- Brandon Sun Passages
- All Titles
Search:
Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
DONALD MCGILL
Peacefully, on Saturday, February 3rd, 2024, Donald McGill of Belmont passed away at the Baldur Transitional Unit at the age of 80. Donald was born on October 27, 1943, the second child of Herb and Florence McGill. He attended Huntly, Neelin and Belmont Schools. He played hardball throughout his younger years and he enjoyed telling many stories about these times, especially to his grandchildren who both played ball. As a young man, Donald would be called upon to help with a friend’s or neighbour’s chores if needed and could still recall the name of every chore team! Donald worked for two winters in Brandon before returning home to farm full time. He also drove a truck for a time, hauling cattle to the livestock yards in Winnipeg. He married Faye McCutchin on July 26, 1969 and they started married life in the big brick house on the Elmer McGill farm. During this time, two children, Cheryl and Kerry, were born. The family of four moved to the Morris Durham farm in 1975. Faye and Donald enjoyed attending many dances, bonspiels and ball tournaments during this time and celebrated many good times with friends and neighbours.
The family moved to the home farm in 1990 and remained there until 1999, when Faye’s health began to fail. Donald cared for Faye in their new home in Belcrest Manor until her passing. During his 20-plus years of now calling town home, he enjoyed helping with harvest and tending to the Manor garden. He shared the produce proudly with anyone who craved fresh vegetables. When his mobility became limited, he planted tomatoes and cucumbers out his door so he could enjoy them. He enjoyed visiting with everyone at morning coffee and looked forward to hearing the latest news. In May of 2023, Donald was hospitalized in Killarney and then transferred to Palliative Care in Baldur. He was able to regain some of his strength and enjoy his time in the Transitional Unit. The last months of his life were full of conversation and jokes with the staff who never let on they heard the same stories over and over! When asked how he was, his response would always be,”just what you see.” He enjoyed going down to the PCH for the entertainment and his toes and hands would tap along to the music. He was able to celebrate his 80th birthday in October and proudly showed off the many birthday certificates that kept arriving in the mail.
Donald was an old farmer through and through. He loved his family and was so proud of Brynne and Mitchell. He was a true keeper of the past. The worn pages of his many history books bulging with newspaper clippings and the boxes of pictures are a testament to his determination and desire to preserve and cherish the past. Although the twinkle in his bright blue eyes is gone, his love and legacy will live on through the stories he told and the love he shared.
Donald is survived by his daughter Cheryl Battersby and husband Brent of Brandon, grandchildren Brynne and Mitchell of Brandon, sister Helen Heaman and husband Keith of Carman, brother Keith McGill and wife Carol of Killarney, brother in law Dennis McCutchin and wife Marie of Brandon, and sister-in-law Barbara Raison of Winnipeg. Donald also leaves nieces and nephews, as well and many extended relatives and friends. Donald was predeceased by his parents Herbert and Florence McGill, parents-in-law Earl and Darlene McCutchin, brothers-in-law Rodie Raison and Marvin McCutchin and niece Tracy Heaman.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. in the Belmont Community Hall with Sharon Hamilton officiating. Interment followed in the Hillside Cemetery at Belmont.
Friends that so desire, memorial donations can be made in Don’s memory to the Baldur Palliative Care Unit, Box 128, Baldur, MB, R0K 0B0 or to the Belmont Museum, c/o Jessie Myers, Box 92, Belmont, MB, R0K 0C0.
As published in Brandon Sun on Feb 10, 2024, Feb 10, 2024