WILLIAM EDWARD HOPE (Bill) July 12, 1921 - April 21, 2012 Bill passed away peacefully at North Battleford on a warm sunny spring morning with his loving wife, Jessie, at his side and the robins singing in the trees. His family is grateful that Bill lived a full and rewarding 90 years in the Province and Country that he loved and to which he felt privileged to have made a contribution. He had a deep and profound influence on all those he touched. He left things better than he found them, including countless friends along the way. He had an engaging personality and sense of humour. He always enjoyed being with people and social occasions. It was Bill's strongly held convictions and principles which defined his life and for which he was most respected. He 'walked the walk', and never wavered. He often said that one's "principles are expensive", and whatever the toll, he paid it with complete consistency. Bill was born on the farm just west of Saskatoon, to Edward and Sarah, who had left their troubled homeland in Northern Ireland for a better life in Saskatchewan. His close-knit rural community experience, growing up during the 'dirty thirties' and the struggles his family and neighbours endured together, would shape his outlook and future. He never strayed far from his roots and the many lessons he learned sharing and helping one another through difficult times. He would forever champion 'the little guy' and his causes. The World of his childhood, where farm life was as much a passion for working horses as the land itself, would soon change forever. At the age of 20, with freedom in Europe and Asia at risk, Bill joined up and spent the next 4 1/2 years in the RCAF. With some 'creative upgrading' to his rural education at Boyleston School, he progressed to Flight Engineer and Air Gunner on an eight- man Canso Bomber crew conducting Anti-submarine patrols over the Pacific from the Queen Charlotte Islands, earning his over-seas- service medal and honourable discharge in 1945. At the time the war ended, he had been granted his full Commission as Flying Officer and was enroute for training on a four-engine bomber crew destined for action in the Far-East Pacific theatre. This was a position for which he had volunteered, knowing that life-expectancy as an Air Gunner would be measured in days. He was rightfully proud of his service and remained a life-long member of the Legion. After the war, Bill returned to various jobs, electrician and welder among them, and then took up farming, his first and life-long passion, at Smoky Burn, near Carrot River. Bill became a founding member of the River Bend Co-op Farm. He and his WWII veteran-colleagues became true 'pioneers', experiencing many of the tough times and hardships their parents had endured a generation earlier. He retained his farm land until sold in 2002. He did not accept the highest bid, but chose to sell to the sons of another original co-op farm member. During the winters, Bill attended the U of S School of Agriculture, graduating in 1951. By the mid-50s, the Co-op Farm had disbanded. Bill rented out his land and moved to Saskatoon, where he began a family. He first worked as a Research Assistant at the U of S with the Center for Community Studies and later became Registrar of the Western Co-op College and then a Farmers' Advocate with the Farmers' Union. In 1973, Bill moved to North Battleford where he became Counsellor responsible for the NW Region with Saskatchewan Land Bank, where he retired in 1982. His post-War career was solely dedicated to his personal principles, co-operative social values and agriculture, all in the province he loved. For his entire 90 years, he was on the leading-edge of progressive issues and social justice, always on the side of those with social or economic disadvantage. Bill was predeceased by his parents, Edward Alexander Hope (1963) and Sarah Hegarty Stewart (1986), one sister, Ida (1957) and two brothers, Sydney (2000) and Brian (1995), brother-in-law, Jack McCoy (2000) and daughter-in-law, Tish (1996, Kerry's first wife). He is survived by his devoted wife of 35 years, Jessie (Harder) Hope, one sister, Jean McCoy, brother-in-law, Frank Gow, sisters-in-law, Audrey Reed Hope, Jackie Hope, and two sons: Kevin (Fay) of Saskatoon, grandsons, Ryan(Bronwen and great-grandchildren, Sadie and Kendal), Trent, Mark, Kyle and Neil and Kerry (Danielle) of Cold Lake, Alberta, grandchildren Emily, Jill, and Adam and step- grandchildren Aaron-Joe and Sharayah. Bill considered himself a "Jack of all trades, master of none". Those that knew him respected him as a "master of many skills". Whatever he did, he did it with unbridled enthusiasm and tenacity. He never shrank from a challenge no matter the odds, especially where his principles were involved. He was a much bigger man than his slight physical appearance would suggest. In addition to his social convictions, Bill's interests were many and varied. He loved spending time with Jessie at their place at Turtle Lake. He was an avid gardener, reader, and outdoorsman. He and Jessie traveled to numerous destinations all across North America, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Britain, and Europe. Bill and Jessie were active socially and were involved in dance and sporting activities as well as their frequent attendance at the Co-op for 'coffee row'. There is nothing he liked better than visiting and talking with others about current affairs, politics, the weather and farming. They were active in numerous charitable and social causes in their community and beyond. Those wishing to do so may make a donation in Bill's name to the charity of their choice. Bill's favourites were the Stephen Lewis Foundation, 260 Spadina Ave, #501, Toronto, Ont, M5T 2E4 ( ) and Amnesty International, 312 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa, Ont, K1N 1H9 ( ) A memorial service was held April 30, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #70 with Joyce Salie third Avenue United Church officiating. Arrangements in care of Martens Warman Funeral Home ph 934-4888 ____________________________________________________
