Obituary of Donald Clinton Brand

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Brand – Donald Clinton

1927 - 2021

It is with great sadness that we wish to announce the passing of Donald Clinton Brand, 93 years of age on Dec.24, 2021.He passed away peacefully at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon where he had been hospitalized for two days. Don, as he was known to all, was born December 30,1927 to Ole and Astrid Brand in Borden Sk. Don grew up in Borden attending elementary school and graduating from high school there. Growing up he played baseball and hockey with baseball being his favorite.   He spent time helping his father around their farm equipment dealership as well as learning the fine points of carpentry from his father, who took on small building projects to help make ends meet in the 1930s. As he grew older and while still attending high school, Don would work for local farmers running farm equipment doing everything from summer fallow to running a combine at harvest, jobs he truly loved as he had a real love for farm equipment. Upon graduation, Don left home and took a job as an orderly at the mental hospital in North Battleford. It was a short lived job as he moved on to Lloydminster where he drove truck for B.A. Oil. From Lloydminster he was transferred to Kindersley where he took over the B.A. bulk plant as manager. In Kindersley Don met the love of his life and future wife, Margaret Unruh from Lucky Lake Sk. They were married in Saskatoon on October 5,1951. They continued to reside in Saskatoon where Don continued to work for B.A. Oil before accepting a position with the J.I. Case Co. and starting a lifelong career in the farm implement business. Don was transferred to the Regina branch in 1954.  Doug, the first of three sons, was born that year with Brian following in 1959 and Darrell in 1960. Don left the Case Co.in 1965,and joined a number of different farm equipment companies in the years that followed. These included John Deere, Morris Rod Weeder, Versatile and Friggstad. These different positions led to many relocations to places like Winnipeg, Yorkton, Rosetown, back to Yorkton, Stratford  Ontario, Lethbridge Alberta, back to Yorkton, back to Lethbridge and finally retiring to Saskatoon in 1992. In 2005, Don lost the love of his life, Margaret, to cancer after fifty four years of marriage. Don continued to live in Saskatoon till 2007 when he moved back to his hometown of Borden. There he joined the seniors club, the cemetery board and the Borden Museum Board. In 2013, after suffering a fall in his apartment that resulted in his loss of mobility, Don became a resident of Porteous Lodge in Saskatoon where he resided until his passing. Don’s last few years were not pleasant as he suffered from severe dementia. He was predeceased by his wife Margaret, his parents, one sister and four brothers as well as his father and mother-in-law and several brothers and sisters- in-law. He is survived by his brother Merv (Marlene) of Saskatoon, sisters- in-laws Sylvia Unruh of Winnipeg, Irma Moynham of Outlook, brothers-in-law Vic Unruh(Kaye) of West Kelowna B.C. and Rob Unruh(Janice) of Saskatoon, as well as many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sons Doug(Lynne) of Yorkton, Brian(Sally) of London Ontario, Darrell(Elena) of Lloydminster, as well as six grandchildren: Kelly of Red Deer, Geoff(Angie) of Yorkton, Shannon of Calgary, Scott(Paige) of London, and Rachel and Naomi of Lloydminster and four great grandchildren, Julia and Thomas Freriks, and Miles and Macy Brand. The family would like to thank all the caregivers at Porteous Lodge who looked after Dad during his stay there and also the nurses and doctors at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon who tended to him during his last days.A Celebration of his life will be at 1:00 pm, Saturday, July 9, 2022 at Saskatoon Funeral Home. Cards and flowers are gratefully declined.