- Change-makers
- 1930
- Lenore Marie (German) Ford
Lenore has that same pioneering spirit that has brought so many to the North to try new experiences.
It is my pleasure to write about the life of my friend Lenore for inclusion in the collection of biographical sketches. I first met her when I was teaching at Christ the King High School in the 80s. However, I really got to know her when, several years ago, her husband Bill Ford was playing Old Timers Hockey with my husband, Dave (and with Hank Carr). I have always admired Lenore’s spirit.
Lenore was born in Ingersol, Ontario, in 1932, where she was raised on a small animal farm and attended a country school. Lenore walked the two miles to school unless the weather was inclement and then she was taken in the sled pulled by horses. She had a happy childhood and was the only child in her family.
In 1964, “the spell of the Yukon” called her (especially Dawson City) from Ontario and she found employment and fun living and working at the Whitehorse Inn Hotel for three years. The hotel, long ago replaced by the Bank of Commerce, is still a big part of Lenore’s happy early memories.
Then, Lenore’s spirit of adventure took over and she signed on through the Scandinavian consulate in Vancouver as part of the crew on a freighter bound for Australia. Her dream was to see the world—a dream shared by many young people working with her.
In spite of seeing the Southern Cross, the seven-day-a-week job was very demanding. Her uniform was a white dress. Lenore recounts running twenty-four beers at a time up the stairs in the equatorial heat. Salt pills and lemon water helped Lenore combat the heat. There were many parties and lots of excitement dancing to Latin music tapes.
Lenore enjoyed her working holiday very much, but finally left the ship when it docked in Los Angeles.
Happy to be back in the Yukon, Lenore worked at the well-known highway stop, Swift River. The lodge was run by the Garrity family and Lenore remembers her three years as “so much fun doing everything from housekeeping and serving meals to pumping gas.” Lenore, then, in her words “realized she needed a pension” and started caretaking in Yukon schools.
Lenore met her future husband, Bill, in 1964 while working in the Whitehorse Inn. His quiet, shy manner attracted her. Bill was a surveyor and then became a member of the Teamsters Union and drove a truck. They were married by Marriage Commissioner, Margaret Joe. on December 19, 1981. Lenore, who loves clothes, wore an off-white chiffon dress, which she bought at Chez Helene’s.
One year, Bill and Lenore were named Mr. & Mrs. Yukon for the Sourdough Rendezvous.
Losing Bill was very hard on Lenore. With him, she had “a good life with a good husband.” When she could no longer look after him at home he was admitted to Copper Ridge. Lenore doesn’t drive but tried to visit him every day. She is very grateful for the excellent care Bill received and the caring support of Doctor Zimmerman. Bill passed away at Copper Ridge Place of Alzhemiers on November 4, 2012. Bill and Lenore had been married for 31 years.
Bill’s memorial was hosted by the Whitehorse Legion and was a great comfort to Lenore. She had a “pretty rough three years” after Bill’s death.
Lenore lives in a large airy apartment downtown. She tries to get out each day—even when she was recuperating from a broken hip. Although she has many friends, she doesn’t mind venturing out by herself.
She keeps up with Yukon musicians, Hank Carr, Ed Isaac and his son (a well-known blues musician, Brandon Isaac). She loves music, especially jazz. A few years ago she took music lessons from Barbara Chamberlain in an attempt to better understand music.
Yukon artist, Jim Robb, is a good friend.
Lenore keeps up-to-date with her many friends on Facebook. Facebook she “finds addictive”, but it helps her keep up with the Yukon music scene. She got her Facebook account when her husband, Bill, was sick and it has been a lifeline for her.
Other interests for Lenore are the McBride Museum and the Legion.