In Loving Memory of Roy Selmer Hillstead

Roy S. Hillstead was born in Oungre, Saskatchewan on March 31, 1929 and passed away on July 20, 2007 at 78 years of age. He was predeceased by his parents, a brother, Ken, brother-in-law, Bern Polasek, mother-in-law, Anna Schmale, and by his wife, Esther. He is left to mourn his passing, his beloved Juliann Parsons, son, Bruce and his children Chris and Alana (Terroll) and her children, Mathew, Kaitlyn Madison, daughter, Lindy (Ron) Wilkinson and their children, Jeff and Tyler (Jennie); brothers and sisters, Harold (Dorothy) Hillestad, Glenna (Arlo) Johnson, Marion (George) Windrum, Eunice Polasek, and Morris (Fern) Hillstead, and sister-in-law, Marlene Hillstead, special aunt, Mabel Evert, and many brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Roy spent the first years of his life in Beaubier, Saskatchewan & when his father became a CPR workman, the family lived in the towns of McLean, Grenfell, Corrine, and Qu'Appelle. In 1943 the family moved back to Beaubier to farm, Roy completed his education at Norge School. Later, Roy was employed with a Seismograph company. It was while working in the Kerrobert area that he boarded at Anna Schmale's home, where he met and married Esther Schmale on November 5, 1950.

Roy and Esther worked in the oil fields of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and on April 4, 1953 their son Bruce was born in Red Deer, Alberta, and on September 27, 1954 their daughter Lindy was born in Olds, Alberta.

Over the years, Roy was involved in various business ventures: In the late 1950's it was a service station business in Medicine Hat, Alberta. In 1960 the family moved to Midale, Saskatchewan and bought a Tanker Truck to haul oil and do field service work for Harold Schrader Trucking. A year later, Roy bought two trucks and started working for Central Del Rio which later became Pan Canadian Petroleum. In 1964, Roy and his brother Ken formed Hillstead Brothers Trucking, which later became Hillstead Transport Limited. In 1967 they bought Henry Reiter Transport. Then they had highway trucks hauling cable and prefabricated house packages, as well as trucks to service the oilfields. In 1977 Roy sold his share to Ken, and Roy bought the Bow Manor Hotel in Oxbow, Saskatchewan. Upon selling the Bow Manor two years later, he purchased the Big J Motel in Weyburn. Several years later he sold the motel and purchased Slezak's Sheet Metal and Don's Plumbing amalgamating the two companies into one company known as Don's Plumbing and Heating. Roy's final venture into business involved the purchase of the 385 Motel in 1992. After remodeling it, and operating it for many years, he sold it in 2003 to retire.

In the restlessness of his retirement, Roy started helping his friends Rick and Trevor with their farming operation. This gave him an opportunity to, once again, drive truck and feel useful.

Roy was all heart. He was the first to offer his assistance in a time of need. He made us feel special and loved. He was also great company by injecting his sense of humour at every opportunity. He will live on in the memories of his family and friends.

Roy's funeral service was held in the Weyburn Free Methodis Church on Thursday, July 26, 2007, with interment in the Weyburn Hillcrest Cemetery.