Obituary of Frederick Bird

B I O G R A P H Y BIRD: Frederick Charles Bird passed away in the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre, Lloydminster, Alberta on Saturday, January 28, 2006 at the age of 86 years. Fred is survived by: his loving wife Mona; one son Terry Bird and his wife Deborah of Hinton, AB; one daughter Laurie Bird and her special friend Dan Ring of Saskatoon; two granddaughters Amelia and Mary-Lee; two sisters: Peggy Minness and Betty Bexfield; one sister-in-law Margaret Peek as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The funeral service for Fred was conducted from the Lashburn Community Hall, Lashburn, Saskatchewan on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Terry Wiebe officiating. A eulogy was given by Glenn Harbin. Hymns sung were “Bringing In The Sheaves,” “How Great Thou Art,” and “Beyond The Sunset,” accompanied on the organ by Lorna Chappell. Honorary pallbearers were everyone in attendance. Active pallbearers were: Glenn Harbin, Rupert Tarleton, Marvin Marlatt, John Fleming, Don Walker and Gordon Kitching. Interment followed in the Lashburn Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy - Glenn Harbin Frederick Charles Bird was born February 16, 1919 in the Lashburn Hospital. He went to school at Wirral country school and then Lashburn, graduating at the age of 16. He would best be described as a dedicated farmer, to which he studied for, for two years at the School of Agriculture in Saskatoon, and then returned home to run the family farm with his brother, Don Wells. Together, they produced numerous outstanding crops over the years. Fred served in the Air Force and was a Legion member all his life. After the war, Fred worked for the University of Saskatchewan Extension Department, in the winter months, instructing agricultural short courses throughout the Province. He also worked closely with young farmers of the district and judged junior grain plots in a club, which was the precursor to 4-H. It was during this time that Fred met Mona Chapman of Marshall. She certainly ignited a spark in Fred because one cold January day, as Mona was heading back to her teaching duties following Christmas Vacation, Fred braved the elements and walked to the train station in Marshall and rode with Mona all the way to Lashburn, where he then had to disembark and walk all the way back down the tracks to Saunders farm, where he was working at the time. In 1948 they married and then raised two children ..... Terry and Lori, worked the family farm and lived in the same house that he had been raised in until 1999, when they moved to Lloydminster. Fred was instrumental in working with the farmers in the district in establishing and building the Lashburn Seed Cleaning Plant, and sat as a Board Member for many years. He was a sports enthusiast, actively participating in softball and curling. He and Mona also enjoyed many years of square dancing in the fifties and sixties. They also enjoyed travelling, taking the kids camping in the mountains, going to Europe, where they visited their brothers’ graves and later on, enjoying a number of trips to Hawaii. Fred was always interested in what was going on in the community. Even after he retired from active farming, he liked to keep abreast with the new machinery and farming methods of seeding, spraying and harvesting, as well as varieties of crops growing in the area. He especially was intrigued by field peas, and how, at harvest time, when they all went flat on the ground, and yet, the harvest equipment could still pick them up. I had the pleasure of Fred’s company on different occasions riding with me in the combine. As a neighbour and landlord, Fred was honest, up-front and true to his word. For over twenty years, our land rental agreement was settled with a cup of tea, Mona’s fresh baking and a hand shake. In addition to being an accomplished farmer, Fred will always be fondly remembered by friends, neighbours and especially his family as a loving husband, father and grandfather. Card of Thanks Thank you to Dr. Kerlis and the staff of the Dr. Cooke for their compassionate care of Fred. Thank you to Reverend Terry Wiebe for the service, to Lorna Chappell for the beautiful music, the pallbearers, Glenn Harbin for the touching eulogy and to the Lashburn Sportsplex Club for the delicious lunch. Thank you to everyone who sent food to the house, flowers, made donations, phone calls and visits during our time of loss. Also thank you to Dale McCaw and the staff of McCaw Funeral Service for their care of the arrangements. Donations in memory of Fred may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.