Obituary of Rodney Palmer

Rodney Talmage Palmer, long-time farmer of the Palmer district, passed away on Sunday, July 8, 2018, at the Foyer d'Youville, Gravelbourg, SK, at the age of 91. Rodney was born to Henry Ward Beecher and Georgina (nee Watson) Palmer on May 12, 1927, at the family farm by Palmer. He was the youngest of 5 children. Rodney loved working on the land and was only too happy to help with the harvesting by driving a horse team, rather than go to Flaxton school. In 1942, his father had a serious stroke and Rodney became a full time farmer. He farmed with horses until 1944, when Rodney bought his first tractor. He also raised chickens, pigs, and cattle. Rodney always had a large garden, and enjoyed delivering produce to his friends and neighbours. Rodney was excellent with numbers and found great enjoyment in doing his own book keeping for most of his faming career. He was meticulous in recording every detail. Rodney starting a working relationship with Alain Boire in 1978. Alain rented land from Rodney and they entered a crop share partnership. Alain introduced bigger equipment and different crops to the farms. Rodney added land to the partnership and Alain assumed a larger care taker role for Rodney. With Alain's help, Rodney was able to live at home for several more years before moving to the Foyer d'Youville. Rodney was proud to receive the Century Family Farm Award in 2009. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Rodney is predeceased by his parents Beecher and Georgina (nee Watson) Palmer; sisters Beryl (Irvin) Checkley; Sybil (Edward) Wright; brothers Lawson Palmer, Alex Palmer. He is survived by his nephews Don (Mary) Checkley, Michael (Louisa) Wright, David (Louise) Wright, Lorne (Evlyn) Wright; and many great nieces and great nephews. Funeral Service was held on Friday, July 13, 2018, 10:00 a.m., at Piche-Hawkins-Grondin Funeral Chapel, Gravelbourg, SK, with Reverend Janelle Shaw officiant. The eulogy was shared by Don Checkley. Readers were Mary Checkley and Michael Wright. Active pallbearers were Donald Boire, Gilles Boire, Dan McLaughlin, John Milder, and Marc LeBlanc. Interment took place at Geneva Cemetery, Palmer, SK. Memorial donations in memory of Rodney to the Foyer d'Youville Foundation, Box 810, Gravelbourg, SK S0H 1X0, were greatly appreciated.