Rudy Bjork passed away at the Radville Marian Health Centre on August 8, 2012 at the age of 83. Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 44 years, Ingrid; his daughter, Kim (Gary) Anwender and their daughter, Sadie; his son, Kelly (Juanita) and their children, Alexandra, Caley, and Grady; his only sister, Ruby Cochrane; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ona-Mae (Marcel) Balaux, Lila Mulgrew, Elodie (Howard) Carlton, Hugh (Yvonne) Sargent, Russell Sargent, Lyman (Penny Tocher) Sargent, Susan Sargent, Les (Kit) Switzer, and Denis Schnell; as well as his many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and cousins. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Pete and Louise Bjork; brothers-in-law, Mac Cochrane, Harvey and Tim Sargent and Noel Mulgrew; sister-in-law, Ivy Switzer; niece, Louise Roy and nephew, Peter Cochrane. Rudy was born on his dad's homestead on January 9, 1929 in the Abbott district. Due to his dad's death, Rudy became a young farmer at the age of 14. He farmed for 69 years, retiring in 2007. In 2005 he had the honour of receiving the Century Farm award. To make ends meet, he also worked as an iron worker building many towers and bridges across western Canada. Closer to home, in later years, he worked as a grader operator, bartender and battery operator. He and his good friend Doug McNaughton formed RD Construction which included burying and installing rural underground phone lines for a few years. In 1968 he married his loving wife, Ingrid. They had two children, Kim and Kelly, whom he loved dearly. Rudy had a great sense of humour, always teasing someone- especially his grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Rudy had a great gift for fixing, repairing, or inventing almost anything. If he couldn't fix it, no one could! He was also a self-taught mechanic and would take things apart just to see how they were made. His first project, at 15 years old, was dismantling the engine out of an ol' Star car. He took it all apart and then put it all back together again (with no extra pieces left over!). The neighbours thought it would never run again! But, low and behold it purred like a kitten! Rudy enjoyed life. He loved to visit over a cold beer or two. He especially enjoyed the last five years of camping all summer at Crooked Lake, where he met many more wonderful friends. Rudy fought three bouts of cancer in the last 17 years but he just couldn't beat the last-bone cancer. He was one tough man! We are truly going to miss him! At Rudy's request there will be no service. Private family interment will take place at a later date in Radville-Laurier Cemetery. Donations in memory of Rudy may be made to: Radville Marian Health Centre, Box 310, Radville, SK, S0C 2G0; or Allan Blair Cancer Centre, 4101 Dewdney Avenue, Regina, SK, S4T 7T1. Condolences may be left at: www.fletcherfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Chapels Ltd., Weyburn (306) 842-5432.
