Obituary
Stephen Peter Bonyai
May 18, 1950 – April 11, 2020
It is with great sorrow that we the family of Steve announce his passing after a hard fought battle of may medical issues. Steve passed away at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert, SK. Steve was surrounded by family for most of his stay in the hospital. It was a challenge at times due to restrictions caused by the pandemic that has engulfed the world, however Nancy was able to be with him the last few days of his life and was there when he took his last breath.
Steve was the youngest son of Jim and Annie Bonyai of Lestock. He had 2 brothers, Jim and Ernie and an infant sister, Eva, all of whom predeceased him. Steve had developed a great love of the outdoors at a young age, fishing, hunting both birds and big game and shared his love with family, great friends and later his own family. There have been many memories made and relived over the years!
In 1948 his parents moved into Lestock from St. Elizabeth area and took over the telephone exchange. His Mom, Annie, was the switchboard operator and his Dad, Jim, was lineman as well as CNR caretaker and carried the mail to and from the train. On August 30, 1947 his sister Eva was born but passed shortly thereafter. Late in 1951, Ernie (age 11) passed away from a drowning accident on the slough south of Lestock. Steve’s father Jim passed on February 27, 1959 at age 55 and his mother Annie, passed on November 1, 1981 at age 67. His brother Jim passed on April 21, 1989 at age 50, all from forms of cancer.
Annie remained as the telephone operator until 1961, at which point brother Jim and his wife Joan took over as Annie and Steve moved to Regina. While in Regina, Steve met another young fellow, Lazlo Salai, with similar interests and they developed a lifelong friendship. They spent many hours together as their moms tried to make a good life for them. Steve taught Lazlo how to throw a funny looking object commonly known as a football, but Lazlo was European so was not sure what or how to throw this thing!! Mission was accomplished with Steve’s patience they also spent many hours together entertaining each from walking to the river to go fishing to Cadets and many other activities. Annie and Steve moved back to Lestock in 1964 where Steve completed the last of his schooling, graduating in 1968. In 1965 Annie was rehired to be switchboard operator with Steve as her assistant until her retirement. A moment in history came on April 7, 1971 at 2:00 p.m. when the plugs were all pulled on the switchboard and the automatic system began.
Steve had many jobs and interests over the years, he was a goalie for the Kelliher Comets, involved with Cadets, hunting, fishing with many family and friends, worked for Mike and Nellie Yasinowski as a bouncer at the Lestock Hotel. Steve’s life was filled with many good friends with whom he shared happy times. Whether hunting, fishing or just hanging out, he loved and enjoyed them all.
In 1971, Steve moved to Yorkton where he was employed by Don and Lorraine Harris at Yorkton Cycle. I’m sure he could tell you who bought a gun, calibre, what they shot with it, where and when. As well he built and repaired many bicycles. On his days off he wet back to Lestock to be with his mom and dear friends. It was in Yorkton they he became involve with Ducks Unlimited, Sask Wildlife, trap shooting, Yorkton Gun Club, further extending his great love of the outdoors and activities it involved. It was also during this time he acquired his first Jessie, an English Springer Spaniel, who was his constant companion.
In 1979, Steve left his employment with Yorkton Cycle and became a service man for Morris Industries. He travelled the country near and far, mostly Western Canada and some in the States, with Jessie by his side. He could tell you where the dealership was, who the owner was and had a special relationship with most of them, as well as most of their customers. Steve moved around in this position and after losing his mom, Annie, in November 1981, he moved from Yorkton to Swift current where he stayed with Dwight and Val Shepard, eventually in May 1982 he moved to Saskatoon and purchased a trailer at Rayner Trailer Court. It was then that his life as “footloose and fancy free” changed. There was a young lad named Shaun who noticed a noisy Morris truck enter the trailer court and hi also had a dog named Jessie, it wasn’t long before Shaun brought the new neighbor home to meet his mom, Nancy and as they say the rest is history. Steve became the “boy next door” and it wasn’t long until they became a family. Steve took Nancy and Shaun out to Lestock to be welcomed by his dear friends Don and Bev and their extended families. We spent many weekends visiting back and forth. It didn’t take long before marriage was talked about and planned for the following year. On June 4, 1983 Steve and Nancy were married in Saskatoon with Shaun as an integral part of the ceremony. In January of 1983 Steve was offered the position of Service Manager which would mean another move back to Yorkton. We purchased a home and Steve and Shaun moved to Yorkton with Nancy following shortly after leaving her employment with Fed Co-Op home office in April. With his new position he was based mostly out of Yorkton but did do some travelling including a trip to Tanzania to help the locals learn how to operate Morris equipment. He took his assistant Myron and Steve left with suitcases full of clothing and caps and returned home with mainly treasures, African shield baskets, bow and arrows and a spear or two! None of which would pass through customs now! While in Africa they got to see how the locals lived and also got to do some hunting of gazelle and guinea fowl and it was certainly an experience of a lifetime.
While living in Yorkton our family started to expand. We welcomed our son Andrew on November 27, 1987 and son Joseph on November 8, 1989, as our lives got fuller we made the decision to move back to Lestock when in June 1990 we bought and operated the Busy Bee Burger Shack. As well, Steve drove back and forth to work. To add more excitement to our lives we had our daughter Gwen on June 5, 1991. In 1992 we also purchased the local restaurant and operated both the Burger Shack (seasonal) and Parkland Family Restaurant (full time), with Steve still driving to Yorkton daily. In 1993 we welcomed our youngest son, Stephen Jr. and Steve decided he had enough driving and resigned from Morris. The phone calls never stopped though, from farmers who were having trouble with their equipment. They would call Steve and he would rattle off what part they needed or what the possible problem was and if possible, how to fix it.
Our family was very involved in the community, with the restaurant and Mom and Dad on many boards we stayed involved with the Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited, nest stuffing every spring. Steve was proud to pass on his love of the outdoors to each of the kids and eventually to their spouses and his grandchildren. Steve served on many boards some of which were, Member of Vestry, Holy Trinity, in Yorkton, past President of both Yorkton and Parkland Wildlife Clubs, Chair of Lestock and District Rec board, Lestock and District Chamber of Commerce, Mayor of Lestock, member of Lestock branch of Wynyard Credit Union, Volunteer Fire Fighter, Chair of Lestock and District Community Help Centre, served on Lestock Co-op board, was a Cerfitied S.A.F.E Instructor, Hunter Safety Instructor, Past President of Elfros Union Church board and member and President of Elfros Lions Club.
In June 1988 we left the restaurant business. Steve got a job with Elfros Co-op and we moved to Elfros in August 1998. We lived in a rental home to start with eventually purchasing a lot in town and moving a trailer on to it. In October 2002 we moved out of town to the acreage we called home until May 2018. While we lived in Elfros Steve eventually left his employment with the Co-op and wet to work helping Leon and Betty Ann Bjarnason Farm where he remained employed until we moved to MacDowall.
Over the years we spent a lot of time camping with our family and friends. When the kids were little we had a camper on a lot at Almi campground. Later we bought property and moved a farmhouse in for a cabin at Barrier Ford. After we sold that we purchased a 5th wheel camper and tried to do a family camping trip every year with our entire family. As time went on and family expanded with spouses and grandchildren it was more difficult to get everyone together, so these trips became fewer with not everyone able to share with us.
The kids were always amazed that no matter where we went there were very few occasions that Steve didn’t know someone no matter where we were. He always used to say “Did you see anyone you didn’t know”.
Steve was very proud and loved his wife Nancy of 36 years and each of his children dearly, as well as their spouses and his grandchildren. Family was very important to him and he was very happy to receive their texts, phone calls or visits and even more so when they included him with their activities, whether it be hunting, fishing or just being with them. He was a very proud husband, father and grandfather and of each of their accomplishments however large or small. He was able to give his only daughter away at her wedding and welcomed four beautiful daughters in law as well as a son in law into our family. We were very pleased to be at each of our children’s weddings whether here in Sask., or the two in Mexico. We were also blessed with 9 grandchildren and 1 foster grandchild, loving each one as they came into our world.
Steve was a big man with a very big heart in more ways than one. You will be forever in our hearts, gone but not forgotten, I will love you forever and using the song lyrics we had our first dance to at our wedding, “May I have this dance for the rest of my life”. Rest in peace and free from pain now. Steve was often referred to as Big Steve, Zeldor, Pistu, Big Papa, Pops, Dad, Grandpa, Big Guy, Uncle, Cousin and Friend.
Steve was predeceased by his parents Jim and Annie Bonyai; his brothers, Jim and Ernie; his sister, Eva; and many other family members. He was predeceased by his parents-in-law, Gordon and Gwen Gray; sisters-in-law, Betty Gray, Kathy Gray, Charlotte Allard; and his brother-in-law, Dave Allard. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Nancy; children, Shaun (Tanya) Bonyai and Erica, Robert, Shauna, Gerald and Kayla; Andrew (Laura) Bonyai and Brandon, Annabelle, Rosalie and foster grandson Aiden; Joseph (Janice) Bonyai; Gwen (Dana) Schreiner and Addison; Stephen (Jessica) Bonyai; as well as sister-in-law, Joan (Nick) Andrusyk, Cindy, Jimmy and families; brother-in-law, Tim (Marlene Gibb) Rann, Rachael, Chantel and families and the Allard family, Gord, Rick, and BJ and families, Aunt Mary Chernick as well as many cousins, friends and all who knew him.
Our family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of the nurses and physicians for the excellent care and compassion given to Steve. We are very grateful for the support we have received during this time with messages, phone calls and the support of our communities and for keeping us all in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate through this trying and stressful time. Due to circumstances beyond our control a Memorial Service will he held at a later date when conditions allow us to gather again as a group to celebrate the life of Stephen Peter Bonyai. Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home, Marianne Turcotte, Funeral Director, Prince Albert, SK 306-763-3322.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Stephen Bonyai April 11 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Spiritwood, Province: Saskatchewan