David Bryson Mitchell

David Bryson Mitchell

August 21, 1947 – January 26, 2021

73 Years 7 months 5 days

David passed away in his home Tuesday, January 26, 2021 with his wife by his side.

Beloved husband to Carol Mitchell whom he married September 28, 1984, father to Bryson Mitchell (Chelsa) and Cameron Mitchell (Shelby), step-father to Jackie Howes (Witt), Christine Jackson (the late Shawn Jackson), and Bernard Reid (Mary-Jane) and grandfather to 12.

David was born in Kindersley, the eldest son of the late Enid and MacDonald Mitchell. His Siblings were John, Lawerence, Dawne, Marilee and Margret

He contracted polio during the last polio pandemic to hit Kindersley area in 1953. This disease shaped his physical life forever. He was 6 years of age when he contracted polio and was flown to the Saskatoon City Hospital where he was quarantined for six months with other polio victims.

Upon release he resumed life on the farm. For the next six years he enjoyed 4-H winning many awards for the calves he raised, his seed plots he grew and his rifle shooting. He joined a chess club at a neighbor’s farm and throughout his life taught many family members chess strategies. From age 12 through 16 he stayed at the Shriners St. Bonaface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba where he had one operation after another to reconstruct his body so he could walk better. David continued his schooling during his time spent at St. Bonaface.

Upon returning home at the age of 16 he started his farming career by renting a quarter of land and getting his first permit book. He attended Glidden School until he completed grade 11. Then he took his grade 12th year at K.C.S. and was in the first K.C.S. graduating class.

David went to Ag School at the University of Saskatchewan for 2 years then came home to farm when his dad, MacDonald, died of cancer. He continued to grain farm and build up his father’s cattle herd.

In 1970 farming was in a tailspin. So at the age of 22 he began a career in the oil patch as an operator for Husky Oil which provided more stability for the farm. This career of Agriculture & oil field lasted until July 1, 2020. A 50 year career!

He loved contract operating since it provided him the ability to be outside with nature. As his post-polio worsened he found a new job that fit his physical condition. He went to work for Palliser Land in 1996 where he was a Landman for 17 years. Following this Dave retired for a short 8 week time period at which point  he had decided to serve as an Advisor for the West Central Saskatchewan Surface Rights Group until his official retirement June 30, 2020.

In David’s early adult life he took up arm wrestling and enjoyed winning many competition in Saskatchewan and eventually progressed to the Canadian Arm Wrestling Championship where he was filmed on CBC Network. He made the top 10 ranking in this competition. Following this he spent time refereeing tournaments and mentoring the young up and coming arm wrestlers.

David was a spiritual, strong and sometimes stubborn Scotch man. He was a sponge of information and would spend hours reading books on historical facts, the prairies and biographies. He loved to listen to all kinds of music and loved to tour various landscapes especially anything with native prairies.  Some of his favorite areas he loved to travel through included the Saskatchewan River Hills and the Missouri Breaks in Montana. He loved to talk to people ad he loved food. David liked ritual and flow of his days. He liked to begin his mornings gathering with his coffee buddies where these wise men figured out the world’s problems each morning.

Often Dave would drive to “The Little House” built by Leon Lesperence on 12 acres of native prairie. This cabin was a refuge of peace for Carol and David. During both summer and winter months many friends shared in the love of this unique place. He kept a journal where he noted the temperature both inside and outside of the cabin. He also noted the direction of the wind and conditions in the sky. He loved nothing better than listening to the natural prairie grass sway in the wind.

A few of David’s favorite sayings which will always be remembered by family and friends are as follows:

Dot your I’s and cross our T’s
I sure love watching you young guys work!
Neat, that is really NEAT!
That’s intriguing
No one home in the tower of power!
Your day, shall cometh!
It’s a jungle out there!

David has a huge presence and he will be missed by many people from miles around. For everyone who feels an empty void from his passing, just recall his deep voice saying another one of his favorite phrases: “Carry on! Just Carry On!”

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