Obituary of Roy Armstrong

Roy Charles Armstrong Roy was born in Easton, Minnesota on September 24th 1910, he graduated high school in North Dakota and would have liked to go on with his education but this was not to be. Roy's father, Bartley Armstrong and his brother-in-law, Lawrence Marvin had seen some brochures of wonderful farm land in Northern Saskatchewan. It cost $10.00 to file on a quarter section, so they filed on quarter sections for Bartley, Lawrence, Bryan and Roy. They moved north to the Meadow Lake area in the fall of 1928, they had to clear the way with axes, to their land and build a shelter before winter set in. Roy's life had taken a turn he had very mixed feelings about, dreams of a good education ended and clearing the land for a crop began. A way of life he came to love. In 1939, Roy's father Bartley Armstrong passed away; Roy had been working out of the area, but returned to Meadow Lake at that time and while he was there he met and courted Eileen McCrimmon, they were married in October of 1940. They had their first two children, Barbara and Gary and were settled on their homestead farm. The Second World War was raging and Roy felt the call of duty to volunteer. He always said that Eileen's was the greatest sacrifice as she feared for his safe return and he knew right where he was! In the spring of 1946 the war had ended and Roy returned home, back to his wife their children and the farming life. In the years that followed another quarter section was purchased and the family continued to grow with another daughter, Colleen and seven more sons, Stuart, John, Glen, Bruce, Danny, Clayton and Roger. In the fall of 1958 Roy was offered employment with the Veteran's Land Act, which later was divided to include the Farm Credit Corporation. Roy enjoyed this opportunity very much and worked there until he retired in 1975. He then ran for office as the Reeve of the rural municipality of Meadow Lake where he served for three years. Roy and Eileen were an example to all who knew and loved them of a wonderful married couple; they had unending love and kindness for each other for more than seventy-one years. Of his many accomplishments in life, his dear wife, the family and all the good relationships that are part of that were really what mattered most to him. Roy Charles Armstrong passed away March 22nd 2012 after a brief illness, he had lived a full, productive life and will be so missed by his faithful, loving wife Eileen. Past 101 years of age he was the last surviving member of his birth family; he was pre-deceased by one son Daniel Roy, in 1983. How blessed he was in health and strength and integrity, often he said he lived in about the best century you could live in! How thankful we are to be part of his life, we will not forget him. Donations in memory of Roy may be made to the RUH Children's Hospital, Saskatoon, SK.