William “Bill” Clayton Brown, passed away peacefully at his home by the river at Lily Plain on Friday,  February 21, 2025, at the age of 97.

He was a much-loved husband to Dolyce, loving father to Sandra, Donald, Gail, Jean and Linda and will be sadly missed by all of his family.

Bill was born in Kinistino, SK, on June 12, 1927, to Otto and Signe Brown.

The family soon moved to Prince Albert where he grew up and went to school.  He had a busy young life with sports, working at the Candy Kitchen and being a member of the Rawalpindi Prince Albert Sea Cadets, until he joined the Royal Canadian Navy at the age of 17.  He served in Cornwallis and on HMCS Toronto until the war ended in 1945.  When he was discharged, he returned to Prince Albert where he completed his high school education, working at Canada Post and Metropolitan Life before starting an illustrious career with Simpsons-Sears, later Sears Canada Inc.

Bill worked his way up in the company from a big-ticket salesman to General Manager, Catalogue for the Lakehead, Western Canada and the Artic.  He was transferred several times over the years to Calgary, Toronto, Regina, and Edmonton from where he retired in 1984.

During his years in Regina, he developed the property he had purchased in 1962 on the North Saskatchewan River.  “The Ranch” as he called it, was home for him and Dolyce from 1984 to the present.

After retirement from Sears, Bill volunteered with the Federal Business Development Bank where he counselled and taught people how to start and run a new business.  He wrote a book of instructions for them to follow.  He was on the board of Habitat for Humanity and a member of the Kiwanis Club.  During this time, Bill was flying his own planes and joined the Civil Air Search and Rescue, becoming  Zone Commander for the P.A. area.  He was a pilot for CASARA for about 28 years.

Left to mourn are his wife of 48 years, Dolyce; 5 children, Sandra (David) Listoe, Donald (Mary) Brown, Gail Winter, Jean Brown and Linda Brown; 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren; 4 sisters in-law; 1 brother in-law; several nieces and nephews who were always part of Bill’s life and who held a special place in his heart. Also left to mourn his passing are Dolyce’s family, Ben (Alix), Rob, Bryan (Joy) and Michelle; 6 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Bill was predeceased by his parents, Otto and Signe Brown; 5 brothers, Gerald, Orville, Lawrence, Jack and Patrick; his sister, Enid Taggart; and his pride and joy, his grandson, Jimmy Brown.

Memorial Service will take place at Lily Plain Hall on Bill’s birthday, Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.  The hall is located approximately 20 minutes West of Prince Albert on Highway 302W at McCormick Road.  In lieu of other tributes, donations in memory of Bill may be made to STARS Donations, 1441 Aviation Park NE, Box 570, Calgary, AB, T2E 8M7.

Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit http://www.beaulacfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Marianne Turcotte, Funeral Director, Prince Albert, SK 306-763-3322.

 

• Date : 2025-02-21
• Location : Prince Albert, SK