Garfield “Garf” Stevenson of Whitewood, Saskatchewan, beloved husband of Christina Stevenson, passed away Sunday, November 15, 2015, at the age of 88 years.
William Garfield Stevenson was born at Whitewood, SK on May 15, 1927 to Norman and Winnifred Stevenson. After attending Armentieres school, he farmed with his parents. On May 20, 1950 Garf married the love of his life, Christina McKay, and they resided, farmed, and raised their family on the original homestead. Garf was an active worker in his community serving on the boards of the Whitewood Co-operative, Saskatchewan Farmers Union local, Wheat Pool committee, Whitewood Rural Telephone Company, Chamber of Commerce, and the Evangelical Church.
In 1959, Garf was elected as a Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Delegate followed by a Director in 1968 and executive member in 1971. In 1981, Garf and Chris moved to Regina, SK where Garf served as Vice President from 1981-1987 and President from 1987-1993. During his term of office, there was substantial restructuring in the Pool’s elevator system and important moves in the direction of value- added secondary processing of agricultural products.
Garf represented the interests of western farmers travelling across Saskatchewan and as far away as Southeast Asia, Russia, South America and Europe. He was also one of the original commissioners who organized the Saskatchewan Hog Marketing Commission from 1972-1976 and was a member of the Saskatchewan University Commission from 1977-1981. Due to his efforts, Garf was inducted in the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame on August 3, 2003.
Following retirement from the Pool in 1993, Garf was deeply involved in medical care administration as Chairman of the Board for the Regina Health District (1994-2002) and hospital fundraising as a Board Member for the Hospitals of Regina Foundation (2003-2008). He also was involved in the Saskatchewan Financial Management Review Commission (1992), the Provincial Action Committee on the Economy (1992-1994) and Chairman of the International Conference on Economic Development and Cooperation into the 21st Century (1995). In addition, Garf served as a Director for SaskTel (1994-2000), Chairman of the Board for the Saskatchewan Agri-Food Council (2001-2008) and the Saskatchewan Milk Control Board (2003-2008). Garf enjoyed working hard and had been quoted saying: “If the door opens, you step through it”. On December 8, 2005, Garf was honoured to receive a Saskatchewan Centennial Medal acknowledging his significant contributions and achievements to Saskatchewan society.
Two of the most important things to Garf though were his faith and family. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the joy of his life and could not bring a bigger smile onto his face. His grandchildren got to spend week long summer visits and participate in many Prairie Pool trips with Garf and Chris.
Garf not only supported his local churches in Regina and Whitewood, but he also served on the District Executive Board for the Evangelical Missionary Church office out of Calgary, AB (2001- 2004). He was a strong supporter of the Echo Lake Bible Camp and sat on the board (1994-2008). There were countless trips out to the camp near Fort Qu’Appelle to do maintenance and upkeep tasks.
Garf had many interests. He enjoyed golfing, curling, and watching hockey, baseball and football. He was an avid fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and held season tickets with family for many years. Following Garf and Chris’ move back to Whitewood in 2012, it was rare for him to miss one of his great grandchildren’s hockey games! He also enjoyed taking Chris out for drives around the countryside, gardening, going out for coffee and visiting with many friends and family. He was an inventor at heart and devised many different gadgets as well as helping with various construction projects.
Garf will be remembered for his leadership, integrity, knowledge on many different subjects, vitality, sense of humour and strong faith. He will be greatly missed.
Leaving to cherish his memory is Christina, his loving wife of 65 years, and family: son Brian and Gloria and family April and Graham (Ava and Ethan), Krista and Braden (Jakob, Kane and Reed), Jonathan and Jill (Damon and Kamy); son Ron and Rita and family Raymond and Irene (Harley-Rey and Auna-Lee), Kerri and Derek; son Allan and Eola and family Jenelle and Doug (Nixon), Emily and Scott; son-in-law Don and Shirley and family Ralph and Laverne (Samantha and Devon), Lewis and Tarra (Jesse and Santana).
Garf was predeceased by his daughter Anne Rathgeber, parents Norman and Winnifred Stevenson, parents-in-law Irvine and Chrissie McKay, sister Kay Bobrowski, sister-in-law Isla Christensen, and brothers-in-law Herb Bobrowski, Harry Christensen and Clifford Fredlund.
Until we meet again.
If so desired, memorial donations may be directed to the Whitewood Evangelical Missionary Church Capital Fund to further Garf’s support of the roof repair project.
Garfield’s funeral service was held Saturday, November 21, 2015 at Whitewood Evangelical Missionary Church. Interment took place at the Whitewood Town Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to Matthews Funeral Home, Whitewood.
