John Galbraith

MAY 21, 1916 – OCTOBER 17, 2008

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of John Galbraith, beloved husband of Marion Galbraith on October 17, 2008 at the age of 92.

John was born at Tenby, Manitoba, but educated in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, the son of John and Ina (Barber) Galbraith, both deceased. He was predeceased by his sisters, Jessie Galbraith, and Marian Anderson, brothers Archibald (Amelia), Duncan, and James.

Left to mourn his memory is his wife Marion, step son Graham Campbell, and step daughter Lauren Dent (Jack), granddaughter Melissa Dent, and grandson John C. Dent, brother Gordon Galbraith (Audrey) at Qualicum Beach, British Columbia.

He devoted 26 years of his life to the service of his country through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, retiring in 1966. He took his police training in Regina, after which he was posted to Edmonton. He served in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and as a plain clothes man, subsequently; he was posted to Ottawa as a crime reader in the preventive service branch.

John was a life member of the RCMP Veterans Association, Manitoba Division. He was also a life member of the Masonic Lodge, namely #21 Edmonton, Alberta. John was a past member of Khartum Shrine Temple, Winnipeg, Manitoba, for which he took a certificate of demit due to his retirement, spending winters in California, and time at their hobby farm at Carberry, Manitoba. Anyone who knew John recognized that he was a true gentleman and a man of integrity.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Deer Lodge Centre Tower 3 for their compassion and dignified care.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, October 24, 2008 in Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd.

In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

John’s Father, John Morrison Galbraith, a good Scotsman, travelled across the Atlantic Ocean, landing in New York City USA. He made his way to Manitoba, where he met his wife, Ina Barber in the Post Office in Snowflake, Manitoba. They settled in a homestead at Tenby, Manitoba, an area of fertile farmland near Gladstone, Manitoba. John Jr. was born here, along with three more children Archie, Jessie and Marian.

John’s father ran a grain elevator and raised cattle. The family made a move when John was young to Churchbridge , Saskatchewan. Not content to just run the elevator there, John’s father helped out the local farmers with Insurance claims and other situations. Sadly, John’s Mother died young and the family eventually moved and stayed in Yorkton, Sk.

Mr. Galbriath sr. became a Justice of the Peace, therefore affording John and opportunity to get to know the local Mounties and learn about law enforcement. His interest was piqued and he decided to join the Reserve Force in 1937, later becoming a regular member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at Regina Saskatchewan in 1939.

Mr. Galbraith by this time had remarried, and John now had three younger brothers, Duncan, Jimmy and Gordon.

When John joined the RCMP he was known as Jack all through his career, however, his family always called him John.

John served in four divisions in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Manitoba. During World War II some of his duties as a regular member included rounding up escapees of War Camps, investigating members of the Communist Party and investigating deserters from the Military and conscientious objectors.

John’s first posting was to Two Hills, Alberta, near Vegreville, Alberta for eight months, and then transferred to Edmonton on the P.S Squad where he remained for three and a half years, travelling the whole province, including north to the Peace Rover Area. Approximately in 1944 John had to attend, as a witness, the hanging of five men at Lethbridge, Alberta, who had been condemned to dearth for murder, and subsequent to this attended the hanging of two men at Fort Saskatchewan Goal for murdering a Fur Buyer. John was placed in charge of Crime Index Section in ‘K’ Division, Edmonton Headquarters in 1947 where he remained for 51/5 years.

Along with General Detachments work, John was stationed on the Modus Operandi Section and on Indent Section in Ottawa in 1952.

In 1956 John was stationed in Winnipeg, then Regina and subsequently transferred to Carnduff, Saskatchewan in charge of the detachment where he remained for approximately four years.

Next posting was to Uranium City, Saskatchewan in 1963, located a few miles from The North West Territories.

After devoting 26 years of his life to the service of his country through RCMP John retired in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in 1966.

After retiring from the RCMP, John began a second career with the Province of Manitoba in the Provincial Sales Tax Branch, where he became a supervisor, working there for 14 years.

John met Marion, his wife, who worked in the Tax office for the City of Winnipeg. During the summer months John and Marion spent many weekends at their hobby farm in the Carberry area. Along with golf John loved being outdoors and kept the lawn at the farm looking like a park.

John was a life member of the Manitoba Division of the RCMP Veterans’ Association, and in 2005 received a Long Service Medal at the annual Awards and Recognition evening.

When they both retired, and the Christmas rush was over they took off for Palm Springs, California, usually hauling a deluxe Airstream Trailer. They escaped the harsh reality of our Manitoba Winters for 25 years.

John and Marion were happily married for 31 years at the time of John’s death on October 17th, 2008