DONALD CHARLES BEWELL

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DONALD CHARLES BEWELL

BA MEd

Don passed away peacefully, on December 17, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Diane (Philips); daughter, Krista Thomas (Bewell); and son-in-law, George Thomas.

A son of the mance, Don was born in Theodore Saskatchewan on April 29, 1933. He was pre-deceased by his sister Ruth E. Wilkins (Bewell); his brother Bud Mello Bewell; and his parents, Rev. E. C. Bewell, and Mrs. N. M. Bewell (Armitage).

Don spent his childhood in Balcarries, SK and his junior high and high school years in Gladstone, MB. He attended United College and the Manitoba Normal School.

During the summer holidays he and his brother Bud commercial fished on Lake Waskesiu where they made many lifelong friends.

After graduating from Normal School, Don went to Swan River as the teaching principal of Hayes School before moving to Clandeboy MB, again as teaching principal of the district high school.

Leaving Clandeboy he attended the University of Saskatchewan where he received his BA and BEd., and, after graduating in 1963, Don came to teach at Selkirk Collegiate. During his time there he became the English Language Arts Department Head and then the Lord Selkirk Division English Language Arts consultant. It was during this time that he met his wife, Diane and they married in 1965.

Don returned to the University of Saskatchewan in 1970 for his MEd. Then, following a year as a resource teacher in Lockport he and Diane were seconded to the Department of Education to operate a Mobile Reading Clinic which delivered clinical reading services to a number of school divisions in southwestern Manitoba. In 1975 he was named provincial senior high language arts curriculum consultant. A role he loved until his retirement in 1989.

Throughout his life Don enjoyed many sports. In high school he became an avid curler. When he had time he liked to golf, and in the fall, he enjoyed nothing more than going after geese and ducks with his lifelong friend Bob Bergson.

Both Don and Diane loved to travel. Being educators they had long summer holidays which they used to explore the world. They took several car trips around Canada, and the US. In Europe they first went by Eurail Pass and later rented a car. When their daughter Krista was old enough, she came along too. He enjoyed travelling for the rest of his life, and he, and Diane had fun on numerous cruises.

Don was a long-standing member of St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church.

Don enjoyed supporting the arts, and fine arts, and he held season tickets for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Manitoba Opera, Manitoba Theatre Centre, and Prairie Theatre Exchange. He enjoyed touring the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s seasonal exhibits, as well as The National Gallery London when he and Diane visited Krista and George in England.

Don volunteered his time as a driver with Meals on Wheels, alongside his wife, Diane, and was presented with several awards for his long service volunteering with the Winnipeg Music Festival.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at St. Andrews River Heights United Church, 255 Oak Street, Winnipeg.

The family wishes to thank Brian Spotter for the many times he stepped in to help when Don fell ill.

Thanks also go to Dr. M. Elkin of the Charleswood Medical Clinic, Dr. K. Bernstein of the MB Renal Program, and the medical team at the Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg.



In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, or St. Andrews River Heights United Church.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 21, 2024