Tribute

DENIS TIDMAN BUTCHER

Dec. 6, 1937 – Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England  – April 24, 2024 – Penticton, BC

Denis Tidman Butcher, age 86, of Oliver, BC, passed away peacefully on April 24, 2024, at Moog Hospice in Penticton, BC, with his wife Alice holding his hand and his stepdaughter Jacquelyn by his side, after a twenty-year battle with cancer.

Denis was born on Dec. 6, 1937, in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England.   He was predeceased by his parents James and Irene.  He was also very sadly predeceased by his beloved son Michael in 1999.

He is survived by his wife Alice; children Deborah (John), and Jacqueline (Mark); sister Carol Sessions and nephews Martin and Andrew; stepchildren Kirk (Louise), Mark (Karen), Jacquelyn (Joe), and Laurel (Davinder); grandchildren Philippe, Celestine, Steven, Emily, Evan, and Luca; and great-grandson Olivier.

In 1962, Denis married his first wife Christine in England.   Two daughters were born to them … Deborah arrived in May 1963, and Jacqueline in June 1965.  After the family emigrated to Canada, son Michael was born in December 1969.  The family had many happy times in Montreal.

In 1981, Denis got married for the second time.   This second marriage would last 43 years!  He and Alice were meant for each other.  They had a big circle of friends at the Roxboro Legion in Roxboro, Quebec.

Later, Denis and Alice retired in the Okanagan Valley, BC.

Marriage vows say “in sickness or in health, till death do us part”.  This was the case.  In Denis’s long battle with cancer, Alice devoted herself to taking care of Denis and making his life as happy as it could be.  She loved him very dearly, and it always showed.

Denis was a radar specialist.   He traveled the world with his job, inspecting and installing radar control towers.  He also was a handyman extraordinaire… there was nothing he couldn’t fix or build!

Denis enjoyed beer and scotch.  On very rare occasions, it was a treat and a wonder to see Denis perform the Camel Dance (after a few scotches).  This only happened late at night, and seemed to involve dashing from one side of the room to the other, with a bit of stomping at each end.   Only Denis and his brother-in-law Moffatt Sanders truly seemed to know the intricacies of this dance, and performed it together one night after a family wedding.  Denis spent many years working at job sites in the Middle East, and his Camel Dance stems from that time.

During the last years of his life, as Denis became sicker, he stayed close to home.  Yet he still had joys in life:  Alice’s delicious cooking, watching the BBC News together with Alice every night, and enjoying their after dinner movies.  They enjoyed each other’s company.

On April 24, 2024, Denis took his last breath. He is not suffering anymore.   May he rest in peace.

Denis will be remembered as a warm, kind hearted man.  He was a wonderful step-grandfather to his grandchildren and will be deeply missed by them.

The family would like to thank the Moog Hospice in Penticton for their stellar staff.  They were kindness personified.

Denis was cremated on April 29th.  There will be no memorial service per his request.   However, later this year, the family will have a celebration of his life, to share memories of our beloved Denis.  Perhaps someone will even do the Camel Dance.

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