David Helmer Sandin was born a proud Swede on Saturday, December 24, 1938, in Shellbrook, SK, and passed away a proud Swede at 05:10 on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, at the Herb Bassett Nursing Home in Prince Albert, SK. He was the son of Swedish immigrants, Wilhelm P. Sandin and Johanna Hakanson, and joined a family of 3 girls, Judy, Gladys, Ruth, and a brother John.  When David was born, his father had driven his team of horses to Parkside and left them at a livery stable and walked down the railroad tracks to be with his newborn son and wife. Growing up David lived on the farm and had to do his fair share of the farm work and chores along with his sisters and brother.  Times were tough during the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.  They had to work hard for what they got.  DAVID’S Mom milked cows, looked after the family and did numerous farm chores, and his Dad planted and harvested the crops, and cut hundreds of cords of wood in order to put food on the table.  Even so there were times when they went hungry. At one point they got 82 cents for a gallon of cream, a 200 pound pig fetched $2.50, and cows sold for a penny a pound.  A Rye crop got as low as 10 cents a bushel. Through lean crops, and good crops, they did survive! 
David and his siblings attended Spruce Glen School, and he also attended Parkside School until grade 10 when he quit school to help his Dad on the farm. At Spruce Glen School he attended with his sisters and brother he had two close friends, Russell Williams and Jimmy Phillips.  These two became lifelong friends of his. David and these two boys had Shetland ponies they would ride to school.  After school they would get on their ponies and race as fast as they could to the corner amidst the cheers of all the other students.  Of course this was done just about every day in the spring and summer and was unknown to his parents.
David was very proud of his hard working parents and the life lessons they instilled. He was very proud of his Dad, who with a grade three education, could read and write as good as anyone.  He campaigned and help organize the CCF party, served on the Spruce Glen School Board, the Shell Lake School Unit, Division 6 councillor, and was elected Reeve for many years, and also served on other boards and committees doing volunteer work.  Of course with all this happening his Mom and the other family members had the farm chores and work to do. He had wanted to take over the farm, and buy some more land but he could not get a loan, so he decided to start working off the farm instead.  
On April 18, 1961 he married Tinia Ewachiw of Blaine Lake, SK.  In this marriage they were blessed with their chosen son, Murray, and a daughter, Lorreann. 
He worked for many years as a construction foreman for the Leask RM, driving the grader and other big equipment and whatever was required of him.  Later he worked for many years up north at Deschambault Lake for the Provincial Government building and maintaining roads. Tinia was a school teacher and taught in Shell Lake, Leask and Prince Albert.  When it was time to retire they moved to Prince Albert living there for several years until they moved to Saskatoon and Prince Albert. 
David is survived by his daughter, Lorreann Helstron; his granddaughter, Samantha Fiddler (Chad); and his grandchildren, Keighleigh, Karter, and Pierce; his sisters, Judy Owen and Ruth Delaronde; and several nieces and nephews, and many good special friends and co-workers from over the years. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 56 years, Tinia Sandin; by his parents, Wilhelm P. and Johanna (nee Hakanson) Sandin; his father and mother-in-law, Peter and Mary Ewachiw; his son, Murray Sandin; his brothers-in-law, Wilf Owen, Mervil Fagrie and Vern Delaronde; his brother, John W. Sandin; his sister, Gladys Fagrie; and his great-granddaughter, Jayden Helstrom.
The family of David Sandin would like to thank all the Nurses and Doctors who looked after him and Tinia from the various Hospitals that looked after them, and the staff at the Leask Nursing Home, and Herb Bassett Nursing Home. Also thank you to the River Park Funeral Home and the Prince Albert First Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wheatland Lodge, Box 130, Leask, SK, S0J 1M0. David’s funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, February 1, 2019, at the First Baptist Church, 1351 28 Street East, Prince Albert, SK, Reverend Dan Stroman officiating. Interment to follow at Prince Albert Memorial Gardens. Online condolences may be left at https://www.arbormemorial.ca/riverpark/Obituaries/david-sandin/29492 . Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of River Park Funeral Home, (306) 764-2727, Don Moriarty, Funeral Director.

 

• Date : 2019-01-23
• Location : Prince Albert, SK