Jim White

1926 ~ 2023

James ‘Jim’ Arnold White passed away at Masterpiece Southland Meadows in Medicine Hat on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at the age of 97 years. He was born on his parents’ farm near Mankota, Saskatchewan on January 20, 1926, the second of 12 children, to Roy and Elizabeth (Reninger) White. He attended Jura School as well as one year of high school in Mankota. In 1942, he joined a harvest crew and, because harvest was late that year, he never went back to school. Then he worked for several Mankota farmers for a few years. In 1946, he started farming with his dad and bought a ½ section of land called the McGladdery place. In 1947, he started going to BC for the winter months for employment. He worked on a dairy farm for several winters, spent two winters logging on Vancouver Island, and did some construction work in Kimberley, BC.

In 1951, he met Marguerite Johnson of Moose Jaw, SK and they were married in July, 1954. They farmed at Mankota for 33 years, and raised four children. Through the years Jim was an active member of the community serving on the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Committee, the United Church Board, the Co-op Store Committee, the Mankota Credit Union Board, the RM of 45 (Mankota) Agricultural Committee, the Building Committee for the new Community Hall, and helped build the skating rink. He took an active part in the preservation of the museum in Mankota, and he and Marguerite were instrumental in making and publishing the “Mankota, First 50 Years” history book.

During winters, Jim took Department of Agricultural courses such as Farm Management & Accounting, Building/Framing, Arc & Actylene Welding, and Farm Building Electrical Wiring.

In 1969, Jim was badly burned in a shop fire and spent five months in the hospital. Family and friends helped with the farming.

When Jim returned home after the hospital stay, he and Marguerite began square dancing and attended jamborees all across southern Saskatchewan. He also enrolled in a correspondence photography class. Jim became a member of Professional Photographers of Canada and did

photography work for 10 years.

In 1975, Jim took flying lessons and bought his first airplane the following year. He and Marguerite had many North and Central American flying adventures.

In 1986, Jim and Marguerite retired to Swift Current where they attended Church of the Open Bible. Jim joined the Kiwanis Club of the Prairie Pioneers. In 1993, they moved to a condo in Medicine Hat and while there, attended Hillcrest Church. Jim spent time on the condo board, and from 1997 to 2008, he worked in the Medican Construction wood work shop.

In 2014, he and Marguerite moved to Masterpiece River Ridge retirement home where Marguerite could receive care for her deteriorating health. They moved again in 2017 to Southlands Masterpiece where Jim, at the age of 96, was instrumental in setting up the wood work shop there. He continued to live in Independent Living until his passing.

Jim was predeceased by his wife, Marguerite in 2018; infant daughter, Karen; parents, Roy White and Elizabeth (White) Rivers; parents-in-law, Roy and Mary Johnson; step-father/uncle, Will Rivers; step grandson, Christopher Parsons; siblings/siblings-in-law; Bob and Eleanor McClinton, Jack Barker, Gilbert White, Walter Murray, Gloria White, Donald and Helen Henderson, Gardiner and Connie Johnson, Jim Johnson; step siblings/cousins, Gordon Rivers, Gerald Knight as well as several nieces and nephews.

Jim is survived by his son, David (Susan) White-Lonnie (Terry); daughter, Kathryn (Rod) Hutton – Del (Tricia), Holly (Ken), Marshalton (Shawna), Amy; son, Darrell (Val) White – Amanda (Jennifer), Devin (Kelly); son, Darren White (Pam) – Marissa (Spencer), Brandon; many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; siblings/siblings-in-law: Millie Barker, Marion White, June Murray, Paul White, Grant and Doreen McDonald, Syd and Marlene White, Richard and Eva White, Pricilla and Bill Remple, Earl and Freda White, Joyce Johnson as well as step siblings/cousins; Mary Rivers, Len and Gail Rivers, Carol Knight; Marion and Dale Stewart.

A Celebration of Jim’s Life will be held at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 13th Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Friday, August 11, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Lance Duncalfe officiating. The service will be live-streamed, so anyone who is not able to attend but wishes to be a part of the service  can visit our website and select the view broadcast button on the home page at service time. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to any Burn Victim Society, Hillcrest Church, 3785 – 13 Avenue S.E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 1J2​ or to a charity of your choice. Honoured to serve the family is Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, Crematorium Reception Facility, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 4V4. Telephone 403-527-6455

• Date : 2023-07-26
• Location : Medicine Hat, Alberta

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