Melvin Archibald
1945-2022
Our Dad, our brother and our Papa Bear, Melvin Donald Archibald. “Mel” passed away peacefully on December 11, 2022 at the age of 77 years old after a 2 year battle with Cancer.
Mel was born in Regina, Saskatchewan to Williard and Marie (Bryksa) Archibald on May 22, 1945. He spent most of his younger years between Craik Saskatchewan and area, briefly in Gimli Manitoba spending a short time in RCAF, where he met Ruth. After that he became a structural steel Ironworker and spent most of his working years with Local 720 Ironworkers union out of Edmonton AB. Many of these years were spent being a part of various oil sands projects in Fort McMurray where he held foreman positions with Suncor and Syncrude. He was very proud of his trade and was involved in many large projects over his career spanning many places, all throughout Canada including the NWT, the U.S (Denver CO) and as far away as Norway. He was a highly respected ironworker by his peers and was very proud of his affiliation with the brotherhood of his local 720 union. He retired in 2002.
He lived in Grande Prairie and then to BC where he spent some time in Chemainus and Barriere then his final destination of Kamloops. He spent his time attending soccer and minor hockey games watching grandkids despite being cold out there most of the time! He enjoyed family dinners, celebrations and camping, he loved a great big campfire and could always be found tending to it adding more wood! He was an avid CBC / CNN fan and could always tell you the details of what was going on in the political scene in Canada and US. He could invent and engineer things to make something out of nothing (The Melinator) one of the many and most notable and he liked to put wheels on everything so he could move them easily! His dry sense of humor would take some people aback but those who knew him well, found him humorous. One of his favorite sayings when things got tough was “Don’t say whoa in a mud puddle” and keep moving ahead, I promise I will do that Dad.
He is survived by his children Shelley Brayer (Archibald) Jeff, Kyle and Katie Brayer, Corinne Archibald, (Robyn and Brendan Murphy), their mother Ruth Archibald, brothers Lyle Archibald(Carol) Howie Archibald and Valerie Dulle (Archibald) (Jerry) and many nieces, nephews and relatives. Mel is predeceased by his parents Williard and Marie Archibald of Craik Saskatchewan and his companion of many years Yvonne Ryan of Grande Prairie. Thank you to Jay Deyman of Barriere and Melrose Mackie of Kamloops for being such good friends to him in his last year(s).
We will miss our Papa bear in everything we do and will treasure our good times always!
Thank you to Marjorie Willoughby Hospice for the exceptional care and kindness in his last days.
No service at his request, he will return home to Craik, Saskatchewan at a later date ,to be determined.
Cremation to take place at Drakes Funeral home in Kamloops, BC.
Offer Condolence for the family of Melvin Archibald 1945-2022
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Melvin Archibald 1945- and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
Death notice for the town of: Barriere, Province: Colombie britanique