William "Bill" Davison

William “Bill” Conway Davison passed away peacefully with family by his side on August 28, 2024 at the age of 98 in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  

Bill was born to George and Jean Davison on January 17, 1926 on a farm north of Souris, Manitoba, where he grew up with three brothers and a sister.  Growing up in the “Dirty 30s” his family was poor but his memories from that time were filled with happiness and adventure, swimming in the dugout or driving a team of heavy horses pulling the farm equipment. The house was always filled with music as his mother, Jean (Curtis) Davison was an accomplished pianist and renowned music teacher in the area.  

In 1946, after several years of farm work, Bill started his teaching career in a one-room school in Montgomery at the age of 20.  The following year he did his teacher training at Normal School in Gretna where he met and fell in love with his beloved future wife, Frances Madill. They were married in 1950. Bill taught at many schools in southern Manitoba (Gretna, Stockton, Glenboro, Bethany, McConnell) and was principal at Crandall and Elkhorn.

In 1967, Bill and the family moved to Hamiota where he became the superintendent of the Birdtail River School Division, a position he held for 18 years.  During that time he was involved in the building or expansion of schools in Hamiota, Birtle and Strathclair. It was in Hamiota that he undertook the first of many house renovation projects and it was here that he and Fran finished raising their five children.

His sense of community and his love of rural Manitoba inspired him to buy a half section of land north of Kenton and he moved there in 1977.  Bill loved his farm and he was a strong advocate for rural life and agriculture in Manitoba.  For him to support a political ideal, he needed to see clear advantages for rural Manitoba.  He supported the early creation of the Reform Movement in Western Canada and in 1988 he ran provincially as a Liberal.  Bill understood the importance of a grain port in Western Canada and, as a longstanding member of the Board of Directors for the Hudson Bay Route Association, worked to improve rail access to Churchill. Locally he was also a member of the Lion’s Club in Kenton. 

In 2009 Bill sold the farm and moved to Brandon where he and Fran spent many years together living in their house on Lorne Avenue. They then moved into supportive living in River Heights Terrace in Brandon and from there Bill moved to Lilac Residence in Hamiota. He spent his last 6 years in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  Bill had a generous nature and was a philosopher, poet, prolific writer, and singer of songs. His family will remember him for his ‘Bill-isms’ and unfailing sense of humour and wit.  He lived his last years full of gratitude for his family and for his abundant life.

Bill was predeceased by his wife, Frances, and his parents George and Jean, his sister Lois (Art) Tully, and brothers Jack (Hazel), George (Verlie) and Gerald (Judy). Bill is lovingly remembered by his children Dale (Anne), Chris (Kathryn), Ryan (Jody), Kim (Iris+), Mischa (Mark), grandchildren Dylan (Julia), Micah (Jen), Robin (Helena), Hannah (Peter), Morgan (Jenny) Rebecca (Dan), Seth, Robert (Ky), Paige (Scott), Evan (Diana), Trent (Erin), Diana (Stewart), Sula Jane (Stuart), Jonah (Brooke), Emma (Shanna) great-grandchildren, Liene, Ezra , Deklan, Caleb,  Roanna, Ariah, Jude, Orla, Sophia, Ben, Nora, Henrik, Lewis, Jackson, Iona, Innis, Romy and Sullivan.

A memorial celebration of Bill’s life will be held at Kenton Legion Hall at 2:00 PM on October 5, 2024.  For those so desiring, donations may be made in Bill’s memory to the Kenton Legion Playground project through Kenton Community Enterprises.

To send flowers for the memorial celebration, please visit:

https://www.campbellfuneralhome.ca/obituary/WilliamBill-Davison/sympathy-landing 

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