Obituary of Westley (Wes) Beaumont

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of our Dad, Westley Gilbert Beaumont. He was quiet by nature, a listener, he loved to laugh and never said a bad word about anyone - all qualities that drew people to him. 

Dad was born January 14, 1928 at his Grandma and Grandpa Libke’s farm, south of Dundurn near Indi. He was the first born to Elsie and Norman Beaumont and he grew up on their family farm northeast of Hanley with his sisters Eileen and Gloria and brother, Allen. 

He grew up in the era of buggy and sleigh, travelling across the prairie to visit family and friends, attend dances, picnics and sports days and he used his horse and buggy to get to Gilead School. 

Dad started helping Grandpa while still in school using horses to work the land, stooking and pitching bundles at harvest time and of course the never-ending job of picking stone by hand. At the end of Grade 10 more help was needed, so he gave up his schooling and started farming with Grandpa. They continued to farm together until Grandpa retired but as we all know he was never far away. 

In the early years Dad branched out into carpentry, working on grain elevators and schools and one summer he worked for his uncle, Gordon Wunsch, clearing trees and brush with a Caterpillar at Rose Valley. 

We are not exactly sure how Dad met Mom but we assume there was dancing involved as everyone went to the Opera House every Saturday night where Lester’s Orchestra would be playing.  

Dad married Fern, daughter of Ted and Leita Hage on July 25th 1954 in the Hanley United Church. After Honeymooning in the Rockies they returned to start their life together on the family farm. Grandpa and Grandma relocated from the farm to Hanley and Mom and Dad followed in their footsteps to eventually move into their house in town after the farm was sold in 2004.  

With 3 daughters, Dad was faced with the reality of waiting for women all his life. He made many friends over the years sitting on the benches by the stairs to the parkade at Midtown Plaza. 

Community was of utmost importance to Dad and he was always ready to lend a helping hand. Whatever was going on he wanted to be there. He would always volunteer to set-up and clean-up and build or contribute in whatever way was needed. After moving to town he seldom missed meeting his friends for coffee and took on the role of making the first coffee of the day at the Hanley Senior’s Centre, even on Christmas morning, just in case someone stopped by. 

Dad’s strong work ethic came from Grandpa and Grandma who cleared the land and he passed that along to us, leading by example. He worked hard but took the time to do the things he loved. 

He was a crack shot, he loved playing ball, curling, skiing, horseshoes, cards, and pool and when he retired, played a lot of golf. He would try almost anything and was good at everything he did, he was strong and a natural athlete. He often spoke of a Glow Golf Game that he played with all the young guys and was pretty proud of the fact that it was sometimes his ball that they would use as longest drive. 

Roadtrips to visit with family were a big part of Dad’s life but many gatherings were held at the farm. With a mixed farm it was never easy to get away but Dad would allow himself a week or so every summer to take us all to join family at Loon Lake and when they retired they enjoyed holidays with brothers and sisters and bus trips north and south. 

Mom and Dad loved to dance and rarely missed an opportunity. They made many lifetime friends through Square Dancing and were members of the Wilkinson Whirlers for 20 years. I was recently told that when asked why he never took up an instrument he said that he would rather be dancing. 

Dad hated the thought of leaving Hanley, but when the time came, he graciously helped Mom adjust to their new life at Riverside Terrace and he considered himself very fortunate to be accepted into a community of such wonderful accomplished people. 

Dad stayed active until very recently and then passed quickly and peacefully. We like to think he and Mom are dancing once again. 

Dad was predeceased by his wife of 68 years Fern (Hage), his parents Norman and Elsie Beaumont, Ted and Leita Hage, his sister, Eileen Lehne, brother-in-law Vic Lehne, brother-in-law Gord Armstrong and sister-in-law Teddie Hardy. 

Left with their memories of Wes, are, his daughter Linda Granat (Mike) and their children Jesse (Ashley), Matthew (Rocelle and Mia), Caleb (Madeline and James and Audrey), daughter Leslie Gramson (Jock Garrow) and her son Lawrence (Janelle), daughter Laurel Beaumont (Bob Porat) and her son Duncan Ives,  sister Gloria Armstrong, brother Allen Beaumont (Eleanor), sister-in-law Marilyn Dobie, his many nieces, nephews and cousins, his community of friends in Hanley and at Riverside Terrace and his special friend Lorraine Kenaschuk. 

Dad was a true gentleman who touched many lives and will be missed by everyone who knew him. 

We welcome everyone to join us for a Graveside Memorial to Celebrate Dad’s life at Hanley Cemetery at 1:30 pm on Saturday June 10th. 

A family gathering will follow at the Hanley Senior’s Centre. 

The family requests that any Memorial Donations be made to The Hanley Senior’s Centre.