Franklyn Strain

Strain, Franklyn Arthur and his twin sister were born December 11, 1927 near Bellville, Ontario to John and Dorothy Strain.  Franklyn passed away peacefully with family by his side on February 8, 2022 at The Meadows, Swift Current, Saskatchewan at the age of 94.  John and Dorothy moved their family to a farm near Lawson, Saskatchewan in 1929.  Franklyn grew up on this family farm.  He received his Grade 10 education at Vermillion, Lawson, and Butte View schools.  He worked for his father on the poultry farm, which was well known in the Lawson area.  In his youth, Franklyn enjoyed neighborhood ball games, curling and dances at Liberty Hall.  He enjoyed baseball games at Jack Paton's farm and that is where he met his future wife.  On June 26, 1954, Franklyn was united in marriage with Frances Gibson of Rocanville, Saskatchewan.  There were six lively children born to this union.  The family lived at Lawson and other places in Saskatchewan where Franklyn worked as a farmer and farm labourer on many farms.  Later Franklyn took some elevator management training under Wilf Hooper and in 1965, the family moved to Success where he took a job as a head grain buyer, until 1970, for McCabe Grain Company which later became United Grain Growers and also during this time, he was the Shell Bulk Agent.  Later, he drove the Success High School North Bus route to Swift Current for 23 years and built rafters for Beaver Lumber, Swift Current for 16 years between his morning and afternoon bus route.  Franklyn and Frances then spent 16 years janitoring Success School which led them to retirement in 1997.  They then moved to Swift Current and lived at the Prairie Pioneer Lodge house units.  He loved gardening but especially loved his plants and flowers.  In 2020, Franklyn moved to The Meadows where he resided until his passing.  He loved having his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren stop in for a visit especially after mom's passing.  He loved to do Find a Word Puzzles and one of his favourite pass times was reading the Bible and his Upper Room books.  He also loved listening to his favorite music on TV, and/or CD's.  Franklyn was a member of the United Church in Lawson, Success, and Grace United Church in Swift Current.  He served on the Success School Board and church boards in Success/Swift Current and was a member of the choir.  He was also a Sunday School teacher in Success.  He was a member of the Swift Current Masonic Lodge and the Order of the Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Patron many times.  Franklyn was also a member of Lawson Grain Club and Lawson Wheat Pool Committee.  Dad encouraged all of us in our sports, especially curling, baseball and softball, whether it would be coaching us or being the umpire.  Dad took each of us on his team, to start us curling and he was so proud of all of our accomplishments.  He was a wonderful father, teaching us solid values and a strong work ethic.  Franklyn is predeceased by his wife Frances in 2018; his parents John and Dorothy Strain; twin sister Frances (2021); brother John (Peggy); Frances parents David and Emma Gibson; in-laws: Stan King, Gwen (Clifford) Nixon, Alex (Catherine) Pollock and Frances Pollock, Don (Mildred) Gibson, William Gibson (in infancy), Isabel Gibson.  Franklyn is survived by his daughter Diane (Eugene) Hunter; sons Keith (Cindy), Chris (Janet), Tom (Cindy), Ted (Lorraine) and daughter Shirley (Larry) Olson; as well as eleven grandchildren and their spouses, and 16 great grandchildren; brother-in-law Doug Gibson; and numerous nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.  The family would like to thank the staff at The Meadows, House 11, for the wonderful care that dad received while living there.  As per Franklyn's wish there will be a family graveside service at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation Inc., Please specify donations for:  The Meadows (House 11) for Therapeutic Robotic Animals, 2051 Saskatchewan Dr, Swift Current, Saskatchewan S9H 0X6.  Arrangements entrusted to Warren's Funeral Home. For further information please call 1-306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606, or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members on the tribute wall.

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