Lloyd Dronsfield
1945 - 2014
聽聽 Lloyd Dronsfield, late of Bienfait, passed away at St. Joseph鈥檚
Hospital, Estevan, on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at the age of
69 years.
聽聽 Lloyd Garvey Dronsfield was born February 6, 1945 in Bienfait,
Sk to Herb and Ida Dronsfield.聽 The family lived at the eastern
mine south of Bienfait before moving to Estevan in the early
1950鈥檚 where Lloyd attended Valley View School. In his teens he
left school to work as a farm hand for a couple of years on the
Durr farm east of Estevan.聽 He then secured a job in the oilfield. 聽
聽聽 In 1968, Lloyd married his childhood sweetheart, Avis Jocelyn
and together had two daughters, Kim and Vicki.聽 The oilfield took
him to Alberta in the 1970鈥檚 and his family joined him in the sum-
mers.聽 When Kim started school Lloyd wanted to work closer to
home. He worked for Harris Oilfield Construction of Estevan for
many years before he started his own business, L A Oilfield Con-
struction Ltd., in March 1994.聽 Anyone who knew Lloyd knew he
had a strong work ethic. He worked hard and he expected the
same from those he worked with - just ask anyone who worked with him if they ever got a lunch
break !
聽聽 聽 When his business continued to grow, and more space was needed, he purchased some land
south of Bienfait.聽 This acreage also became a gathering place for family and friends where all en-
joyed many BBQ鈥檚, wiener roasts, birthday parties and family reunions.聽 His grandchildren loved to
come and spend time with him at the acreage where they liked to catch frogs from the dugout
even though grandpa always made them put them back.聽 They loved watching Lloyd start a fire,
with the help of a little gas.聽 They would help him burn boxes and they would play hide and seek
with grandpa helping out by giving away their hiding places.
聽聽 Lloyd had many ups and downs during his lifetime.
聽聽 In 1999 Lloyd suffered a brain aneurism which caused him to dissolve his business.聽 After this,
he worked at various jobs, mostly with Andy Bourassa and Alex Ewaski. He also enjoyed using his
bobcat, fondly nicknamed 鈥淏obby鈥�, for odd jobs around Bienfait in the summers and for snow re-
moval for a few local businesses and residents during the winter.聽 聽
聽聽 Lloyd developed a liking for travel when he took his first trip to Mexico with Avis, Steve and Vicki
in 2002. Since then he and Avis travelled to Vegas, Cuba, the Bahamas and the Dominican.聽 And
in 2013 he enjoyed his first cruise.
聽聽 聽 In 2008, doctors discovered bladder cancer.聽 Lloyd and Avis made several trips over the next 6
years to Saskatoon and Regina for treatments for various cancers. 聽 Lloyd remained positive dur-
ing all this time which was an example of his strength and an encouragement to his family and
friends.聽 He spent six weeks at the cancer lodge in Regina where he made many friends and en-
joyed his time there.聽 His natural humor and teasing nature made him popular with the staff, nurs-
es and patients.聽 This trait was evident to anyone who came in contact with him including his kids,
grandkids and anyone working with him in the kitchen after Sunday lunches at the church building. 聽
聽聽 2014 was a trying time for Lloyd.聽 When his health prevented his outings at the acreage, fondly
known as 鈥渢he ranch鈥�, he set up a retreat in his garage at home where he welcomed family and
friends any time of day.聽 If the outside lights were on it meant he was home. To make access to
the garage easier for him, neighbours, friends and family built a ramp during his 4 week stay in Re-
gina.聽 The gift and installation of the gas furnace also helped make this space more comfortable.聽
Family will be forever grateful for the thoughtfulness and love of all those who saw and met his
needs.
聽 聽 I鈥檓 sure most of us in this room have a Lloyd story that would make you smile. His sense of hu-
mor and his example of hard work and generosity have touched so many of us. He has left us with
so many memories.聽 聽
聽聽 Lloyd will be forever remembered by his wife of 46 years, Avis Dronsfield of Bienfait; daughters,
Kim Robinson (Ross Holstein) of Oxbow (grandchildren, Riley, Reece and Reegan Robinson) and
Vicki (Steven) Elford of Estevan (grandchildren, Mason, Devin and Jilena Elford); siblings, Bev
Lees (Ron Packard) of Medicine Hat, Ron Dronsfield (Dolly Harkins) of聽 Bienfait and Laverne (Da-
vid) Packard of Medicine Hat, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
聽聽 Lloyd鈥檚 family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to family and friends for your kindness dur-
ing Lloyd鈥檚 times of illness.聽
聽聽 A service to celebrate Lloyd鈥檚 life was held on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at
the Church of Christ, Estevan, with Tim Pippus officiating. Interment took place at the Bienfait Ce-
metery.
聽聽 Those wishing to make donations in Lloyd鈥檚 memory may do so directly to the Canadian Cancer
Society, 1910 McIntyre Street, Regina, Sask., S4P 2R3.
聽聽 Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Hall Funeral Services, Estevan.
Thank You
Our sincere thank you to everyone who expressed their sympathy through gifts of food, flowers,
cards, visits and phone calls.聽 Your hugs and words of comfort mean so much to us.A special
thank you to those who made Lloyd鈥檚 鈥淐elebration of Life鈥� one to remember.聽 Tim Pippus for offi-
ciating, Justin Mooney for leading the singing, Dennis Jocelyn for doing the eulogy, Mary Muirhead
for 鈥渕emories鈥�, Jeff Jopp and Calvin Efford for kind words and prayers, Trinda Jocelyn for doing
the order of service, the slide show and music, Crystal Quilliams for the music before and after the
service.聽 To Norma Erickson and everyone who helped with the lunch.聽 To everyone who contribut-
ed in any way. Lloyd was truly blessed to have so many wonderful people in his life.聽 Good friends
and family were there for him:聽 Brian and Carol Simon, Ron and Dolly, Clint Harkins, Dennis Joce-
lyn and many more.聽 Thank you.聽
Avis, Kim, Vicki and families
