Rene Lamontagne

          Longtime Snow Lake resident, Rene Wilfrid Joseph Lamontagne, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Monday, November 4, 2024, in The Pas, Manitoba.

          Dad was born on Tuesday, July 23, 1929 in Lisieux, Saskatchewan. He worked on the farm and went to school to grade 6 where he achieved the second highest grades in the district with a 90 plus percent average.

          In December of 1946 he took the train to The Pas which included a 2 night layover in Regina. That was a pretty big adventure for a 17 year old farm boy. Dad went to work in The Pas upon arrival. He started with shovelling coal from freight trains, 40 tons for $1.20, two loads a day.

          Dad use to like going for fried rice at the Exchange Cafe in The Pas and it was here he met a beautiful young lady named Ramona Lambert who was a waitress there. They were married June 30 of 1953. After a couple years in Winnipeg they moved to the Snow Lake area on April 1 of 1957 where dad begun his long time career with the highways. It was here they started their family of 5 children, Doris, Marie, Rene, Annette and Gerard.

          Dad always worked hard for his family and his community. Dad and other neighbors poured a lot of basements and helped with all the early community work bees. He was a tireless volunteer and was recognized by the Manitoba Government at a ceremony in Winnipeg for his efforts with the Catholic Church, the Red Cross, the Elks and many others. He was very proud to be Snow Lake’s Parade Marshall for many years and we will always picture him in that role with his cowboy hat and big smile. And with that big smile came his famous big laugh which he was well known for far and wide.

          For all the wonderful things our father did for his family and his community, the greatest was helping other families in times of loss and sorrow. After him and mom lost their first daughter Doris in 1963, dad understood how difficult it was to deal with all the details that came with a family members passing. Strangers, acquaintances or friends he would call at these times and offer any help they needed, setting up chairs and tables, making arrangements, whatever he could do to make things easier for the families. 

          After 37 years working on the highway dad retired. We asked him his longest shift ever, he told us it was 47 hours in a snow storm. He told us the community needed him to keep the roads clear so that is what he did.

          Dad loved to spend time with his family, he loved to cook for us, he loved to wake up and visit with us at 3 am when we arrived in from Alberta. He loved making lunch or breakfast for his grandchildren and great grandchildren, he loved to play crib with those who would dare. He loved to help his nieces and nephews with a job at HudBay and a place to stay. He loved to tell us stories of our family’s history and our community’s history. Even in his last weeks he was excited to hear about gold and silver prices and projects in Snow Lake. He often said his biggest wish was for world peace. Our dad’s hobby was being a great man. 

Rene Lamontagne, a cowboy of the north.

In keeping with family wishes, cremation has take place and a service of remembrance to celebrate Rene's life will be held at a later date.