OWEN KJELSON On April 5, 2008, Owen Arthur Kjelson of Kamloops, B.C., passed away peacefully in Ponderosa Lodge at the age of 80. Owen was born on July 13, 1927 on his family's farm near Bengough, Saskatchewan. He was one of five children of the late Oscar & Astrid Kjelson, hard working prairie farmers in the 1920's & 1930s. At 17, Owen and his family moved to Penticton, B.C. where he soon found work as a Watchman on the Kettle Valley Railway, later becoming a Fireman. This experience generated some of his favorite railway stories about feverishly stoking coal for the steam locomotive's long climb out of Princeton. "KJ", as he was fondly known by his railway colleagues, friends and family, became an Engineer a few years after his 1949 marriage to Winnifred A. Knuff of Penticton. Together "KJ" and "Freddy" experienced railway life in remote, challenging and beautiful Brookmere, B.C., making it their home for four years. With the arrival of the diesel locomotive, Owen moved his growing family to Kamloops where he was Engineer on the CPR main line and worked alongside his brothers-in-law, Ed Knuff and Don Knuff. In 1985, "KJ's" last run as Engineer was from Merritt to Penticton where his career on the railroad had started 41 years before. Owen's favorite pastimes were hunting and fishing near his home at Lac Le Jeune. It is here that he enjoyed playing cards and visiting with long-time neighbours and friends. Owen was a lifetime member of the Kamloops Elks, supporting their community service projects for more than 35 years. Owen's Norwegian heritage was particularly important to him and over the years he enjoyed keeping in touch with his 38 first cousins in Mo-i-Rana and region, including travelling to Norway with his sister, Patsy and brother, Norman in 1978. Owen is survived by his wife of 58 years, "Freddy" Kjelson of Lac Le Jeune; his daughters, Karen Fyke of Kamloops, Kathy (Bill) Kals of Kamloops and his son, John (Roberta) Kjelson of Heffley Creek. He will be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Bradley Fyke, Steven Fyke and Krista Kals all of Kamloops; his sister, Patsy (Elwood) Blogg of Penticton; his brother, Norman Kjelson of Penticton; his sisters-in-law, Margaret (Don) Taylor of Kamloops and Shirley Knuff of Salmon Arm and many dear nieces, nephews and cousins. Owen was predeceased by his sisters, Major Estelle Kjelson and Thelma Hall; his brothers-in-law, Ed Hall, Don Knuff, Ed Knuff, and Elton Knuff and his sisters-in-law, Glen Knuff and Betty Knuff. "KJ" rode the rails of life with joy and arrived at his last station after a short and courageous battle with lung cancer while receiving care for Alzheimer's disease. The family extends it's appreciation to the staff of Ponderosa Lodge, and especially those in respite and the 2nd Floor West Care Centre for their excellent and compassionate care for Owen and to Dr. Hamilton for his dedication to Owen's care and comfort. At Owen's request, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers a donation in Owen's memory to Ponderosa Lodge, 425 Columbia St., Kamloops, B.C. V2C 2T4, would be appreciated. Schoening's Funeral Service entrusted with cremation arrangements. Telephone 374-1454