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Heather Patricia Totten, age 78 of Cranbrook, B.C., passed away on November 9, 2016, at Cranbrook Hospital after a short battle with cancer.


She was the loving wife of Robert “Bob” James Totten of Cranbrook for 41 years. Heather Pat was born on November 6, 1939 in Hanna, Alberta, to Franklin and Alice Rockwell. Heather Pat completed her education in Bassano, Alberta and continued on to McConnell Airline School in Minneapolis, Minn., where she went to work with Continental Airlines as an airline hostess with offices in Chicago and Bermuda. Working in Bermuda as a switchboard operator was just the start; she continued on working in hotels in California and back to Canada, where she went to Brooks, Alberta to be a radio announcer for CKBR Radio for their morning show. Then on a visit to Mayook, family friends took her up the hill to the neighbours as they were branding cattle, where she met a tall, handsome man wearing a cowboy hat. It wasn’t long after that, they married on June 12, 1975. Started the farm in Mayook with the cattle and then to sod farming. Heather Pat kept the books and house, going along with running after the kids that came along. The family moved to Bull River where the logging business kept them busy year round, with always having the Christmas trees to harvest every year· and always finding the time for great friends and neighbours stopping in. Heather Pat loved her garden and between her and Bob would always have the corn growing for the “corn roasts” they would put on, with being a small gathering to becoming a weekend campout party with a band. Heather Pat would load up the camper when Bob was itching to go somewhere; she would take the “low road” and Bob would take the “high road,” and up the Bull they would go. With the moving to Creston and the strut of their new adventure, the sod farm grew with love and hard work; to the local kids they hired, the neighbours along the way, the local businesses that they supported and supported them. With time spent in Creston, they had moved back to Cranbrook to slow down, which as everyone would know, wouldn’t last long; they kept going on many projects. Heather Pat was always a great cook with recipes up her sleeve, love of animals, a host for “pop in” visitors, and a great mom with always the time to listen, and teach with the greatest love for her children and family.


Bob and Heather loved each other since the day they met, as they are soul mates. They are sitting on the porch together, watching us, as they are not gone from us, they are on the road together.

Be gentle, be kind, be a friend, love your family and friends. Always listen to the other side of the conversation, then make your own idea and enjoy life, as our life is too short. -HT

Love; The Totten Family