Donald Russell MINOGUE

Donald Russell Minogue, age 76, passed away suddenly on May 15, 2019 at Cypress Regional Hospital in Swift Current, SK.

Don was born at Eston, SK on April 29, 1943 to Russell and Elizabeth Minogue of Lacadena, SK, second eldest of four children. He attended Pleasant District School, a country school one mile east of the farm. Transportation was by foot, bicycle, horseback or horse-drawn cutter in the winter. During the winter, each family would take turns providing hot soup once a week for the ten students. Later he attended Lacadena School, which he found much different than the one-room schoolhouse. Going to Lacadena from the farm on Friday nights to meet the train was one of the highlights of the week for the family.

During his school years Don enjoyed being a 4H member with a special interest in the beef category. He took part in track & field events, softball, curling and hockey. From an early age he loved to hunt. The season began with goose hunting, then deer hunting, followed by joining friends to travel northward to look for bear and moose. Going fishing was his favorite sport. He looked forward to spring fly-in fishing excursions with friends and relatives after seeding was completed. He and his son Vaughn spent quality time together fishing locally or in Northern Saskatchewan.

The four Minogue siblings were involved with the local Tyner Band. Don’s eldest sister, Marlene, on the piano and Don on the alto saxophone, played in the Jack Rowley Orchestra. Many Saturday nights were spent playing for dances in the dance pavilion on the beach at Clearwater Lake or at the Plato Hall in Plato, SK.

Don & Diane were married on July 3, 1965 at Elrose, SK. At the time, Diane was teaching school at Lacadena so their first home was a teacherage in Lacadena which lacked the amenities of running water and central heat. Their son Vaughn was born in 1970 and daughter Kelley followed in 1973. Farming had always been Don’s passion and he was happy to settle the family at the farm. He became the third generation to live on the 1910 Edward Minogue homestead. The summer gathering place was their cabin at Clearwater Lake.

Flying an airplane became a reality after Don obtained his private pilot’s license and purchased his own airplane. In the evenings or on Sunday afternoons, he enjoyed viewing the countryside from a different perspective. He was an enthusiastic hockey dad. Many miles were travelled taking Vaughn to practices at Eston and to games hours away from there. That same enthusiasm remained with him as he became a strong supporter of the Swift Current Broncos Hockey when he moved to Swift Current. Curling was also a favorite sport. Every winter, Don would lace up his curling shoes and be off to many bonspiels and brier playdowns. He competed in the Saskatchewan Northern Men’s playdowns and the Mixed Provincial playdowns with Diane. Many good memories and lasting friendships were made.

Don & Diane semi-retired to Swift Current in 2010 where Don began to enjoy woodworking and working with a metal lathe. They had enjoyed several winters at Westwind RV Park in Yuma, AZ and later a log house on the waters of Georgia Strait near Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island. Memorable trips were made to Whitefish, MT for downhill skiing, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Alaska and the Yukon, Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico and New Orleans.

Don was predeceased by his parents Russell and Elizabeth Minogue and his parents-in-law Gordon and Anne Lehmkuhl.

Don will be dearly missed by his wife of 53 years Diane, his son Vaughn, daughter Kelley and children Anthony and Mariah; sister Marlene Jorgensen and family Sonya (Earl) Jeninga and children Taylor and Breanna, Stacy (Shannon) Jorgenson and son David, Rynae (Kelly) Fjeldberg and children Justine (Tyler) Bamford and Scarlett, Jackson, Brandon, Tyson and daughter Sydney, and Rachelle; sister Diane (Bill) Holmes and children Andrea, Tracy, Tyler and families; brother Cliff and children Melissa (Kyle) Buckland and Lilyana, and Bradley; and brother-in-law Harley (Darline) Lehmkuhl and family.

A Celebration of Don's life was held on Monday, May 27, 2019 at First United Church, 223 3rd Avenue NE, Swift Current, SK at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Annette Taylor officiating.

Donations in memory of Don may be made to the Swift Current Bronco's Hockey Club, Box 2345, 2001 Chaplin Street E, Swift Current, SK, S9H 4X6.