Obituary of Ernest Ray West

Ernest West—son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, loyal friend, committed neighbour, and generous citizen—left us suddenly on Sept 23, 2021. We’re sure even he was surprised.

In leaving, Ernie left behind a lifetime of love and memories—88 years of them, in fact. And he left behind a veritable army of heirs to keep that love alive and to hold those memories dear. He may be gone; but, across Canada (and even into the US), he’ll always be close.

Ernie was born the second child of Martha (nee Tilt) and Clifford West on October 8, 1933 in the Francis region of Saskatchewan. There he grew up and there he played. In his young adulthood, he found and quickly married Elinore (née Bungener), an avid reader and a thrower of knives. Ernie was unwaveringly dedicated to loving and caring for Elinore. When Elinore passed in 2014, she and Ernie had already celebrated their 61^st anniversary. During their many years together, the couple worked diligently to fill a house in Regina (on Montague Street) with a wonderfully diverse collection of unique children. All seven survive Ernie: Diane (Bill), Linda (Steve), Nori (Darrell), Dan (Cathy), Angie (Kermit), Jim (Grace), and Shannon (Brian). In near Biblical fashion, this number went on busily to multiply its own. 18 grandchildren issued forth. Those 18 spread out across the prairies (and beyond) and managed to produce 34 more. In ways both big and small, Ernie has defined the lives of all 59. And he will continue to shape the lives of those yet to arrive. Ernie’s spirit remains alive, too, in his brothers Harold (Irene), David (Rosa), and Norman (Barb); his sister-in-law Mary; his numerous nieces and nephews; and his numerous friends, relatives, and loved companions (Stella, Mel, Lorna, and many more, too numerous to name). And yet, since this same spirit “no longer feels the touch of earthly years,” it is also now returned to those who left before him: Elinore, his Grandson Tyler, his sister Dorothy, and his brother Charlie.

In life, Ernie supported his home and his ever-growing flock by working in Regina’s construction industry. With few resources besides relentless grit, Ernie moved from apprentice to carpenter to superintendent. Well… maybe not just grit. We should add “Daredevil” to his life’s record as well. The story remains shrouded in myth, of course: but legend has it that, on some long-gone summer day, an attentive person might have chanced to see Ernie hanging from a harness outside the top floor of Regina’s SaskPower building—hanging and hoping, the story goes, that Elinore (who was out shopping that same day) did not think to look up. This once hanging and once hoping man had a part in the building of  several iconic buildings that now define Regina’s skyline: the Roberts 20 story high rise, the SaskPower building, the Eaton Dominion Mall, the Regina Inn, the Westfield Twins, the Rainbow Towers, and so on. Every once in a while, take a moment to look up; you’ll see Ernie.

Even Ernie’s life work was a family affair. He worked alongside and mentored sons and sons-in-law. Admittedly, he may have regretted doing the latter: as Darrell and Bill once securely fastened his toolbox to the ground. This was not the only nefarious activity Ernie found himself enduring. That he never fired either is a testament to his patience—and his commitment to family, friends, and colleagues.

Apart from his wife, his family, and his work, Ernie’s other major commitments included the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, pool games with close friends, dances with dear companions, endless rounds of Cribbage and Skipbo, Johnny Cash and Daniel O’Donnell, Louis L'Amour, and Crown Royal whiskey. Admittedly, his loyalty to the latter began to waver in his later years (and he found himself caught in the seductive orbit of Forty Creek); but, to all the others, he remained as true as the North Star. And so his final years were spent in good company and slow, peaceful pleasures. Without doubt, when the Man finally came around, Ernie heard “the trumpets” and he heard “the pipers” and “one hundred million angels singin' / multitudes… marchin' to the big kettledrum.”

Still, we will miss him. But we will remember him. And his love will remain.

A Private Graveside Service will take place at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery.