Wilson James Totten

He is survived by his loving wife Karen; his sister Jean Johnson and her children Merrilee Johnson and Garth Johnson (Kathryn) and their children, Connor and Teague Johnson; special daughter Fern Phan (Toan) and special friends Pauline Mai and her children Sylvia, Raymond and Sandy.

On May 12, 1936, Wilson was born in Lemberg to Jim and Frances Totten (nee Tipping). In 1941 they moved to the Balfour Farm south of Balcarres. Wilson attended Saltoun school through grade 8 and grades 9 and 10 by correspondence and grade 11 and 12 in Balcarres. Wilson attended Normal School in Moose Jaw, a 6 week course to train teachers. His first teaching assignment was Tipperary, a one room school. He taught next in Balcarres High School and continued to farm full time after school and on weekends. His career then lead him to Regina to teach biology for 16 years at Balfour Collegiate.

Wilson enjoyed teaching but his love of farming finally took over and in 1981 he started farming full time and in that same year, he married Karen Jelfs. During the next 42 years they lived and worked on the Gibbons farm south of Balcarres. Wilson was a self made man who built up a successful farm through hard work, innovative ideas and seeding crops that were new to the area.

Wilson loved and served the Lord taking part in church activities. He was an avid curler & often curled three or more nights a week, mostly at the Tartan Curling Club. Each fall saw Wilson eagerly awaiting goose and deer hunting season. Wilson was blessed with the ability to fix and repair anything.

The funeral service was held in the Valley Alliance Church in Fort Qu’Appelle on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. with officiant Dr. Cliff Berman. The interment took place in Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery at 3:00 p.m.

The funeral service was live streamed on the Valley Alliance Church YouTube page.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Regina Christian School, 2505 - 23rd Avenue, Regina, SK S4S 7K7 or Regina Humane Society, 79 Armour Road, RM of Sherwood, SK S4K 0A8.