The family of Bill Spencer sadly announces his passing on December 22, 2008 at Cypress Regional Hospital in Swift Current, Sk. Bill was born in Abernethy, Sk. on March 27, 1922 to William & Ellen Spencer who had come from England in 1912 to work on a farm there. He was born 15 years after his sister Gladys so was a miracle baby .Bill moved with his parents and sister to SW2-17-16W3rd - the Percy Lines farm at Success, Sk. in Dec.1925. Bill attended school at Orillia from 1928-1939 and took Grade 9, 10 and 11 by correspondence course. In his teen years he worked for Tom Garland for $1.00 per day and $5.00 in harvest time. He worked for the RM#168 picking rocks and building roads for 50 cents an hour as well as helping on his Dad’s farm.Bill enlisted in the army in Feb.1943 and was sent to Victoria, B.C. for basic training in S1-CC and A.A.A.S (Canadian Coast and Anti Aircraft Artillery School. He trained for one month and then got Scarlet fever and was in hospital 6 weeks celebrating his 21st birthday in Victoria Military Hospital. He went home on a month’s sick leave and on returning was placed on staff working in Central Registry where he handled all incoming and outgoing mail. The camp was closed down on V.E. Day and he was sent to an Artillery Battery where he was fuse commander in charge of a group of 6-10 men on a gun. Bill was discharged in Feb.1946. After coming home he purchased 3 quarters of land under the Veteran’s Land Act and farmed with his Dad. In 1949 he met Joan Rush who was teaching at Orillia school and they were married on Dec.22, 1950 at First United Church in Swift Current by Rev. Bell. Joan taught until 1954 when she was expecting their first baby and became a full time partner on the farm. As the family kept growing from 1959 to1964 Bill added two additions to our home doing all the work himself, even building the cupboards and doing the plumbing and wiring. Bill was a quiet, devoted, kind and loving husband and father. His family and his farm were his life. He got great satisfaction walking through the fields and watching his crops grow. He was a good steward of the land. He so enjoyed playing with his children, helping them with their homework and teaching them how to ride bikes, play ball, snowcruise, curl, toboggan, swim, and practicing for field meets and 4-H projects. They even had fun hauling bales and I have the videos to prove it! He always enjoyed it when the kids came home for visits and special occasions-especially his birthday! Bill farmed with John for 25 years. Bill enjoyed being the fixer and the gopher, while John did the field work. He looked forward to John’s daily visits and card games with Will, Katie and John. He was very proud of his kids knowing they were carrying on his traditions and are hard workers and good honest citizens. For the past four years Bill had been on peritoneal dialysis (4X a day) at home and had several operations but was always hoping for the best and thankful for the years we had together. He and Joan usually had a Scrabble game every morning and played cribbage and rummy a lot. Bill worked hard in the community (Orillia & Success) throughout the years. In the 50’s and 60’s we had ball games every Sunday in our pasture and everyone came and had fun. We visited back and forth so much then and had snowmobile and skiing and skating parties on our backyard rink. Bill was secretary of Success Hall and Sports Association for 13 years. It was a Co-op then and he spent many hours doing the necessary book work. Between working at the hall, shingling, adding on, fixing up the basement, and the Sports grounds he had little spare time off the farm. He canvassed the country to get farmers to donate grain so they could buy a matched set of curling rocks for Success Curling Rink and then went and delivered the grain to the elevator. He spent a lot of time flooding and preparing the ice each year and repairing the building. We curled from 1949 until closure of the rink and of course before that Bill and his folks had curled for years. Bill loved curling and had a family rink for many years and enjoyed taking in bonspiels with his friends. We had so many wonderful neighbors and everyone helped each other. Bill and Joan were truly grateful for them .Bill was a great Bronco fan and held season tickets for a long time and had our names put on a seat. He was also an ardent Roughrider fan. We attended the game at Expo in 1986 and took part in the half-time show! We also enjoyed two trips to Hawaii in 1988 and in 1990 for our 40th Anniversary. We took a Western Caribbean cruise on the Sun Princess during their national “Love Boat” cruise in 1996 and renewed our marriage vows with Gavin McLeod and Dr. Ruth. On the way home we visited Disneyland. Bill was predeceased by William (1978) & Ellen (1965) Spencer, sister Gladys Johnson (2001) and nephew Theodore Johnson (2008). Cousins Edith Webster (2007) & Gwen Brindley (2003) in England. Bill is survived by loving wife Joan, Daughters Suzanne Giroux (Roland); Sandra Dwornik (Wayne); Sons John (Kellie), Joseph (Janice) and Jim. Grand children-Shane Giroux & Chantelle Vandenberg; Spencer & Brittany Dwornik; Will & Katie Spencer; Nicole Baker; Diana Clark. Great Grandchildren-Cayden Clark; Efrayim Baker; Jayden Vandenberg. Special Cousins Tessa Chalmers in Ont. and Norma Drake in England. Special thanks to Brittany Dwornik who was her Gramps “SPECIAL” nurse, staying at his bedside for five weeks. We truly appreciated all your love and care. “Rest in peace My Love. I’ll be seeing you.” At Bill’s request no public funeral will be held. A private family Memorial Service and Celebration of Bill’s life will be held on his birthday, March 27, 2009. Memorial donations to Success Community Hall or the Kidney Foundation will be gratefully accepted by the family.