It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Philippe Leon Duret, on Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Canwood, SK,

Philippe was born August 29, 1930, in Victoire, SK, to Willie and Amanda (nee Beaulac) Duret. He was third eldest in the family consisting of Marie-Anna, Andre, Guy, Jean, Eugenie, Laurent, Roger, Raymond and Monique.

He began his farming “career” after completing grade 8 at Berube School. At that time, farm work was done with horses until about 1947 when the first tractor and spring harrow was introduced to the farm. “What progress” as dad would say. Dad continued to work on the family farm until he married.

You may have heard him talk of his father’s push to get his boys into sports, buying the equipment for the teams, driving the players from game to game. Sports became a huge part of dad’s life. When the sun shone and work was done, it was softball, teams comprised of mostly cousins, ages ranging from 15 to 22. The team quickly outgrew the competition they faced in Debden, Happy Valley, Pascal and Winter Lake so they ventured further to Dry Creek, Prince Albert and Saskatoon. As per dad, tournaments were always won by either the Ormeaux Alouettes or the Dry Creek Penguins. Always fierce competitors on the field, but friends off the field.

Since they couldn’t play ball all year, they turned to hockey during the winter months. In the beginning they used willows as sticks and frozen horse droppings as pucks. In 1946, skates were found under the Christmas tree and so it began. The Duret boys played for the Debden Rockets which was known as an “outlaw league” which comprised of former NHL players who careers had been cut short for one reason or another and others. Dad loved to tell us how he could skate faster backwards than Freddie Sasakamoose could skate forward. Freddie must not have been insulted by this feat as he and dad would golf together on occasion in their later years.

Dad also developed a love of curling and skipped many games. He was a great cheerleader when it came time for his children to take up the sport. And how can we forget golf?  Many games were played in the area for many years. He finally hung up his golf clubs at about age 87. He was still golfing 2-3 games a week that last summer.

On a family trip to Quebec in the fall of 1958, he met his future wife, Annette Beaulac. After four years of writing letters back and forth, they became engaged and subsequently married in Durham Sud, Quebec on June 29, 1963. They married in the morning, followed by a lunch. Then Annette packed all her belongings into the trunk of dad’s car and off to Saskatchewan they went, to be welcomed with open arms by dad’s family and extended family.

They welcomed four children:  Lucile, Roger, Gerald and Guylaine.

Dad and mom had a mixed farming operation which kept the kids busy with chores of one kind or another. Sunday was always a day of rest and a day to maybe go to the golf course/campground or lake. Great memories of family camping with extended family were often shared through the years. The boys also have many memories of going fishing, hunting and putting up fence (after their night out on the town).

Dad and mom retired from farming in the spring of 1994 when Gerald and his wife Melanie bought the farm.

Dad and mom retired to Morin Lake, building a home there. Three short years later, in June 1997, mom passed away while visiting her family in Quebec.  For Dad, life was never the same without her, but he did his best to carry on.

In 2010, he sold the house at Morin Lake and moved to Debden Heritage Manor where he resided until the fall of 2021 at which time, he moved to Whispering Pines Place in Canwood.

Grandkids kept him busy with ball, hockey, soccer and dance recitals to attend. In later years, he loved to go for country drives to see how Alex was making out seeding or combining, going for a combine ride with Gerald and Keegan, having lunch in the field or at the lake. He was always blown away by the size of the machinery and the amount of fertilizer being used as compared to when he was younger. Even at his age, he tried to impart some advice to the younger farmers whether they wanted it or not. We always teased him about the tan he had while living at Whispering Pines Place as he loved to sit outside in the afternoon to count the vehicles going by on the highway, how campers went by Friday and how many came by again Sunday.

Grandpapa was known for his waffles which he made whenever the grandkids came to visit. The adults were treated to his sugar pies at family functions. And of late, it was his bingo “candy prizes” at Whispering Pines Place that he shared with his visitors.

Dad passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 5th, 2026, surrounded by his family. His passing will leave a void in our lives, but we know he has finally been reunited with mom, whom he has missed dearly since her passing 29 years ago.

Philippe is survived by his daughter, Lucile and her children:  Alex, Erik and Sarah Carey; his son Gerald and his wife Melanie (nee Person) and their children: Amanda, Keegan and Morgan (Josh Lafond); his daughter Guylaine and her husband Lyle Roode. He is also survived by his sister Monique Krushelniski; numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

He was predeceased by his loving wife Annette; his son Roger; son-in-law Bruce Beskal; and members of the extended family.

The family would like to express their greatest gratitude and thanks to the staff at Whispering Pines Place in Canwood where dad lived his last four and a half years. The amount of care and compassion shown to him and to us during his final days cannot be measured nor adequately described. You are simply the best!

Memorial Mass will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Notre Dame des Victoires RC Church in Victoire, SK. Private interment will follow the lunch. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Philippe to the Whispering Pines Place Recreation Dept. (Box 418, Canwood, SK S0J 0K0) or Debden Heritage Manor (Box 608, Debden, SK S0J 0S0).

Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Tammy Smart, Funeral Director, Shellbrook, SK 306-747-2828.

• Date : 2026-07-05
• Location : Canwood, SK