Donald Edwin Gallinger late of Weyburn, passed away March 18, 2012 at the age of 83 years. Donald Edwin Gallinger was born October 8, 1928 at Weyburn Hospital (Mount St. Mary's). He was the oldest of eight children born to Cliff and Minnie Gallinger. The first sixteen years of his life he lived with his family in the RM of Brokenshell on the Keen farm north and east of Trossachs. He went to school at North Brokenshell School until Grade 8. When Don was 16 the family moved to the RM of Griffin (SW 25-7-12 W2) where he spent the majority of his life. Around the age of 20 Don and his brother Marvin went to Oden, Ontario to work in the lumber camps. The logs were hauled by horse to the river where they were dumped on the ice. In the spring the logs floated down the river to the sawmill. Don also spent one winter working on the rigs, he also worked for Harold Jacobsen at the dairy and he worked for the Fenwicks. On December 7, 1960 he married Georgina Quinn. They lived with Don's parents the first winter and in the spring moved to Estevan where Don worked with his brother Armond for Braidner Construction. In 1962 they moved back to Griffin to the Gordon homestead a half mile south of where Don's parents lived. In November of 1965 they took over the family farm where they lived until the fall of 2001 when they moved into Weyburn. Don spent the next ten years on the road between Weyburn and the farm. He would drive out in the spring and summer to help his son Gord with the farming. He used to phone Gord in early March and ask if it was time to start fencing yet. Gord would answer "Dad there is still snow in the trees." Don was able to farm right until the fall of 2011 hauling all the bales home that year. Don was councilor for the RM of Griffin for eight years. He enjoyed curling with his sons at the bonspiels in Halbrite. He loved music, playing guitar and accordion. In his younger years he, along with brother Armond and John Kwochka, played for many dances in the Halbrite area. In his later years he spent many evenings playing with his sister Elaine and friend Neoma Atkins. In 1982 Don and Georgina, along with his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bill and Lil Quin holidayed in Hawaii for two weeks. Don's passion was the farm but his love was for his family. Don was predeceased by his parents, Clifford and Minnie Gallinger; brother, Marvin; mother and father-in-law, Fred and Daisy Quinn; and two brothers-in-law, Bruce and Bill Quinn. Don will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 51 years: Georgina of Weyburn; children: Cliff (Marion) of Griffin, and their children, Robin, Ryan, Tyler and Kayla; and Gord (Colleen) of Griffin; brothers and sisters: Armond (Betty) of Weyburn, Elaine Phillips of Weyburn, Elda (Richard) Kater of Weyburn, Helen (Norman) Eggum of Weyburn, Jean Gallinger of Regina, and Edi (Lorne) Ferguson of Redcliff, AB; sisters-in-law, Viola Gallinger of Carlyle, and Lil Quinn of Lethbridge, AB as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. He was a man of integrity and this brings to mind the words of a song that we think fit Don well. "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything. You've got to be your own man, not some puppet on a string. Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name. You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything." Visitation was held Thursday, March 22 from Fletcher Funeral Chapel. A funeral service was held on Friday, March 23 at 2:00 P.M. from Grace United Church, Weyburn, with Reverend M. Barnabas officiating. Interment was held at Green Acres Memorial Gardens, Weyburn. Pallbearers were Ryan Gallinger, Tyler Gallinger, Brad Eggum, Ross Gallinger, Kerry Bisson and David Kater. Donations may be made in memory of Don to a charity of donor's choice. Condolences may be left at: www.fletcherfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Chapels Ltd. Weyburn, Saskatchewan (306) 842-5432.
