Date of Birth: June 6, 1929
Date of Death: June 27, 2019
Robert “Buster” Bentley Dales was born June 6, 1929 to Robert and Christianna Dales. He passed away on Thursday, June 27, 2019, just weeks after he celebrated his 90th birthday.
Buster was born in the Colmer district and was the third youngest child of eight children. He attended school in the Colmer district and worked in various capacities while farming and obtaining his journeyman mechanic certificate. He started working with the CNR in Melville and moved to Melville Machine Service. He was also employed at Abel’s and Halyk’s Bus Lines, all the while using his mechanical talents to help out farmers and friends in the area with all kinds of machinery problems.
On Nov. 5, 1953, Buster married Doreen Francis Murfin. They had almost 64 wonderful years together until Doreen’s passing in 2017. Buster and Doreen were blessed with four children, Colin, Scott, Kevin and Lori.
When he retired, Buster and Doreen chose to be caretakers at Davison School and Parkland
Community College. He loved the children and they loved him. Throughout his career and into retirement, he continued to farm in the RM of McLeod. For many years, Buster was very involved
with the Melville Agri-Park Association. He also loved the local Melville Millionaires baseball team. He helped out at the diamonds whenever he could and was a loyal fan, watching the games until he was no longer able to attend. The Toronto Blue Jays was his favourite team, and he tried to watch all their televised games. Watching curling was his favourite winter sport.
Buster loved the northern part of our province and, as an avid hunter and fisherman, spent much time up there. He had a special love for his family, especially time he was able to spend with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his face lit up in smiles whenever the little ones were around.
Buster was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Christianna; his wife, Doreen; his brothers, Edwin and Lewis; his sisters, Celia Matthews and Doris Kraigsley; his sister-in-law, Esther Sawchin; and his brothers-in-law, Wes Matthews, Vic Kraigsley, Stewart Wurts, Hector Loveridge and Miles Standish. He was also predeceased by his mother and father-in-law, James and Lucy Murfin and his sister and brother-in-law, Winnie and Ernie Grimes.
He leaves to mourn his passing and miss him dearly, his children and their families: son, Colin (Sandie) Dales of McBride Lake, SK, and grandchildren, Robert (Nikki) and Attlee Dales of Regina, SK, Ryan Hill of Yorkton, SK, Sean (Stefanie) Hill of Regina, SK, and Brennan (Jackie) Hill of Calgary, AB; son, Scott (Cheryl) Dales of Melville, SK, and grandchildren, Kylan (Eili Tylandsvik) of Weyburn, SK, and Kristie (Todd) Walker of Souris, MB; son, Kevin (Enid) Dales of Portage La Prairie, MB, and grandchildren, Travis (Kristen) and Jayce and Huntley Dales of Boissevain, MB, Michael (Caitlin Bouvier) and Beau Dales of Boissevain, MB; daughter, Lori (Reg) Rivers of Melville, SK, and grandchild, Chantelle (Tyler) Armstrong and Brielle and Lennex of Melville, SK. Buster also leaves his sisters, Janet Loveridge of Melville, SK, Connie Standish of Kelvington, SK, and Florence (Gordon) Matthews of Yorkton, SK; sister-in-law, Joan Dales of Phoenix, AZ; brother-in-law, Jim Sawchin of Melville, SK; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A private graveside service was held Friday, July 5, 2019, at Pheasant Forks Cemetery in the Duff district with the Rev. Brian Mee presiding.
Arrangements were entrusted to Matthews Funeral Home, Melville.
