Obituary of LeRoy Dosdall

Roy was born to Emil and Katherine Dosdall in 1937 and raised in Quinton, SK.  Roy and his older brother Claude spent their early years on the family farm before moving into town in 1941 where his parents ran the General Store.  Roy began his education in a Lutheran one-room schoolhouse before attending the Catholic school run by the Ursaline Sisters, graduating in 1955 in a class of only two students. Roy, along with his brother, cousins, and friends, had many adventures in rural Saskatchewan; swimming in the dug-outs, potato roasts, hockey coached by the parish priest, skiing, hanging out in the pool hall, and his lifelong passion; baseball.

Roy met Belva Zimmer at the Newman Club while they were both studying at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.  They were married in 1959 and just days after their wedding Roy and Belva traveled for their first time to the Canadian North to teach in the new community of Inuvik, NWT for two years.  Roy and Belva returned to Saskatoon for Roy to complete his degrees in Arts and Education, and welcome their first daughter, Chaturi in the fall of 1961.

In 1962 the Dosdall family headed back to the North where Roy took a position as the Vice-Principal of Takhini Elementary School in Whitehorse.  During their eight years in Whitehorse, he served as an administrator in several schools, finally as the Principal of Whitehorse Elementary.  Roy and Belva enjoyed their life in Whitehorse, becoming very involved in the competitive curling community, playing in the round-the-clock 24-hour bonspiels and making lifelong friends.  While in Whitehorse Karen was born in 1964, and May-Lee in 1966.  Summers were spent exploring the Yukon and Alaska with their truck and camper and heading back to the prairies to visit family.

In 1970 Roy and his family moved to Penticton, BC where he was happy to return to being a regular classroom teacher. In 1971 Roy took a position at Allan Johnstone School in Hardisty, AB where we served as Vice-Principal and taught Grade 6 for 25 years, retiring in 1997.

In 1977 it was with great joy Roy welcomed a new daughter, Jacinda, to his family, and with great sadness lost her to a sudden illness in 1979.

Roy was happy to call Hardisty home for over half his life.  He enjoyed his years in the classroom and loved to reminisce about the students he taught. Roy spent countless hours in the curling rink, on the golf course, and doing woodwork.  In retirement, Roy followed many sports, especially golf and curling, and always stayed loyal to his Toronto Blue Jays.

Roy loved sharing stories with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and they loved to listen. 

Roy courageously battled rheumatoid arthritis for over two decades.  After six very difficult weeks in the hospital, Roy passed away on August 24th at the University of Alberta Hospital. In his final days, he told us all he wanted was to go and be with God.

Roy is survived by his wife, Belva, and three daughters, Chaturi Palm, Karen (Doug) Bird, and May-Lee (Kelvin) Buban.  Roy was blessed with 13 grandchildren, Brandon (Amanda) Palm and their four children Isaac, Jacinda, Evangeline and Violet, Grayson (Amanda) Palm and their two children Vincent and Catherine, Schyler Palm, Anya Palm, Kelsey (Braedon) Brisebois, Madison Bird, Jordan Bird, Eric Bird, Georgia Bird, Mitchell Buban, Sarah Buban, Kurt Buban and Andrea Buban.

Roy is predeceased by his parents, his only brother, Claude, and his beloved daughter, Jacinda.

A prayer service for Roy will be held at Fee & Sons Funeral Home Monday, August 28, 2017, at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, August 29, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Killam, Alberta.

Please join the family for a time of refreshments and fellowship to be held at the Hardisty Community Hall immediately following the Funeral Mass.

In Roy’s memory donations may be made to one of his favourite charities; the Red Cross Disaster Assistance Fund, Hope Mission, or the charity of one’s choice.