Ike Doerkson was born around 1917, in Saskatchewan. His parents were Peter Sr. and Catherine Doerkson, who had 7 children. The family moved to Sexsmith AB in June 1927, and a year later they settled in the DeBolt area where they homesteaded and the children went to school. When Ike was 13, he helped his father and brother cut and haul logs for building a church in DeBolt. Around 1938, he married Margaret (“Peggy”) who became a well-known fiction writer. They had 3 children: Constance, Janet, and Douglas (died in 2004). During the early years of their married life, Ike worked in ranching and trapping in the Economy Lake area (SW of Grande Prairie). For a time, Ike also served in WW II. The family settled in Grande Prairie for several years where Ike was employed as a senior towerman for the Grande Prairie Forest Division. Peggy passed away in 1996 after 58 years of marriage. Ike spent his final days at the Hythe Continuing Care Centre, and he died on January 4, 2018 at age 101.
Source: Across the Smoky pp. 70-72; p. 347 (Name in Roll of Honour)
Lake Saskatoon Reflections p. 157
SPRA Family and Personal Life Reference Files: Obituary, and article from Edmonton Journal June 9, 1972)