Obituary of Stanley Binns

BIOGRAPHY BINNS ~ Stanley Ernest Binns passed away at the Dr. Hemstock, Lloydminster, on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at the age of 89 years. Stan will be sadly missed by son, Pat (Carol) Binns; daughter, Barbara (Pat) Doyle; seven grandchildren, Rob Binns (Dawn), Mark Binns (Kate), Brad Binns (Carrie), Lilly Binns (Dave), Christy Sharp (Joe), Ryan Doyle (Crystal) and Scott Doyle (and Friend Jessica); seven great grandchildren, Liam and Keegan Doyle, Dylan Sharp, Kristen and Andrew Binns, Olivia and Jackson Binns; as well as numerous other relatives. Stan was predeceased by his wife, Phyllis; and two sisters, Doris and Doreen. A Prayer Vigil was conducted from St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church, Lloydminster on Monday, April 1, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial was conducted from St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church, Lloydminster on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. with Father Rajappa Savariappan officiating. The eulogy was given by Pat Binns and Barbara Doyle. A solo, "How Great Thou Art" was sung by Marlene Risling and the organist was Donna Weston. Special music "Daddy's Hands" and "It's a Wonderful World" were played during the service. There was a Knights of Columbus Honor Guard and Members of the Royal Canadian Legion were in attendance. The Active Pallbearers were: Rob Binns, Mark Binns, Joe Sharp, Christy Sharp, Ryan Doyle and Scott Doyle. Donations in memory of Stan may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Dr. Hemstock Resident Fund or to a Charity of Choice. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. CARD OF THANKS The Binns family would like to thank the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard; the Legion Members in attendance; and the Dr. Hemstock Staff for the wonderful care that they gave to Dad. Appreciation to McCaw Funeral Service for the arrangements; and to Marlene Risling and Donna Weston for the music. Thank you to friends and relatives for cards, food, flowers, donations and for your kindness and compassion. Pat and Carol Binns & Family Barb and Pat Doyle & Family Stanley Ernest Binns, our Dad, was born in 1923 at Indian Head, Sask., in the Quapelle Valley to George and Ada Binns. Along with his sisters Doris and Doreen they grew up in the Sintaluta and Whitewood districts. Dad received his Grade 12; learned to work hard and to contribute to his community. With WW2 underway, Dad enlisted with the Royal Canadian Airforce and developed a lifelong love for flying. He met Phyllis, our Mom, who was in training to become a nurse,in Regina,on a blind date. They married on August 6, 1947, a marriage that lasted 64 years until Mom's death in August, 2011. They lived in Radville, Weyburn, Lloydminster, and once retired, in Saanichton, Kelowna, and in Mesa during the winter. In each place they added many life long friends. We were fortunate to have two wonderful parents. Dad made many times special for us all. There was every Sunday night when he brought home chocolate bars and cokes for us while we all watched Bonanza There were summer trips to Carlyle Lake, Sandy Beach and Big Island. I remember riding, wind in our hair, in the open back of his pickup all the way from Radville to Carlyle. He was a big Roughrider fan and would take me, along with his best friend, Sig Larsen, to Taylor Field in Regina. In those days the Eskimos would always win but you will never take the green and white out of us. He loved to take us out to eat. The best time was every New Years Day, when he would arrange with all of our very best friends, to be at a Hotel Dining Room where we had the run of the place for the afternoon. Meanwhile, our parents carried on the festivities, without too much attention to us kids. Then there were those cold winter days when he would pick us up on our walk home for lunch, and I would sit close to him in his toasty warm pickup with the heater going full blast. I remember Dad teaching me how to run. We were camping in Banff National Park and having set up our gear, went over to the lake. Suddenly there was crashing and banging in the tree above us. A black bear came down and you never saw two people move faster as we got back to the safety of our camper. After the war Dad was employed as a Pilot for Ayotte Air Services. We were all fascinated with his stories of flying on skis when the roads were impassable. He fascinated and terrified us with stories like his work for the local funeral home which meant flying a body in his 2 seater aircraft. The body had to be frozen in the seated position and placed directly behind him in the passenger seat! Our Uncle Larry also remembers Dad flying acrobatics at a Radville Air Show. On Larry's first flight in his brand new Ercoupe, just as the wheels left the ground, Larry threw up all over the cockpit. Dad started Binns Motors in Radville on a shoe string, selling Esso gas and doing repair work. He didn't have a truck or a car so he became a Studebaker dealer and they gave him a pickup truck. He had earlier started a Kaiser Fraser dealership intending to sell Henry J cars, but that was short lived. Income was slow so he also started handling farm machinery and had success in a big harvest year when he had the only hay rakes the region. Soon Esso needed an Agent in Radville which meant delivery trucks and more staff. It wasn't long before they asked Dad to take on a bigger Agency in Weyburn, and then the Bulk Agency in Lloydminster. Over time his name became so well known from business, organizations and local politics, that it seemed the Stan Binns name not only represented our Dad, but almost a Brand. Dad will be remembered for his penmanship and especially his signature. It was strong, perfectly formed, and a clear definition of who he was. We all wanted to write like he could, but none of us could compare. Dad became a Catholic, in part, we think, because it was required to marry Mom. But he rarely missed Mass, and quickly joined the Knights of Columbus and rose to become an Honorary Third Degree Knight. That was just the beginning for organizations. He proudly served as a Captain in the local militia. Over the years he belonged to Kiwanis, was Kinsmen President, was a lifetime member of the Royal Canadian Leg and belonged to the Curling Club and the Golf Club. In addition he was part of Bones Boys and the Cactus Club. Dad and Mom were an amazing couple. They worked hard, and, if anyone didn't know, had a lot of fun times. They were best friends and often became the life of the party. Mom entertained with her ukulele or the piano and Dad might even sing a couple of tunes before the night was over, such as his favourite, Little Red Hen. You always knew when Dad was in the room, he had a great laugh, and when with friends like Big Elmer Grunert and Orville Berg there was no end to the competition for who could make the most noise. We remember the trips to Big Island and especially one, waiting for the Ferry, where they were having such a good time, that their truck camper went across on the Ferry without them. Mom and Dad also helped to raise our Uncle, and friend, Larry Evans. They were very close to Larry and his family, whether in Radville, Edmonton, at the Lake, or in Arizona. They were so close that Aunt Carol felt she was a true "soulmate". We know how much they both wanted to be here with us. He loved being with his grandkids. While in PEI he would take the grandsons golfing every day. On the way home, a must stop was to buy everyone ice cream cones. Just as we grew up with his pick up trucks, they also remember how they loved riding in his "Green Machine". The Doyle grandkids tell us that Grampie never came for dinner without bringing a litre of ice cream. He also taught the kids how to bargain. On trips to Nogales, they learned to walk away to get a better fake Rolex for much less than the asking price. Dad loved politics. He was elected to Town Council in Radville and was a City Alderman here in Lloydminster. He was a strong Conservative supporter, and worked for great Canadians such as John Diefenbaker an Don Mazankowski. Mom and Dad loved to join us at the Annual Premier's Conference. His example no doubt led me into the political arena and I know that whatever success I had was because he gave me the skills to understand and work with my community. Dad loved to curl, was a masterful skip and was often in competition for the Provincial Brier. His rinks even defeated big names like Hector Gervais and the Pickerings. Maybe it was his love of bonspeiling, as much as curling, that let the competition win the Briers. He didn't play hockey but was part of the Lloydminster Never Sweats, who also had great times, especially on road trips with Jim Hill and all their team buddies. He loved to golf, so winters in Arizona at the Fountain of the Sun Country Club became the retirement game of choice. He even had a few "holes in one". We thank the Dr. Hemstock for the wonderful care they gave Dad, McCaw's for their service, and Dr. Sayeed for being Dad's Doctor and friend. Thank you to the Knights of Columbus for the Honour Guard and to the Legion members for your attendance. Special thanks to all of our friends and relatives for food, flowers, and cards, as well as for your kindness and compassion. Inclosing, and most important, Dad loved Mom. His desire to be with her has won out over his desire to be with us. We know that the ukulele will play and a few songs will be sung for everyone in Heaven tonight! We miss you Dad. But your memories will last us our lifetime. With love and admiration, Pat and Carol and family Barbara Jane and Pat Doyle and family.