David Robert RIDSDALE

David Robert Ridsdale The family of David Robert Ridsdale are saddened to announce his passing on Thursday November 5, 2009 at RUH. Born May 25, 1925, George & Alice Ridsdale raised their youngest son on the family farm near Asquith. It was there that he developed his passion for horses and love of the land. At eighteen he joined the military and was assigned to the Reconnaissance Corp. After the war, he returned to Asquith where he met his lifelong love, Edith Gunnlaugson, whom he married in June of 1948. Six months later he and his brother Fred started the Ridsdale Bros. Transport Company; one of the early trucking companies in the province. In those days, trucking demanded a man with a strong back and an equally strong will, which Dave had in plenty. As the communities they serviced recognized their hard work, the business grew. Dave enjoyed his work, making lifelong friends of customers and employees along the way and when Fred left the business Dave continued on. He had a fierce loyalty to his long-term employees, which made his work the true definition of a family business. He was an active advocate for the industry, acting as the president of the Saskatchewan Trucking Association in 1980-1981 and earning a Lifetime Achievement Award. As the business grew, so did Dave and Edith's family. He worked long hours during the week in order to have weekends filled with fun and laughter with his children. In the early years, Dave and Edith took time to camp and picnic and would later build their cabin at Lower Fishing Lake where Dave could be found almost every weekend in the summer driving the boat for waterskiers or fueling snowmobiles in winter. On his 70th birthday Dave took his last turn on the water-skis. At home in the winter, he always had time to maintain his backyard rink, coach hockey, Dave's door was always open and anyone who came was warmly welcomed. Dave retired in 1989 to his acreage where he was able to return to the farm life. While he was continuously busy improving the acreage, he always had time for a cup of coffee with a visitor. Their home was, as always, a hub of activity and the center of many family gatherings. During those years Dave and Edith enjoyed traveling all over North America together. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's Disease limited his ability to remain on the farm and enjoy the life he loved. Dave inspired those who knew him with the strength with which he fought to continue be the man we loved. Dave spent the last eleven months of his life at the Luther Care Home where he continued to struggle with the disease. It is in honor of this struggle that the family would ask that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer Society Of SK (1405 Faulkner Crescent, Saskatoon, SK S7L 3R5) or Luther Care Home, Temperance Munroe Wing Recreation Fund (1212 Osler Street, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0T9. Dave's memory will lovingly honored by his wife of 62 years, Edith Ridsdale, Sister Olive Lybeck, son Wayne (Brenda) and grandson Benjamin (Tamra) and great-grandchildren Caitlin, Carly and Issac; granddaughter Sarah (Craig); daughter Dianne (Don) and grandson Adam (Rebecca) and greatgrandchildren Grace, Emmett, and Alex; grandson Noah; son Gary (Marnie) and grandchildren Nicolette and Andrew; daughter Valerie; son Greg and grandchildren Reanne, Rebecca and Rosalyn; son Robert and grandchildren Brandi (Michael) and great grandchildren Alexis and Robert; granddaughter Taryn (Curtis)and great grand-child Ethan and granddaughter Jennifer. He is predeceased by his parents George & Alice Ridsdale, brothers Harold & Fred, sister Anne and grandson Christopher Ridsdale. We will gather to celebrate Dave's life on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. at Hillcrest Funeral Home (east on 8th Street, turn right before railway crossing). A private family interment will take place on Thursday at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Saskatoon, SK. Family and friends may send email condolences to www.hillcrestmemorial.ca . Arrangements in care of Kenneth Scheirich, HILLCREST FUNERAL HOME 477-4400. Published in the Regina Leader-Post from 11/7/2009 - 11/9/2009