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Story Type: Obituary

A split image shows an KC Shenton at two different times: on the left, he kneels at a construction site in a hard hat and sweater; on the right, he stands by a truck with large logs, wearing a hoodie and sunglasses.

K.C. Shenton Obituary

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In the early hours of March 26, 2026, at his home at Mill Creek Ranch in Gladstone Valley near Pincher Creek, Alta., Keith Cecil (K.C.) Shenton was granted entry into Valhalla. He was 72 years old.

K.C. leaves behind Brenda, his wife of 47 years; their children Benjamin (Amy), Erika (Tom) and Alex (Cynthia); grandchildren Shelden, Jaxon, Sasha, Odin, Casey, Atlas, Raleigh, Scarlet and Ever; great-grandchildren Ilona and Milo; and brother Pat (Sheila).

He was predeceased by his parents, Cecil and Marge Shenton, his brother Jim, and sister Barb. 

K.C. was born March 5, 1954, in High Prairie, Alta. When he was a young child, his family moved back to the homestead of his grandparents, Clarence and Clarice Warren. There, Cecil and Marge established Mill Creek Ranch, where K.C. and his siblings were raised, and where he and Brenda later raised their children.

K.C.’s youth was spent helping his parents on the ranch, getting into trouble with his siblings and a large local contingent of McRae and Warren cousins, and exploring the natural beauty of the Gladstone Valley.

His Grandpa Warren taught him how to fish, trap and hunt — lessons that built the foundation for K.C.’s keen observance of nature and stewardship of the land. He shared a special bond with his grandmothers, Clarice Warren and Alice Shenton. Clarice taught K.C. to read before he was school-aged, which inspired a lifelong love of reading and an interest in history, especially of the Norse and family varieties.

K.C. graduated from Matthew Halton High School in 1972 and shortly afterward he headed to the B.C. coast to work with his Uncle Buck. This inspired him to pursue work in carpentry and later earn his journeyman certification, which grew into a notable career in heavy civil construction.

K.C. met his soulmate, Brenda, through her brother Kerry, with whom he was friends and roommates. According to family lore, Mom’s relentless pursuit of Dad was the best thing to ever happen to him. After a few years of dating, they got married at the ranch in 1978. Although not particularly known for being a softie, Dad always had a bouquet of flowers waiting for Mom on her birthday, their anniversary and at Christmastime.

K.C.’s early career took him to various jobs throughout Western Canada, and he and Brenda lived in Red Deer, Sylvan Lake and Airdrie in those early days — always with the goal of returning to the ranch.

While living in Airdrie, he and Brenda became parents, welcoming Benjamin in 1981 and Erika in 1984. The family made the move back to the ranch in 1986, into the house built by K.C.’s grandparents. Alex was born shortly after, in 1987. Dad was proud of his children and, throughout their lives, showed his affection through the built form, whether through extremely dangerous solid-wood broadswords or an extremely dangerous industrial-grade swing set, among many other creations.

On the job, K.C. earned his way from foreman to superintendent, often working away from home to provide for his family and saving up to expand his own cattle herd and develop the infrastructure on the ranch. In 1987 he built his beloved shop, where he spent many hours over his lifetime scheming, tinkering and tale-telling with anyone who happened to pull into the yard.

Over the decades, K.C. led the construction of dozens of bridges and a few windmills. He became well known in the industry for his bridge expertise. Although a tough boss, his work in construction provided him with lifelong friendships and mentorships, and people continued to call to pick his brain well into his retirement.

The highlight of his career was acting as superintendent on the Peace Bridge in Calgary for Graham Construction. As part of that project, K.C. had the opportunity to travel to Spain and Austria for a pre-construction inspection of the bridge components.

K.C.’s retirement provided him with the time to finally work on the many schemes he had catalogued in his brain and he always had some sort of handcrafted project (usually a gift for his children or grandchildren) in the works. In later years, Poppa enjoyed taking his grandchildren on quad rides and teaching them about the land.

Although we all joked about him being a recluse, K.C. had many friends of all ages and from various walks of life. His life stories, historical references, random factoids and knowledge of the land will be dearly missed by many.

A casual celebration of K.C.’s life will be held at Mill Creek Ranch on Saturday, April 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be no formal program, so please come and go at your convenience. For directions to the ranch, please email remembering.kc.shenton@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation or volunteering your time in K.C.’s name to Kootenai Brown Historical Park/Pincher Creek and District Historical Society. Donations can be made electronically, by calling 403-627-3684 or by mailing to Box 1226, Pincher Creek, AB, T0K 1W0. Volunteer information and signup can be found here.

 

Alberta | AB

Sarah Connelly Pincher Creek Obituary Photo

Obituary | Sarah ‘Sally’ Connelly

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1940 – 2025

Sarah “Sally” Mae Connelly (Bechtel) was born to parents John Harvey “Jack” Bechtel and Eva Eulalia “Lala” Eklund on Oct. 21, 1940, in Pincher Creek, Alta. The last of the Bechtel girls.

She spent the first six years of her life on the Bechtel homestead, located in Spread Eagle, Alta., and attended Spread Eagle School, riding Bessie the 3½ miles to get there. Being the fourth daughter, she tried to tag along behind sisters Winona “Nona” Eulalia (Bonertz), born May 21, 1919; Inga “Marr” Ada, born April 1, 1925; and Jacqueline Marie (Therriault), born April 15, 1931. But she was too little to keep up. She always spent more time as a horse than a little girl during those years.

A year after “Mamma” died, she, Jaqueline and “Daddy” reluctantly moved to town (Pincher Creek), where she developed many friendships along with the neighbours and schoolmates. Sally graduated from Matthew Halton High School in 1959, as class valedictorian.

She attended one year at the University of Alberta, earning her teaching certificate. She taught school for approximately five years at Central, Canyon (Pincher Creek) and Livingstone School (Lundbreck).

The years 1961 to 1963 were a whirlwind of activity! She met the love of her life on a blind date set up by friends, and they danced into the wee hours at the Cowboy Ball near Maycroft, Alta. She became Queen of the Pincher Creek Stampede, and participated in Miss Rodeo Canada and Calgary Stampede Queen competitions. She then married her soulmate, Douglas Stuart Connelly, July 6, 1963. They celebrated their 61st anniversary in 2024.

Sally was a rancher and a cowboy. She quietly worked alongside her husband to continue running and expanding the Connelly Ranch northwest of Lundbreck (est. 1885, SW-4-8-2-W5), where her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren still reside.

Daughter Christina Lynne (“Lynne”) was born on Aug. 26, 1966 (predeceased, Aug. 10, 1983). Dana Lee followed on May 21, 1969. 

Family, music and horses were her life. She was also a very talented but humble artist. In her final years, she could be heard tinkling the piano keys, humming, singing and smiling to herself.

She leaves behind to mourn her passing: husband Doug, daughter Dana, grandchildren Liam (Tessa, Rawley and Henry), Quinlan and Justyn (Frankie).

She will be missed by many dear family members, friends and lifelong neighbours. Sally suffered many losses in her life; her troubles and worries are over, and now she has found peace. 

A memorial service took place at Pincher Creek Community Hall on Sunday, April 6, 2025.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pincher Creek SPCA as well as Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories.

 

Arrangements entrusted to Eden’s Funeral Home.

 

Alberta | AB, Alberta Obituaries, Pincher Creek Obituaries, Sarah (Sally) Connelly – Pincher Creek

Janet Main Pincher Creek Obituary Photo

Obituary | Janet Alexandra Main

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1933 – 2025

Janet died peacefully in Pincher Creek on April 1, 2025, having lived an exceptional life full of love, loss, laughter and tears on the ranch she treasured and worked hard to protect. During her life and in her death, she was surrounded by the family and friends she loved and who loved her.

Janet was the oldest surviving member of the McDowall family. She was born in Coleman, Alta., on May 16, 1933, the daughter of Ken and Ina McDowall.

Her childhood was often spent outdoors at the small family ranch named Windymere, learning how to harness a team of horses though they stood much taller than her, harrowing a field quickly so she could go to a dance, and making sure her younger siblings stayed out of trouble long enough to live and enjoy another day.

As an older child in a burgeoning ranch family, the words “I can’t” were not an option. That lesson stayed with her forever and is exemplified by the drive and resourcefulness she brought to her love of ranching and the land on which she worked.

Her grandfather, W.D. McDowall, had a garden and an extensive library. Through him, she developed her love of reading and her passion for flowers and gardening. Her grandchildren took great joy and pride in locating lemon lilies for her in the spring, tiger lilies in the summer, and always planted a tree in her yard to mark special occasions.

She read every day of her life and was a member of the Pages Book Club for many years. Her love of music and sense of gaiety and fun came naturally, along with a willingness to enter into high-hearted endeavours.

Her early education occurred at Coalfield School, a one-room school close to home. Every day, starting at age six, she rode her horse to school and back. Eventually, she attended high school in Pincher Creek. She rode her trusty steed Sally into town on Monday morning, sent Sally home with a slap on her rear, and then boarded in town until Friday night when her parents expected her to find a ride home for the weekend, sometimes with the postman.

After high school, Janet attended the University of Alberta, where she studied education. During the summers while at university she worked at the Prince of Wales Hotel and managed to hike many of the peaks in Waterton Park.

In August 1952, Janet married Bill Main, who had worked as the foreman of the Alberta Ranch. They moved to Drywood and bought their first 20 cows from Mr. Bennet at the Shodderee Ranch, who threw in a bull “for free.” In addition to her ranching duties, Janet taught school and saved her salary to buy land and expand the MX Ranch.

As Bill’s health declined, Janet took on responsibility for the ranch in partnership or with the assistance of her children over the years. Over time she expanded the MX Ranch, in conjunction with her son Mac and ranch partner Charles Straessle, to include the lease land held by the Burlington Northern Railway that is known locally as Christie Mine Ridge and was part of the original Alberta Ranch.

Janet knew animals and was known for her cattle-breeding savvy and her herd of mild-mannered, fast-growing animals. She took special delight when asked to be the only woman judge at select bull sales.

She lived in close association with wildlife and loved their presence, but was always respectful of their space — except that sometimes she needed to scoot a bear out of her precious garden with a broom, or to shoo a moose from her doorstep by fluttering her gown. She followed with great interest the lives of the many hummingbirds, hawks, and other birds and animals that chose to make her ranch their home, always knowing what critters were in her neck of the woods.

Her love for this particular corner of southern Alberta was unwavering. She was a founding member of the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society (SALTS), granted land conservation easements to the Nature Conservancy, and was a member of Diamond Willow organic beef organization.

Ranching in close proximity to the Shell Waterton Gas Plant (which arrived in 1962) forced Janet to become a determined advocate and tough negotiator to ensure that environmental damage to the MX Ranch was minimized by the industrial operation.

Every president of Shell Canada knew who she was, and many were on her speed-dial list, apprehensive to receive news of the latest environmental crisis on the ranch. In 2004, Janet settled her differences with Shell and she relocated the ranching headquarters to just off the Alberta Ranch Road.

Janet and Bill had several travel adventures, often escorted by her brother Stuart, a diplomat for the Canadian Foreign Service, along with his family. They travelled to faraway places in the Middle East, Turkey, Cuba and beyond. Later in life she travelled extensively with her grandchildren (upon their 15th birthdays) throughout Europe and North Africa.

Janet and Bill raised four children: Cas, Doug, Mac and Ian. She is survived by Doug (Anne Gover), Mac (Wendy) and Ian (Caroline Lee), and by Cas’s girls, Kyra Freeman (Mike Coons), Emma Freeman (Jesse Milner) and Sarah Freeman (Adam Pohl), together with Wyatt Main (Tabitha), Mickey Main (Amy Goulding), Alice Main (Jeff Sims) and Charlie Main.

Janet is survived by her younger siblings Stuart McDowall (Irene) and Mary Lou Campbell and their children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her other siblings, Mickey McDowall (Loretta) and Richard McDowall (Pauline).

Janet was a member of the Mountain Mill Church and the United Church of Pincher Creek.

Janet was perpetually generous, always offering tea or coffee to anyone who visited her doorstep, including strangers. If they lingered for too long they would be invited for a meal, and later offered a place to sleep. She fed people, entertained with her stories, and put every able-bodied person to work if there were ranch chores to be done. The door to her house was always open and never locked.

She was a friend to many, inclusive and generous to all, and will be dearly missed by those who knew her.

“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” — Mother Teresa 

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Huntington Society of Canada.

 

Alberta | AB, Alberta Obituaries, Coal Mining, Janet Main – Pincher Creek, Pincher Creek Obituaries, Resource Development

Walter Schauerte Pincher Creek Obituary Photo

Obituary | Walter Schauerte

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Aug. 4, 1937 – March 29, 2025

Walter Schauerte, beloved husband of Jane Bruder, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 87.

He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 40 years, Jane; stepson Robert McCallum; grandchildren Charissa (Bre) Morgan, Tristan McCallum and Ashton McCallum; brother Paul (Hank) Schauerte; brothers and sisters in law Ronald and Rhonda Bruder, Eric and Olga Bruder, Blaise and Linda Bruder, Dennis and Ann Carney, Myron and Evelyn Bruder, David and Bev Bruder, Rhona Bartolotti, Jan and Steve Bruder-Sedgwick, James and Lynn Bruder, Paul and Chris Bruder, Carlos and Glenda Bruder, Steve Bruder, and Tony and Lorraine Bruder. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Walter was born to John and Clara Schauerte, the youngest of eight children, on their farm just down the hill east of St. Henry’s Church. They lived within walking distance of Yarrow School (and yes, it was uphill both ways). He attended school at St. Michael’s for his Grade 9, boarding at the dorm. His father died when Walter was 15, his mother sold the farm, she and her three youngest sons moved to Calgary, and Walter went to work in the building construction trade.

Walter and his mom returned to Pincher Creek in April of 1970, to the farm just west of town on Kettles Creek, where he lived out the rest of his life. Here they lived in “the shack” while he built the big log house. They lived there together until his mom moved into Crestview in 1981.

Walter raised cattle and sheep, and worked at numerous jobs: custom farming, driving truck, home construction and renovation, Shell plant, Pincher Creek Ranches, bartending, wherever he could find work. He even got in some travelling in 1975 when he and Ernie Sinnott made a trip to France for Pincher Creek Ranches to look at Salers cattle. In 1983, Ernie installed the first windmill for power generation in the MD, and Walter installed the second shortly after.

On July 13, 1982, Walter and Jane connected at St. Henry’s 75th anniversary celebration. After a three-year courtship, they were married July 13, 1985, and Walter gained a ready-made family: 14-year-old Laurie and eight-year-old Robert. 

In 1996, they sold the big log house and acreage and Walter built a second house across the creek, as beautiful and unique as the first. He and Jane lived there until 2016 when, at age 79, he decided he wanted to build a third house, this time solar powered and off-grid, to retire in. Unfortunately, six months later, his health started to fail. They moved into this house in 2019, where Walter was able to see the sunrises in the east and the mountains in the southwest, to enjoy the fruits of his labour, and finally, to die.

Walter was a man of integrity, honest and outspoken to a fault. You always knew where you stood with him. He was always ready and willing whenever friends and neighbours called on him for help. He made, and kept, many friends over the years from all walks of life, and always maintained close contact with his family. His numerous nieces and nephews learned many life lessons when they visited Uncle Walter and Grammie on the farm. He enjoyed hunting, playing cards and visiting with friends. He loved to tease and joke, and that he did, right to the end.

 

 

Alberta | AB, Alberta Obituaries, Pincher Creek Obituaries, Walter Schauerte – Pincher Creek