From all of us at Canadian Cattlemen, our condolences to the family and friends of Bernie Payne. We all lost a great one!
The following is from an eulogy delivered by Jana Rutherford and Tara Koppel. It has been edited for space.
Bernard William Payne was born on January 22, 1936, in Lloydminster to George and Grace. He was the oldest of their three children, a proud big brother to Evelyn and Maureen. Just six miles down the road lived a young girl whom he got to know while growing up. He took a shine to her in their early teenage years. On July 4, 1956, Grandpa married his sweetheart Mona Elizabeth Manley.
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Grandma was so excited to start their perfect family with one boy and one girl. Over the next 10 years, they welcomed six boys. As you can imagine, the troubles and adventures they got into on and off the farm were endless. Grandpa and Grandma taught the boys hard work, discipline, having fun and being involved in your community were essential life skills.
Grandpa’s second home was the Lloydminster Exhibition. He had been involved with the exhibition for over 50 years, serving as a board director, board president and on many committees. In 2010 Grandpa received recognition for being on the exhibition board of directors for 35 years.
Grandpa was a true cattleman at heart. At 12 years old Grandpa’s passion began with 4-H. Through his dad’s leadership and guidance he started to build his own herd and had approximately 128 cattle by 1972. Two years later, Grandpa and his boys established Greenwood Limousin. They named it after the district in which they lived and the Limousin breed that they loved. Some of the first Greenwood Limousin cattle were purchased during a fishing trip in which Grandpa found Limousin crossbreds being sold in a local newspaper. In 1978, Grandpa purchased Helix, their first and most powerful herdsire. That same year was their first showing at the Canadian Western Agribition in which they won Champion Percentage Female. Greenwood Limousin has shown and sold cattle throughout Canada and the U.S. and extended their sales to countries such as Australia, Brazil, China, England, Ireland, Scotland and Mexico.
If there was something that made Grandpa prouder than his cattle, it was his family. He would brag about us all to anyone who would listen. Sixty-five years with the love of his life is a love story that many people don’t get to experience.
Grandpa loved all of his boys. Grandma and him would agree they are stubborn in their own ways, yet organized in everything they do. She sees the lighter side of Grandpa when they are having fun and joking around with each other. Greg, Brad, Harvey, Rocky, Mark and Scott, your dad was so proud of you.
Grandpa loved to get in trouble with the grandsons and before they got to the house they were told to “act normal” or “don’t tell Grandma anything.” When Jana and I were told “no” by our parents or Grandma, we would look at Grandpa and he would give us girls a wink and say, “go ahead.”
Grandpa lived a good, long life. We are all so blessed we got so many years with him.
