William Frederick Bill Larke

Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM), 1939-45 War Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal

Canadian Provost Corps

WW II

William Frederick (Bill) Larke was born 17 September 1916 in the Brown District, south of Morden, to Louis and Louise (Keding) Larke. The family moved to Morden shortly after his birth. He was the second of 12 children, 8 boys and 4 girls…Herman, Bill, Alex, Carl, Margaret, Emily, Elsie, Doug, Archie, Helen, Howie and Ken.

Bill married Betty Longney on 01 June 1943, and they had 2 children, Joan and Jim.

Bill took his schooling in Morden, and as a teenager helped local farmers with the harvest. He had a few jobs before he enlisted…helping his carpenter Dad Louis build the barns at the Experimental Farm, sanding floors, and working as a lineman. He loved sports, playing baseball and was a member of the Morden Blackhawk Juniors hockey team in 1935-1936.

Bill enlisted with the Canadian Provost Corps #40 in Winnipeg on 15 July 1942. He was stationed in Winnipeg serving in the Military Police until his discharge on 11 May 1946. Returning to Morden, he went into the business of sanding floors fulltime. In June 1950 he was offered a position as Morden Town Constable. He had talked of joining the RCMP before the war, so this allowed him to follow his goal of working in a police force. In the early years of policing for the town, the constable’s duties were diverse and included reading the newly installed water meters in the downtown area. He loved all aspects of his job. He subsequently became Chief of Police, retiring in 1978 with 28 years of service.

Deciding he wasn’t quite ready for fulltime retirement, he rejoined the workforce in 1979 as a Security Officer at the new Tupperware Plant, retiring from there in 1989.

In 1977, Bill received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in recognition of his devoted Public Service for more than 25 years.

Bill was a long-time member of the Morden Legion Branch, an avid curler, and enjoyed helping with Morden Little League Baseball. Later in life, when he wasn’t gardening or visiting friends and family (especially the grandchildren), he loved watching curling, baseball and hockey.

Bill and Betty celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June 1993. He was diagnosed with cancer in August 1993 and passed away 07 January 1994 at the age of 77.

William Frederick (Bill) Larke is buried at Hillside Cemetery, Morden, Manitoba.

Information supplied by the family.