Obituary of Wes Beatty

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William Wesley Beatty April 6, 1933. Wes was born the youngest son of John Beatty and Evelyn Crawford. He was born in a little farm house near the village of Helston Manitoba. He attended Berton #1912 school in the municipality of Lansdown.

Wes grew up on the farm where he was born. He enjoyed telling the story of when he was a youngster of how he rode a horse two and a half miles to school through mountains of snow at 40 below. He had to go early to clean out the ashes from the wood furnace and light it before everyone arrived. He received $1.00 a day for his work and was the wealthiest kid in school.

Wes left school at the age of 14, he learned to work the farm during the shortage of labour caused by World War II. He helped with general farm work, pitching sheaves during thrashing time, driving the tractor and hauling grain. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, hockey, baseball, curling and the local 4H calf Club.

In 1949, at the age of 16 when the Manitoba Power Commission began to expand to farm areas, Gordon Vint, of the Nesbitt area was wiring on their farm and Wes began helping him in the evenings. It was during that time that Gordon asked Dad to work with him. That was his start in the electrical field. Wes later moved on to work for Donaldson Electric in Gladstone where he wrote his limited electrical license. He then contracted throughout the area on his own.

In 1955, Wes moved to Brandon where he met Anna Mae Ashcroft. They were married on July 7, 1958. They then settled in Brandon at 90 Whitehead Crescent where they started their family having two sons. Wes and Anne were very active in the community and had many friends in Brandon. They were active at the Valleyview Community Centre as well as the Brandon Snow Goers. Over the years Wes and Anne were very active in many organizations.  Wes worked very hard to join Fenwick Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Khartoum Temple Shrine Club Winnipeg, Nomad Shrine Club, McAllen Texas. Wes was also the president of Brandon Shrine Club and Brandon Shrine Car patrol for a while.

In 1955, Wes secured a job at GT Smith and Son’s. In 1968, Wes and Bruce Smith and their wives Anne and Claire become owners and partners in GT Smith and Sons 1960 LTD. Wes worked very hard in the electrical business and enjoyed its challenges.  Wes retired in 1992 after 43 years in the trade.

Wes and family spent many years at the cabin that he built at Oak Lake beach. Wes and his family had many friends at Oak Lake beach and many good memories. Wes and Anne moved to their cabin after he retired and remained there for many years. Wes and Anne also spent winters in Edinberg Texas for 20 years.  Wes and Anne enjoyed travelling.  They enjoyed cruising the Caribbean, Alaska, Venezuela as well as travelling throughout the USA.

Wes had a good sense of humor and enjoyed telling jokes. Throughout his life Wes enjoyed hunting and fishing and spent many years pursuing this enjoyment with friends and family. He was known to his hunting buddies as old dead eye. He was a very hard-working man and provided a very good life for his family. He enjoyed carpentry and building and was rarely found not building, repairing or working on something. He was rarely idle.

Later in life Wesley moved to Winnipeg and lived with his son, Stacey, so he could be close to family and visit his wife, who suffered from Alzheimer’s for several years before passing.

Wesley passed away the early morning of January 12, 2022 at the River East Personal Care Home, Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was predeceased by his wife Anna Mae Ashcroft, October 12, 2015 and his youngest son, Stacey, August 11, 2021.  As well as his brothers Jack, Dick and Bob, sister Peggy, niece Margy and nephew Rick.

Wes is survived by his oldest son Darrel and wife Rae, their sons Shane, Lyndel and wife Lynn. Devon, wife Santana and great grandson Dean. As well as many nieces and nephews.

Wesley, Anne, and Stacey were laid to rest together at Oak Lake Cemetery on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.  A Memorial Service will be announced in the future at the Brockie Donovan Chapel.

A memorial service will be held at Brockie Donovan Chapel, 332 8th Street, Brandon, MB on Friday, August 30, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

Flowers are gratefully declined. Donations in memory of Wes may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, www.alzheimer.mb.ca.