The family of Don Thompson, beloved husband of Joan Thompson, sadly announce his passing on Friday, January 28, 2022. He was 79 years of age.
A Memorial Service in celebration of Don’s life will be held on Saturday, May 28th at 2:00pm from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Crystal Bailey officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to Timmy’s Snowarama (Box 5011 Yorkton, Sask. S3N 3Z4), Yorkton Home Care for Palliative Care (c/o 41 Betts AVe., Yorkton, SK S3N 1M1) and/or the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency for the Patient Lodge Renewal Program (20-4545 Parliament Ave. Regina, SK S4W 0G3)
Thompson, Donald Hugh (August 29, 1942 – January 28, 2022)
Beloved husband of Joan Thompson of Good Spirit Acres.
Don was born to Hugh Ruskin and Fleda May (Jones) Thompson in Brandon, Manitoba where his father served in the Air Force during the war. Their family moved around Saskatchewan pursuing Hugh’s career in education and three siblings were born along the way: Denise May, Guy Hamilton, and Roderick William. Don graduated from Central Collegiate in Regina, Saskatchewan where he starred in football and track, winning the 100-yard sprint, the long jump, and the overall title at the provincial championship in 1961.
Don’s athletic abilities led him to Bemidji State College in northern Minnesota. He lettered nine times in football, hockey, and track while earning a bachelor’s degree in education. He was named conference MVP as a halfback for the Beavers following his senior season. Later, he was inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame. The friendships and stories from these four years endured a lifetime.
While at Bemidji, Don met Joan Louise Johnson when they were paired by the professor in a dance class. The couple wed on June 5, 1965 in Crookston, Minnesota and enjoyed over 56 years of marriage. They were blessed with three boys: Robert William, Terry Hugh, and John Hamilton. Don took a keen interest in his sons’ education, athletics, careers, and activities and they were a source of great pride for him.
After college, Don and Joan began their teaching careers in Regina while Don played football for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The team won the Grey Cup in 1966. They briefly relocated to Idaho where Don earned a master’s degree from the University of Idaho before settling in Minnesota for a number of years. During this time, Don pursued a number of career opportunities outside of teaching and their family returned to Regina in 1982 where the boys grew up and attended Campbell Collegiate.
In 1993, Don and Joan resumed their careers in education and moved to Dillon, Saskatchewan where Joan taught kindergarten and Don served as the principal of the Buffalo River Dene Nation school for many years. He was instrumental in expanding the school to provide education through Grade 12 and founding the community wrestling program. While up north, Don purchased a kayak and enjoyed several trips on the Churchill River.
Throughout his life, Don was most passionate about coaching young athletes, particularly in football and wrestling. He led Campbell Collegiate to provincial wrestling championships in 1967 and 1991 and produced many individual provincial champions as well as several national champions. In addition to coaching, he dedicated his time to the provincial and national wrestling associations ultimately becoming the president of the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association and attending the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. In 2004, he was inducted into the Canadian amateur wrestling hall of fame as a builder.
Don and Joan retired to their home in Good Spirit Acres, Saskatchewan in 2008 where Don served on the hamlet board for many years. During retirement, Don spent many happy days with friends on the snowmobile trails and volunteered his time signing and inspecting trails and serving as the treasurer of the local snowmobile club. In the summer months, Don could be found on the golf course or tending to his vegetable garden. He also enjoyed hunting geese and ducks with his sons and lifelong friends and training his retriever, Max.
Don believed that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right. He lived by that principle as an athlete, educator, coach, mentor, volunteer, and parent and gave 100% of his effort to anything he agreed to do. His legacy will live on in the many people he touched along the way.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Guy, and granddaughter, Amélie.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Joan, sons Bob (Jodie), Terry (Meghan), and John (Carrie), grandchildren, Donald (Shannon), Abby, Brendan, Katie, Nora, Quinn, and Van, sister, Denise (Leon) Bode, and brother Rod (Nikki), as well as his great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 2:oo p.m. from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens with a reception to follow. Memorials are preferred to SaskAbilities Easter Seals Snowarama, the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan for the Regina Cancer Patient Lodge Renewal Campaign or to The Health Foundation of East Central Saskatchewan. Condolences can be sent to the family at baileysfuneralhome.com
Arrangements have been entrusted to Bailey’s Funeral Home and Cremation Care.
Read Less
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald “Don” Thompson, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Donald Don Thompson Friday January 28th 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Yorkton, Province: Saskatchewan