ELMER GEORGE DOVE

    After a short, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, it deeply saddens the family to announce the passing of Elmer George Dove on January 5th, 2021 at home on the family farm, at the age of 70. 

    Lovingly remembered by his wife of 49 years, Lillian and their children: Curtis (Michelle), Darren (Bree), Crystal and granddaughter Arkell.  Brothers: Donald Dove and Gary (Bonnie) Dove and their children: Ryan (Jess) and his children Tianna and Aiden, Brittany (Shelby) Shuya and their children Emberley, Deegan and Paxton, Dustin Dove, Raylene (Brock) Dove and their children Leif and Cullen.  Nieces and Nephews: Bonnie Morrice and her children Stevie and Reid, Rodney (Jodi) Mirosovsky and their children Carter, Skylar and Jada, Pavla (Glen) Friesen and their children Courtney (Darian) Jones and Cole.

    Predeceased by his parents Stanley and Mamie Dove, his Uncles Ben and John Dove, in-laws Steve and Rosie Maybook, sister in-law Mary Mirosovsky and her son Jeff and son-in law Mike Morrice

    On September 17, 1950, Elmer was born into a traditional family farm where not only his parents but his grandparents and two uncles lived in the same yard. There was a big red hip roof barn filled with cattle, horses, chickens, dogs and cats, a yard full of equipment from hay racks drawn by horses to open air combines and tractors. Best of all, two younger brothers that came to follow him.

    As a young man, Elmer experienced each day to the fullest in an era where it was fun: to pick stones in the fields from the bucket of a tractor with his uncles and brothers, to swing from the hay loft rigging all the way to the ground, to meet up with neighbors and friends for picnics at Red Berry Lake, to go fishing and duck hunting with his grandfathers, to catch frogs with his cousins and to belong to the 4-H Youth club, raising an animal to show at competitions. Not to mention being able to run up the hill to his uncles to watch “The Ed Sullivan Show” or have a quick game of pool.  

    Elmer enjoyed and participated in all sports from Track and Field (in both elementary schools, Keatley and Speers) to basketball, volleyball, badminton and football at Hafford High School.  There was no better fun for a teenage farm boy than belonging to a ball team in the summer and a hockey team in the winter.  Every winter Elmer cleared a rink on the dugout for all the neighbors to use.

    Being the oldest wasn’t all fun, there were plenty of chores and responsibilities.  Elmer also took on jobs from the neighbors such as seeding and building houses, to be able to buy his Grandpa’s green 1952 Dodge car.

    In 1968 he was accepted into the College of Commerce at the University of Saskatchewan. He claimed he saw the woman he was going to marry coming out of the Arts and Science Building long before he met her.  By mid January of ‘69, that woman was wearing his “going steady ring”.  Since then, Elmer and Lillian have never left each others side, together for 52 years.   There were lots of letters exchanged and lots of miles made during the summer months when Elmer worked all over the province with Evan’s Paving crew.  They were married on August 21st of ’71 and finished their education as a married couple.  In 1972 they both graduated.  Elmer received his Bachelor of Commerce Degree and recognition for his Academic Achievement for being on the Dean’s Honor List in 1969-70.

    Elmer began his accounting career in Regina articling with a national firm of Clarkson, Gordon & Co.  In 1975 he passed his exams and convocated, designating him a Chartered Accountant.  The years in Regina included buying their first house, getting his pilot’s licence and buying a Cessna 177 Cardinal aircraft. He continued to play hockey, started golfing, curling and began his passion for sledding.  All it took was a sunny weekend and two TNT 440 Skidoos were loaded up and both Elmer and Lillian were heading for Speers.

    1978 was the turning point in Elmer’s career.  Being the youngest manager to qualify for a partnership in the firm, he was given a choice of being transferred to the Toronto or Edmonton office for more experience.   His father-in-law, at the age of 70, also offered Elmer the opportunity to take over the family farm near Biggar.  His love and respect for the land made the decision easy and it was a perfect place to raise a family.

    In Apri, he left his wife behind to finish her teaching year in Regina and joined his in-laws to seed his first crop. At the end of June, with a couple of grain trucks and his parents’ help, Lillian was moved home and back together with Elmer. By November, the bins were full, winter employment was found at the firm of Howard and Swanson & Co. in North Battleford and his first son was born. For the next 42 years he had the best of two worlds:

    The world of farming was Elmer’s passion.  He was not afraid of hard work or long hours.  The very first goal was to break 3 quarters of grassland. He was a progressive farmer, constantly reading, planning, building and focused on making the farm economically viable at all times. Debt-to-equity ratio had to be calculated before any major expansion or purchase was made.

    The world of accounting was his joy.  In 1986, he started his own practice in Biggar.  When Lillian joined him in 1990, it was like a winter vacation to him.  The minute the snow fell, his focus turned to his clients’ accounting needs.  It was not just a place for accounting, there was also plenty of farm talk and sharing of good as well as disastrous experiences.  His non-judgemental nature soon gained him respect, trust and many lifelong friends.

    In 2014 he stepped up to the challenge of being the Reeve for the R.M. of Glenside.  His skills in leadership, problem solving, listening, and peace keeping were just the qualities needed for the job.

    Elmer was a proud father who nurtured his three children. The concept of family was deeply rooted in work, play and travel. Family meant togetherness.  We all remember playing “dark halls”, building with Legos, digging snow forts, weekly skiing lessons at Table Mt., numerous camping trips with family and friends, a trip to Hawaii and going to the city for McDonalds and a movie.  Even with his grown children, there were still yearly family trips to the Rockies for skiing, sledding and quadding.  When all three children chose to follow his footsteps, many of Elmer’s farming visions were made possible.  Elmer passed away a very content man and a very proud father.  

    Elmer will be sadly missed by all.  A celebration of Elmer’s life will be announced at a later date, taking place at the Dove farm with interment at Lizard Lake Cemetery.

    The family thanks everyone for sharing in their sorrow and everyone’s thoughtfulness is near and dear to our hearts and will always be remembered.

Tributes in Elmer’s honour can be made to the Biggar Revitalization Project, Box 489, Biggar, SK S0K 0M0

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