Obituary of Ronald Thomas O'Byrne

NOVEMBER 1, 1932 – June 7, 2015 Ron went home to God on a sunny Sunday morning, with family at his side. He is predeceased by his parents, Leonard and Grace; brothers, Howard, Ernest and Urban; and sisters, Mary and Agnes. He is survived by sisters Irene (Fred), Margaret, and Elaine, his children and grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Ron was born in Rouleau, Sk, and raised on the family farm near Wilcox. He attended Notre Dame College in Wilcox; Campion College and Balfour Tech in Regina; and University of Saskatchewan. He worked for the Dominion Bank and Shell Oil, before joining the RCAF in 1953. While working for Shell Oil, he met Fern Kriekle; they were married in 1954, and their first home was Barrie, Ontario, as Ron was stationed at Camp Bordon. In 1956, Ron left the Air Force and worked part-time for Fern’s dad while taking university classes. In 1960, Ron began a 28-year career with the Government of Saskatchewan: Department of Agriculture, Machinery Testing; University of Saskatchewan Agricultural Engineering Research; Public Works, and retired in 1987 from Saskatchewan Parks. Not able to sit still for long, Ron joined the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires in February of 1990, and served 18 years with security at the Co-op refinery/upgrader complex. Ron was a life-long Roughrider and Maple Leafs fan. He also loved being in the country; he and Fern moved to farms in the Silton area twice, the first time raising cattle that he fed so much they could hardly walk.