First Queen Silver Star for Vernon Winter Carnival dies at 85
Published 5:30 am Saturday, February 14, 2026
Vernon Winter Carnival’s first Queen Silver Star has succumbed to a cancer battle.
Rhondda Lynn Biggs died Feb. 4, two days before the start of the 66th Carnival. She was 85.
Biggs was crowned Queen Silver Star in 1961.
Morning Star editor Jennifer Smith did a piece on Biggs and her daughter, Leah, six years ago when Carnival celebrated its 60th anniversary.
Leah was a Vancouver-based emerging artist who offered her talent to the Vernon Winter Carnival Society to create a one of a kind art piece celebrating 60 years of Vernon Winter Carnival.
Biggs was also friends with Sveva Caetani and in 2024 donated an original Caetani artwork to be auctioned off at the inaugural Caetani Classic Golf and Gala Fundraiser.
Biggs was predeceased by her husband, Dick. Together they operated their own business, Vernon Helicopters, for many years, and enjoyed retirement together.
She is survived by her daughter Leah, son Trevor (Khai), her sister Gwynneth Nelson (Richard), along with many friends.
There will be no funeral by Rhondda’s request and in lieu of flowers, those wishing to do so, may make a donation in her memory to the BC Cancer Foundation, the North Okanagan Hospice Society or the Diabetic Association – Rhondda was a Type 1 diabetic for 66 years.
The Queen Silver Star program was a staple with Carnival running from 1961 to 2020.
A difficult decision was made to postpone the program for 2020/2021 due to public health relations due to COVID-19.
The program has not since returned.
