Martin Bernerd Hesjedal

Martin Bernerd Hesjedal, age 88, of Bengough, SK, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2013 at the Radville Marian Health Centre in Radville, SK where he had resided for several years. Born July 18, 1924 in Bengough, SK the oldest of Andrew and Amanda Hesjedal, Martin spent his formative years attending Garville School, playing music with his family and helping out on the farm. Growing up in the dirty thirties he had many stories of both good times and hardships endured on the farm in those days. April 6, 1945 he married Audrey Robinson and they had three daughters, Bonnie, Laurie and Linda. They farmed until 1959 when they moved to Moose Jaw and Martin took up real estate and later life insurance. In 1963 Martin was transferred to British Columbia as manager of the Canadian Order of Forresters Life Insurance Company. In 1968 surgery for a benign tumor in the back of his head and many reconstructive surgeries after that left Martin partially paralyzed. With therapy and lots of determination, he learned to walk and talk again and when able started working as a night watchman at a shipyard and eventually bought a pet store which he and Audrey operated for many years. Later when they sold the pet store, Martin took a job as the maintenance manager of a large shopping mall in Surrey, BC before retiring back to Bengough in 1988. He was a passionate gardener and was very proud of his yard and flowers. He liked to work with wood in his shop and he loved music. While in BC he took up playing the organ. Martin leaves his wife, Audrey, of 68 years, daughters: Bonnie Pennell, Laurie Wilson (Art Neuman), and Linda Staple; son-in-law Kevin Staple; grandchildren: Cindy Pennell, Tom Pennell (Cindy Hartung), Dawn Graham (George), Carissa Wilson-Hurlbert, Kevin Wilson (Gwen Smith), Lana Staple (Kelly Fister), Wendy Staple (Bryce Hartman); great-grandchildren: Dylan, Mitchel, Brandon, Kyle, Jayden and Piper; numerous nieces and nephews in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Montana and long time family member Dwaine Wilson. He is predeceased by his parents Andrew and Amanda; brothers Stan and Alf; sisters Thelma and Stella; grandson Marty Pennell and son-in-law Tom Pennell. A Celebration of Martin’s Life will be held at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Ross Funeral Service, Assiniboia, SK.