Obituary of Wilbur Edwin Bessant

BESSANT: Wilbur Edwin Bessant of Margaret, MB, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Tuesday, August 29th, 2017 at the Brandon Assiniboine Centre at the age of 92. Wilbur was born April 12, 1925 in the Lilly Hill School District near Wawanesa. Wilbur's parents were John (Jack) and Edith Bessant. He grew up on the family farm with his brothers and sisters; Clifford, Albert, Gordon, Elsie, Wesley, and Glendon. He was the last surviving sibling of his family. Wilbur followed the ways of his father, and as a young man, he learned early on how to operate a mixed livestock and grain farm successfully. Wilbur met Anne Wright in his teens and they became very good friends. Wilbur and Anne were married on November 9, 1946. Together they built their first home, situated on the Bessant family farm where Wilbur had grown up. They struck out on their own in October of 1949 and took up residence on the Allan Dalgliesh farm in the Lang Valley district; otherwise known as the Uncle Ollie farm. Farming with horses was standard then but they quickly moved on to trucks and tractors as the family farm grew. Late in 1966, the family moved into a new home, built on the southeast quarter of the same section. They continued to live there until October 2016, when they moved to Rotary Villa in Brandon. Wilbur loved farming. He and Anne raised all sorts of animals; there were horses, chickens, pigs and cows, dozens of cats and he always had a dog by his side. He was very proud of the Hereford herd and later on the Simmental herd they had built up. They also operated a milking parlour and separated and sold the cream. Anne and Wilbur had the privilege of going on many trips together. They travelled to Vancouver, Alaska, Nashville, Gillam, Pittsburgh and Arizona to name a few. Wilbur loved his farm machinery. His tractors were his pride and joy. He always enjoyed listening to his country western music or snowmobiling through hills by their farm. He loved nothing better than to visit with family and friends, whether it was down at their little cabin for a wiener roast or at their home around the kitchen table. Wilbur was predeceased by his wife Anne in 2016. He will be deeply missed by his children: Allan, Darwin (Linda), Timothy (Gayle), Pamela (Steven) Kanderka, Pernell (Liana) and Vonda (Ken) Hopcraft; twelve grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. The Funeral Service was held at the Brockie Donovan Chapel on Wednesday, September 6, 2017. Interment followed at the Margaret Cemetery. Donations in memory of Wilbur made be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, Unit 3-2430 Victoria Avenue, Brandon, MB, R7B 0M5, or to a charity of choice.