Tribute

Walter, Dad, Papa, Big Papa was born on October 8, 1938 in a little house in Yarrow, B.C. He was the third of nine children born to Jakob and Elizabeth Dahl. Yarrow was a community full of extended family and Walt had good years there. In 1946, Jakob and Elizabeth moved to a dairy farm at the corner of Vye Rd. and Powerhouse Rd. in Sumas Prairie. This is the farm that Walt eventually purchased in 1968 with his brother Art. Walt attended Upper Sumas Elementary and then M.E.I. Secondary graduating from Grade 13 in 1958. After high school, he spent a year at Prairie Bible Institute in Alberta. When school was complete, Walt worked at the Surrey Co-op, first working at the service station and then feed sales. Walt enjoyed serving the farmers and was always interested in everyone and their stories. In the fall of 1962, Walt met Alida Ridder. They were married on September 27, 1963 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Abbotsford. Walt and Alida were blessed with 3 children, Sandra, Jamie and Robert . They raised their family on the dairy farm that he grew up on. Walt loved farming and particularly loved nurturing a top producing dairy herd. He was active in the dairy and agriculture industry and knew many people in this community. Walt was also active in their church, Central Heights, in many supportive roles. Walter retired from the dairy farm in 1993 because of mobility challenges with his hips. This was a difficult decision for him and he grieved the loss for many years. Walt and Alida built a new home on Powerhouse Rd. just around the corner from their farm property. The post dairy farm years were filled with times of traveling, RV trips, golf, grand-parenting and supporting his family. He loved mowing his lawn and prided himself in keeping his property free of moles, weeds and blackberries. He took great pride and joy in seeing family continue to farm the family land. Together, Walt and Alida appreciated consistent routine and predictability. He could always be counted on to be there for those he loved. He appreciated his family and his friendships and would often say how thankful he was for them. He most appreciated how his family loved each other and that everyone got along. Walt was very proud of his 4 grandsons and their families. Walt had difficult challenges with his health. He endured several surgeries over many years for his hips. In the past 5 years these challenges grew increasingly difficult. Although there were often pain and mobility hurdles, he found ways to get around and enjoy life. He was a great example of finding joy and thankfulness in the midst of pain and challenges. Walt faced life with a positive attitude and a smile even through the pain and suffering he endured in a deteriorating physical condition. He rarely complained, relying on his faith in Jesus to sustain him. His faith was central to his life and was evident to the very last difficult days. Walter passed away peacefully at Abbotsford Regional Hospital on March 8, 2021 due to complications after surgery for Cauda Equina Syndrome.