Slater: Barrie Alexander, June 4, 1944 – May 28, 2019
Barrie Alexander Slater was born June 4, 1944, in Consort, Alberta to Alec and Vera Slater. Barrie lived on the family farm all of his school years and graduated high school in Marengo in 1962. He married Delphine Ward in 1965 and continued farming the family land.
Barrie decided to branch out from farming and obtained his pilot’s licence in 1966 and began flying for Young/Galloway at Compeer. Flying became Barrie’s passion and he started an arial crop dusting company with his father, Alec.
In 1979, Barrie began to raise an exotic breed of cattle called Pinzgauer. Bill Tobler and Barrie formed the Wilabar Cattle Co., importing full-blood cattle from Austria.
The opportunity for Barrie to form a farming co-op came his way in the ’80s. Barrie’s partners were his dad Alec, Ken Sonmor, and Mervin McCush. Barrie and his partners held the co-op for 20 years.
Barrie was a member of the Loverna Legion. He also was president of the Loverna Branch. Barrie also held the role of the president of the Grattle Grazing Corp. In 2000, Barrie ran for the council for the RM of Milton, Division 6. He served as a council member until the present.
Barrie retired from farming in 2014, selling the land to his nephew Greg, Renee and Lucas Moulton.
To all those who knew Barrie, he was an amazing man, husband, son, brother, uncle, and a friend to many. He loved life and the people that came into his life. Barrie mentored many young people who passed through his life, imparting his views and opinions, some good and some not so good. He always took time to listen and impart his wisdom.
It was not unusual to see Barrie’s truck stopped on the road having a visit with someone, or taking the time to pop into a neighbour’s for coffee.
Barrie leaves to mourn his wife of 54 years, Delphine; mother Vera Slater; sister Rena Moulton; niece Audra Horvey; sons Dustin and Wyatt; nephew Greg (Renee) and Lucas Moulton; niece Janet Sanchuk and sons Steven (Amanda) and Jordon; brother-in-law Lorne Ellwood; and many cousins.
Barrie was predeceased by his father Alec; grandparents; nephew Garry Moulton; brother-in-law Dale Moulton; great-nephew Blake Moulton; nephew Wes Horvey; and sister-in-law Josephine Ellwood.
Funeral Service was held June 8, at the Loverna Community Hall in Loverna, Saskatchewan with Susan Mielke officiating. Special music was Amazing Grace, In The Garden, When I Get Where I’m Going, and Heaven Was Needing A Hero by Wyatt and Dustin Horvey. Readers were Audra Horvey and Renee Moulton. Allan Spreeman was the eulogist and a tribute to Barrie was given by Jennifer Chester, Dan Mielke, and Sandi Lavoie. Steven Sanchuck was the urn bearer. Honorary Pallbearers were all of Barrie’s many families and friends who cared for and shared in his life and all his fellow Legion Members.
Memorial tributes may be directed to Susan Mielke or mail to Loverna Cemetery, Loverna, Saskatchewan, S0L 1Y0; or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Family and friends were invited to a lunch and fellowship following the funeral service in the Community Hall.
MacLean’s Funeral Home of Oyen in care of arrangements.