Wayne Bakken, age 69, of Tompkins, Saskatchewan passed away on April 26, 2015 at home after a two year battle with lung and brain cancer. It was his wish to spend his last days at home on the “Bench” and with a lot of help his wish was achieved.
Wayne was born on September 19, 1945 in Regina, Saskatchewan and was adopted by Clarence and Deborah Bakken when he was nine months old. Deborah passed away when he was six and Clarence continued to raise the family until he remarried Stella Rayner a few years later.
Wayne married Marian High from Vancouver in 1968. She was a Registered Nurse at the Shaunavon Hospital. They had three children: Michelle, Robert and Harold.
Wayne enjoyed talking about his 4H experiences as a member of the Stone 4H Club. He took part in 4H speeches. He enjoyed being with his children when they were members of the SW 4H Sheep Club. Michelle, Robert and Harold also followed in his footsteps taking part in 4H speeches.
Wayne also enjoyed hunting with Robert and Harold. In later years they did the hunting and Wayne did the cutting and wrapping. It made the boys day when the coyotes would come to the yard and Wayne would try to shoot them. They would tell everyone that he was “tryout” hunting as he never seemed to hit them.
Whenever company called, the coffee pot was always on and you could be assured of at least an hour or so of visiting and catching up on the news in the area.
At Wayne’s request, no formal funeral service or burial will take place.
Wayne is survived by his wife Marian; daughter Michelle and her daughter Patricia Ebbett; son Robert Bakken and daughter-in-law Corriena Bakken and their children Tori and Levi Bakken; son Harold (Crystal) Bakken and their children Haley and Hayden Bakken; sisters-in-law Donna (Jack) Lovitt, Joan High and Carol Bakken and brother-in-law Gerald (Carolyn) High and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents Clarence and Deborah Bakken; his stepmother Stella Bakken; his sister Deborah “Dolly” Schermerhorn; his brother Leonard Bakken; his brother-in-law Robert Schermerhorn and his birth mother Elsie Muir.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Tompkins Cancer Fund would by appreciated by the family.
Binkley’s Funeral Service of Shaunavon (www.Binkleys.com) was in charge of the arrangements.