisa Kormos) Vandale; grandfather to Caitlyn, Devyn, Tristyn, Jordyn, Hailee, Mackenzie, Marietta, Lindsay, Sandi, Tre’ and Tatum; great grantfather to Jodi, Justin, Kristy, Kenzee, Zoe, Jill, Garrin and Geovanni.

The son of a Methodist minister, Ken earned a Master Degree in Dentistry, enlisted in the U.S. Army, worked as a dentist at Valley Forge and as a Teletype operator in Korea.
Ken and his family lived for 5 years in Barielly, U.P. India as a missionary, training local dentists. Returning to the U.S. in 1971 he received a Masters degree in Public Health. That led him to The Pas, Manitoba where he set up a Dental Assistant Training Program at the University College of the North (which is still going strong) today. He was a Director of the Manitoba Children’s Dental program, Instructor at Wascana Institute in Regina for dental assistants and 10 years as a Dentist/instructor at the National School of Dental Therapy in Prince Albert. His very favorite work has ben as mentor and consultant to Dental therapists in the Yukon, NWT, the Artic and most recently Northern Saskatchewan First Nation Health Centres. Plus three trips to Nepal to advise and appreciate the excellent work six former NSDT students as they improve the public and dental health of their country. Ken was dedicated to his church, humanitarian issues and the settlement process that brought two Karen refugee families to our church community. Ken was predeceased by his parents James and Zorah Torbert, brother James in 1998, stepmother Lillie in 2008 and his brother George on January 24th, 2014. He is survived by his brother, Douglas (Janice) Torbert, sisters-in-law Beverly Torbert and Eileen Torbert and numerous nieces and nephews in the U.S. and wealth of friends and colleagues in Canada and the U.S. A celebration of Ken’s life will held March 8th, 2014 at 2 pm at Wesley United Church. In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Wesley United Church Refugee Fund, Global Neighbours, Habitat for Humanity or Riverbank Development Corporation.