SCHESKE, K.H. (Kenneth)

I was born on the 6th of June in a six-bed hospital in Southey, SK and grew up on the family farm, south of town near the Qu’Appelle Valley. I was to go to a country school (Grade 1 - 8 all in one room) a mile and a half from the farm. As this was a predominantly German community, the school was German speaking and as such, that is the language that I spoke. However, a year before I was to start school it was closed down and all the children were to be sent to the English school in Southey. I had to learn to speak English in a hurry, but I did, and went to that school right through to Grade 12.

It was predetermined that I should become a farmer and follow in my father's and grandfather's footsteps, but farming was not something that interested me in the least. So, the lure of adventure and travel away from Saskatchewan excited me and the RCMP seemed to offer those possibilities. I joined the RCMP on the 8th of June 1966, two days after my nineteen birthday and so the adventure began.

After training I was posted to Vancouver, BC Town Station, then later to the North Vancouver Detachment. In September of the following year my dad passed away suddenly, and I took a compassionate transfer to Minnedosa, MB to be closer to the farm and be of support for my mother and younger brother. The following year I met who was to be "the love of my life”, Carol Found, after issuing her a speeding ticket. After a year of dating, we were married at Neepawa, MB on the 7th of June 1969.

By this time, I had taken a real interest in flying for a living and in the fall of 1970, I left the Force and Carol and I travelled to Penticton, BC, where I undertook my helicopter training as an add-on to my Fixed Wing Commercial Licence, which I had already obtained. Then the real adventure started. Through the next 30 years, I flew not only helicopters all over Canada including the high Arctic, but worldwide as well, to every continent. This flying was on helicopters from small ones to very big ones and included everything from aerial reconnaissance to firefighting, offshore IFR oil patch support and Heli-logging. Also, for several years I ran a fixed wing aerial spraying operation out of Russell, MB.   I was quite the adventure!

Throughout this time, we had, and raised 3 children, two boys and a girl, and after several moves, settled in Kelowna, BC where the kids grew to adulthood. All three children and one grandson still live in Kelowna. Sadly, I lost Carol in September of 2023 after 54 years, but I live on with wonderful memories of our lifetime together. It was not easy at times for our wives, with us being policemen or pilots but they stuck with us, through it all and were always there when we needed them. They made our lives worth living and I thank every one
of them for being there for us. It has been quite a ride!

A more in-depth accounting of Ken’s life and service in the RCMP is captured in the book: “FACES OF THE FORCE”