Ross McCracken

Ross McCracken

Oct. 22, 1933-July 22, 2023 (age 89 years)

Ross left this life peacefully at home on July 22, 2023 at age 89 with loved ones gathered.

He was born in Tisdale, SK to Gordon and Tennie McCracken, a brother for Alvin and Earl.

At age twelve the family moved to Sherridon, where he spent his time playing hockey and baseball, looking after the local hockey rink, delivering water with horses to local residents and working after school in the mine machine shop.   As a young teenager, Ross and a buddy built a log cabin by Found Lake that they skied to in winter and within the same year he travelled with the hockey team he coached to a tournament in Flin Flon by train.  With the money he earned delivering water and working at the machine shop he bought a canoe to explore the lakes.

From Sherridon his family moved to Lynn Lake where Ross finished high school and began work as a miner and bought himself a motorcycle (all his life he wanted another).  It was in Sherridon where he met Peggy and began their life-long love of 66 years. Howie was born a year later followed by Janet and the motorcycle was to be swapped for a new Mercury half ton truck that could fit their expanding family.

Shortly after, Ross moved the family from Lynn Lake to Radville, SK where Ross partnered with his brother Earl in running a Macleod’s store.  Many life-long friends were made there and soon, his daughters Dorrie and Marnie would come along to complete the family.

But farming was his calling, and after touring the prairies with his dad, looking for land, Ross chose to settle in The Pas where he built their new home.  As with most start-ups, they faced many challenges. Peggy would return to teaching full-time while Ross began not only building the farm, but caring for his young children.   He grew a garden and did preserving and canning.  He always made supper and used the latest trends such as the bread maker, air fryer and pressure canner.        

Over the years he would raise cattle, sheep, chickens and horses and grow grain.  Ross built a raft and zip line across the Carrot River, and swimming the cattle across to pasture in the spring was always an adventure. He began planting trees on his property of all varieties soon numbering in the hundreds. He was always on the lookout for new ideas. He made many out-of-town trips and always came home with something new to plant or something that would benefit the farm. He would give away trees he’d grown from seed, even gifting Burr Oak seedlings this summer to good homes.

His life was a constant and wonderful adventure and he loved spending time with his family.  Although farming was busy and a full-time occupation, Ross managed to fit leisure time in between calving, seeding and harvest and the family has lots of good camping stories.   Camping was fun times with the children and later years with the grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Ross was always an advocate for progress and loved to try new trends, whether it be up and coming machinery for the farm, trying out different cattle breeds or wearing his flashy red bell-bottomed pants (fortunately this is one trend that never caught on).  He kept up on current events, was always excited about new technology and was keen to investigate new ideas.  He was a life-long learner who was an avid reader, kept up on current events and took courses that would benefit the farm. He successfully lobbied for the bridge across the Carrot River, volunteered as a leader in the local 4-H Crops Club, supervised youth sports at the old Carrot Valley Hall, was a Councillor for the L.G.D. of Consol and dedicated time as President of the Grassland Society.

He dearly loved his eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren and quietly encouraged them.  Anything new that anyone wanted to try was okay with him and they all came to value his unconditional acceptance, honesty and good nature.  He was always proud of his family and lit up whenever they visited.

Ross will be lovingly remembered by all of our family and we are grateful to hold many treasured memories of time spent with him.

In keeping with Ross's wishes, cremation has taken place and no formal service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, family requested that you please plant a tree in Ross's honor.