page 309 More Big Hill Country 2009
Graeme Broatch was born in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, the son of a pioneer family in that area. He came to Cochrane in 1934 to manage the Texaco Service Station. Later he purchased the business and operated it as the Cochrane Auto Service for over forty years.
In 1938 Graeme married Molly Rogers and they built a home in Cochrane. Through the years they were very active supporters of community affairs and the church.
Graeme was Mayor of Cochrane for thirteen years, a member of the Lions Club and the Cochrane and District Agricultural Society. Graeme and Molly had five children: Malcolm born in 1940, Richard “Dick” born in 1942, Judith born in 1947, Jocelyn born 1951 (passed away in I 952) and Susan born in 1953.
A keen sportsman and outdoors man, Graeme liked nothing better than a trip into some area of the mountains that was inaccessible except by saddle horse or on foot. He loved to explore, hunt or fish or even go berry picking. As soon as the berries were ready he was also ready to
take anyone who wanted to go into the bush to fill their pails with nature’s bounty. Molly was a wonderful cook and homemaker and she helped to make good use of Graeme’s excursions to the berry patch.
Graham increased his business at Cochrane Auto and became the Chrysler dealer, selling cars to all the locals and ranchers. He always gave good service with courtesy and a smile.
All of the Broatch children attended school in Cochrane and took a keen interest in sports. They were all active members of the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts. Malcolm and Michael Simpson were the two Queen Scouts chosen from the Cochrane Scout Troop to attend the 8th World Scout Jamboree in Niagara-onthe-Lake, Ontario in 1955. They also attended the Jubilee Scout Jamboree held in Sutton, Coldfield, England in 1957.
Malcolm attended the University of Montana and graduated with a degree in Forestry. He worked in New Zealand for a time and later went into the lumber business in Northern Saskatchewan. He married Elaine Downs of Cremona in 1964 and they had two children Cameron “Cam” and Heather. Tragically Malcolm was drowned in an accident at Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan in 1969. Later Elaine married Frank Cardinal and they live in Rocky Mountain House where they are enjoying retired life. This seems to keep them busier than ever. They love their role as grandparents and spend many hours visiting and spoiling them. Cam Broatch is married to Wanda Watts. They live in Peace River with their children Jayce, Dakota and Rhiannon. Cam works as a Wildlife Safety Consultant and Wanda is a Fish Habitat Biologist for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Heather (Broatch) Weaver is married to Todd Weaver and with their children Jaden, Kalan and Asha live in Sylvan Lake, Alberta. Todd runs a heating business there. Stephanie Cardinal is an Elementary School Teacher at a Catholic School in Red Deer. With her new puppy, her love for travel and her kayaking schedule, she is a busy young lady.
Dick joined the Royal Canadian Navy, following graduation from High School and served for seven years. He returned to Cochrane, trained as a mechanic, and then enrolled in the Faculty of Education at the University of Calgary. He taught school in Cochrane.
In 1964, Dick married Joan McLean of Calgary and they have three children, Janice, Graeme and Kirsten. Dick retired from teaching in 2000 but still keeps active as a supply teacher as well as other projects. Joan is still teaching in Springbank Schools. They are still living in their home in Cochrane. Their daughter Janice married David Martin and lived in Mississauga. Ontario.
They recently made successful career moves and settled in Calgary. They have two children Tyler and Sarah. While serving in the Royal Canadian Navy, Graeme married Ivana Vicha. They have two children Corinn and Evan. They also live in Calgary where Graeme is a manager of a dental lab and Ivana is a teacher for the Calgary Separate School Board. Joan and Dick’s youngest daughter Kirsten received her Bachelor of Arts degree and married Marshall Jones. Kirsten is the assistant communications officer for the City of Kelowna and Marshall is a freelance journalist with a successful column in a Kelowna paper. They live in Westbank, British Columbia and have two children, Charles and Jackson. All the children and grandchildren are a constant source of pride and joy for Dick and Joan.
Graeme and Molly’s daughter Judith worked as a secretary in Cochrane and was the first secretary at the new Andrew Sibbald Elementary School in Cochrane. She married Dennis Flundra and they lived in the Horse Creek and Jumping Pound districts. Dennis and Judith have two daughters, Sherri and Stacey. After working in Cochrane for a number of years and raising their daughters where they all participated in a lot of community groups and events, Judith and Dennis fulfilled a dream they had and bought a small ranch northwest of Medicine Hat, near Schuler, Alberta. They are raising cattle and have a herd of registered Miniature Donkeys that they show, sell and totally enjoy. Their older daughter, Sherri, is an RCMP Constable in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. She is still active with horses and tests for pony clubs. Dennis and Judith’s younger daughter Stacey lives in Calgary with her husband Jeff Primmett. They have a daughter Samantha, born March 17, 2007 who is the family’s pride and joy.
After returning from Europe, Graeme and Molly’s youngest daughter Susan went to live in Cape Town, South Africa. She caught up with a fellow she met on the Greek Island of Corfu. This was a successful endeavour for she married Dennis back in Cochrane in 1980 but still resided in Cape Town until 1982 when they settled back in Cochrane with their daughter, Simone. Dennis and Susan went on to have another child Michael, born in Cochrane in 1983. Having had enough of the Alberta winters they emigrated to Australia in 1988 and lived in Perth for three years. They now call Brisbane home. Susan has been running a successful swimming school for the past thirteen years. Both Simone and Michael have graduated from university and are currently travelling the globe, which is causing the travelling itch to surface once again within their parents.
