Russel Deneiko

DENEIKO: RUSSEL

Feb. 6, 1934 – Dec. 14, 2014

It is with deep sadness we announce that Russel Deneiko passed away peacefully on Sunday December 14, 2014 at Watrous Hospital. Russ was born in Glaslyn Saskatchewan to Mykyta and Martha Deneiko on February 6, 1934. He attended Greenpark School until the age of 16 when he moved to Saskatoon where he attended the Carpentry and Drafting program at Kelsey Tech. When he arrived at school he had the good fortune of meeting up with one of the teachers, Bob Rutherford who took him under his wing and found a good boarding home with Jack and Marg Gilchrist who became like a second set of parents. Russ was working for Scotty Wells Saskatoon Hardwood Floors when he finished his schooling in 1955. It was that year at the Mayfair Hall Russ met Shirley Dempsey. Shirley was attending Teacher’s College in Saskatoon and they both ended up at a dance where Dad was dared by his friends to ask Shirley to dance and she fell head over heels with this handsome young man and this is where their 58 year journey began.

Russ and Shirley were married on January 21, 1956 at Grace Westminster Church. Russ and Shirley moved to Regina on a Saskatoon Hardwood Flooring assignment and this is where their first baby was born. Six months later the company Russ was working for folded so a decision was made to try farming. John and Kay Dempsey, Shirley’s parents were thinking of retiring and moving to BC so Russ and Shirley and their new son Randy moved to the farm near Young, Saskatchewan. Shortly after that Shirley’s parents decided that the west coast was not for them and they returned to the farm. Russ and Shirley decided to stay farming but did carpentry on the side, milking 5 cows before going to work and again when he got home. Finally Russ built a 24x16 foot house just down the hill from Shirley’s parent’s house and the next 4 boys were born while living in that house. In 1961 Russ and Shirley bought the Ruben and Doris Magnuson farm near Viscount. Russ soon gave up the carpentry and started the feedlot. It was here that the family was complete with the addition of the two daughters. Through the years Russ and Shirley worked hard to build Deneiko Custom Feeding Ltd. The farm was his passion and his hard work will live on through two of his sons taking over the farm when Russ retired only earlier this year.

In his later years Russ, not willingly at first, began to travel. But soon he found how much fun this can be. Russ and Shirley traveled with friends for several years to the States and then went on to bigger trips such as Australia, Caribbean Cruise, Hawaii, two trips to Europe to where he would come to touch his family roots and a second Alaskan Cruise which they went on with 3 of his siblings. Another passion of Russ was his strong belief in being a part of his community. He was always a hard worker and committed to many different committees at various times in his life from the school division board and trustees, Viscount RM #341, Saskatchewan Feeder Association, and the Young Co-op Board. Russ had many friends from his years of committee and community work that are too many to name but were dear to his heart.

And finally, his strongest passion and the reason he did everything he did, his family. The early years he did not have the chance to show his love and passion due being such a hard worker and was so committed to leaving a legacy for his family that his is where he had to spend his energy and time. But family was important to him to the core and in his later years the softness and love started to show through with the pride he had for his family. Russ and Shirley have 7 children, 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren with a 6th great grandchild on the way. Russel will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Shirley and their children Randy, Bruce, Mike (Leanne), Terry (Eileen), Laurie (Gwen), Cathy (Don Warkentin) and Carrie (Richard) Schaan, 14 grandchildren, Melanie, Brandon, Amber (TJ) King, Lyndsay (Luke) Boutin, Riley, Tanya (Aaron) George, Dannis (Katie), Carlie, Jaz Lin, Megan, Joshua, Cody, Chyanne and Levi, and 5 great-grandchildren Bailey, Dawson,  Sofia, Brooklyn and Myelle and his siblings Eva (Nick) Dmytryshyn, Ollie (Fred) Wittig, Anne (Bob) Morrison and Walter, his in-laws Edith Rink, Elroy (Dick) Freeman, Lois Didur, Happy (Ken) Rink and Jim (Tena) Dempsey as well as many other nieces and nephews and countless family whose lives he has touched in many ways. He is predeceased by his parents, Mykyta and Martha, his brother Dan and his brothers-in-law Walter Rink and John Didur.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 20th at 2:00 p.m. in the Young Community Hall, Young, SK. For those so wishing donations to Young Parks and Recreation, C/O Village of Young, Box 359, Young, SK S0K 4Y0 would be appreciated. For online condolences, tributes or to make a donation please visit www.fotheringham-mcdougall.com