Valdina Ellen Perkins (nee Rafnkelsson), 77, of Mara, passed away quietly at home on Monday, July 18th after a short battle with liver cancer.
Val was born on the family farm just west of Gimli Manitoba on September 12, 1933. She moved to Winnipeg after Grade 2 with her mother when a late frost decimated the crops. While in Winnipeg Val’s mother was an active member of the Suffrage movement. The belief that women, in fact all people, deserve to be treated equally and with respect profoundly affected Val and became a guiding principle for her life.
Several moves later, she found herself grown and living in Campbell River working at the Royal Bank where she met her future husband, the late John Arnold Perkins (The one man who could always make her laugh).
After several years and many more moves, they finally settled in Salmon Arm to raise a family before finally retiring to Mara. Her belief that all people are worthy led her to always be the one helping those in need, be they family, friends or acquaintances. To the point where up until 12 days before her death she was still helping others, putting an average of 53,000 km a year on her vehicles, as well as looking for the next thing to make her and others smile and laugh.
Val is survived by her children Tom (Tara), Bob, Sharel (David Siarkiewicz), grandchildren Alysha, Kaitlyn, Chelsea, Justin, Samuel, Alexander, her brother Eric and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Jon and Jonna, siblings Oscar, Ola, Margaret, Thelma, Frances, Florence and her husband of 48 years John.
At Val’s insistence there will be no service. The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the Canadian Cancer Society at www.bc.cancer.ca where an online memorial in her name has been set-up.