Obituary of Rankin Wilkins

Garth Rankin Wilkins of the Meadows nursing home in Swift Current and former long-time resident of Mankota, SK passed away on January 14, 2020 at the Cypress Regional Hospital Swift Current, SK, 4 days before what would have been his 99^th birthday.

Rankin was born on the Wilkins farm south of Mankota to parents Cyril and Bella (Rankin) Wilkins on January 18, 1921.  He took most of his schooling at Wideview School.  The four years succeeding this he helped his parents on the farm.

In December, 1942 Rankin joined the army and took basic training in Regina then trained as a tank driver at Camp Borden, Ontario.  He was sent overseas in February 1944.  His service took him to England, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany.  He transferred equipment from the beachhead in Normandy, France to the front line in Belgium.  He was then allocated to the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada to join the front line. On February 27, 1945 near the Rhine River in Germany, Rankin was wounded in action when struck by shrapnel.  He was sent to Lille, France for surgery and was still hospitalized when the war was declared over in May.  He chose to return home with the Regina Rifles and was sent to Holland until sailing home on the ‘Queen Elizabeth’ in December, arriving back in Regina on New Years Eve 1945.

After returning from Overseas, the next five years Rankin worked in road building construction in various parts of Saskatchewan and Alberta as well as Hay River, N.W.T.   In August, 1950 his father passed away suddenly so Rankin quit his job and went home to take the harvest off.  His mother passed away 6 months later and Rankin inherited the farm from his mother’s estate so he began farming in the spring of 1951.  He married Hazel Gillies of Mankota on June 21, 1951. To this union six children: Lynn, Marg, Sherry, Marilyn, Vern and Luanne were born. Life on the farm was busy but Rankin thoroughly enjoyed his vocation.  In the early years Rankin ran a small herd of cattle but by 1969 he was strictly a grain farmer.  In 1986 after 35 years of farming Rankin turned the reins over to his son.  He remained on the farm until 1988 when he purchased his house on 3^rd Street East in Mankota.  Retirement years were filled with helping out at the farm, gardening, manicuring his lawn and fixing in his shop.   Many leisure hours he spent listening to country music and reading.  His collection of records, tapes, CDs and non-fiction books was quite extensive. Being well read and able to retain this information, he enjoyed sharing what he learned with others.  In later years he most looked forward to visits from family and challenging them to games of rummy and marbles.

From 1976 - 2019, Rankin welcomed 21 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren into his family and his heart.  He was always eager to meet and hold the newest member of the family.

In September 2018, Rankin became a resident of the Meadows Long Term Care Home in Swift Current where he resided until his passing.

Rankin was predeceased by:

Wife -Hazel (Gillies) 1977

Parents- Cyril and Isabel (Bella Rankin) Wilkins

sister Margaret (Clarence) Gillies

grandson Rhett Benaschak

granddaughter Kanda Benaschak 

As well as all the Gillies in-laws 

He is survived by:

Children        Lynn (John) Penna

                        Marg (Richard) Benaschak

                        Sherry (Royce) Hamilton

                        Marilyn (Randy) Benaschak

                        Vern (Cindy) Wilkins

                        Luanne (Louis) Cherpin

Grandchildren      Travis (Jenny) Penna, TerraLee (Tyler) Hutchinson, Ty (Hali) Penna;

                                Trisha (Chris) Kreutzer, Dwight (Jill) Benaschak;

                                Kari Hamilton, Jana Hamilton (Stephen Feldman),

                                Arin Hamilton (Chris Kilcher), Ella (Scott) Klippenstein;

                                Bart (Chelsea) Benaschak, Clay (Breanne) Benaschak, Jill (Derek) Gibbs;

                                Amy Wilkins, Tiffany (Garth) Sherven, Kaci Wilkins (Cameron Nott),

                                Courtney Wilkins (Clay Hiltz);

                                Joey Cherpin (Gina Kozroski), Andrew Cherpin (Alexa Collier), Dusty Cherpin

Great Grandchildren                Nicholas Penna-Benson (Hailey Sills), Gracie and Ruby Penna; Hazel, Meerika and

                                                      Brettin Hutchinson; Madeleine Penna;

                                                     Koralyn Kreutzer (Harmeet Sidhu), Jessica Kreutzer,

                                                     Rhett and Jace Benaschak;

                                                     Gage and Van Nagel; Sadie, Ben and Sam Klippenstein,

                                                     Hayden Hamilton Kilcher; 

                                                     Claire and Charlotte Benaschak