Radium man dies in Banff National Park rollover

By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff

Robert Belcher from Radium Hot Springs passed away on April 4th, in a single-vehicle rollover near Banff, Alberta.

The 56-year-old man was driving in the eastbound lane of the Trans Canada Highway, just west of Banff townsite, when his green 1996 Dodge Ram pickup truck lost control on ice on the highway, reported Corporal Chris Kosack of the Banff RCMP. The truck entered the ditch and rolled.

Banff RCMP and Banff Emergency Services responded at 6:09 a.m., but Mr. Belcher was pronounced dead at the scene. Alcohol was not a factor in the incident, RCMP said.

Mr. Belcher was born in Kelowna, but moved to the valley as a child and grew up near Columbia Lake.

He met his wife, Rollande Belcher, who is originally from Quebec, when they were 20 years old. They married and lived on a ranch near Edgewater.

Mr. Belcher was an avid outdoorsman, and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons, Lee and Ian Belcher. He particularly loved training horses, both his own and those of friends.

He also worked as a first aid trainer for 35 years, instructing students in Golden, Invermere and Cranbrook.

A memorial service for Mr. Belcher will be held on April 21st at 11 a.m. at the Edgewater Hall.