Obituary of Delbert Earl Hamilton

HAMILTON- Mr. Delbert Hamilton, age 96, late of Shellbrook, passed away in Parkland Terrace Care Home on Sunday, January 22, 2012. Delbert was born on September 7, 1915 on the family farm South West of Shellbrook, to Robert Hamilton and Irene Sterling. He was their second son and six sisters followed him. He attended Pleasantville school up to grade eight, leaving to help out with the farm. When he was 19, he left home and rode the rails from coast to coast to see the country. In 1943 he enlisted with the army, and served in Belgium, Holland and Germany. In 1946, Delbert returned home to farm in the Sturgeon Valley area with his brother Lindsey. He married Benita Ditmar in 1955, together they raised six children. In 1960 he took over his father's farm near Shellbrook, where he raised his family, served on the school board, and was a Legion member. Delbert and Benita liked travelling, returned to Europe, holidayed in the Caribbean and in 1989 bought property in Arizona where he spent ten winters. He became a grandfather in 1978. He lived to welcome nineteen grandchildren and four great grand children. He retired in 1999 and moved to Shellbrook. Even after retirement, the farm was a special place, and he liked to come out to visit whenever he could. He was a great story teller and we all loved to hear his stories as much as he loved to tell them. He was a man who loved nature, loved life and truly had a heart of gold. Delbert leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 57 years, Benita; his children, Debbie Boehm (Roger Dortman), William Hamilton, Ken (Monalee) Hamilton, Marlene Chagnon, Grant Hamilton, Pat (Gladys) Hamilton; his grandchildren, Darryl (Jalene), Adam, Shane (Amber), Vanessa Boehm, Jessica , Josie Hamilton, Ashley, Lisa (Robert), Meagan, Alex Hamilton, David, Courtney, Daniel, Stephanie Chagnon, Dakota, Tiffani Hamilton, Bradley, Susie, Sarah Hamilton; his great grandchildren, Caeley, Jaeden, Delbert, Piper; his sisters, Iris Downey, Edna Berry, Viola Howe, Lorna Measure; brothers-in-law, Max Ditmar, Frank Ditmar; sisters-in-law, Gladys (Dmetro) Chyzowski, Esther Ulhenberg; numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives. He was predeceased by, his parents Irene and Robert Hamilton; brother, Lindsey (Eileen) Hamilton; sisters, Cora (Len) Kaiser, Bertha (Elwood) Koppang; his in-laws Walter and Erika Ditmar; brothers-in-law, Vic (Olive) Ditmar, Arthur Ulhenberg, Frank Measure, Charles Howe, Ken Downey. The funeral service was held at Knox United Church in Shellbrook on Tuesday, January 31 at 2:00 pm with Rev. David Whalley as officiant. The soloist was Josie Hamilton, and the eulogy was given by Vanessa Boehm and Ashley Hamilton. The pallbearers were Darryl Boehm, Adam Boehm, Shane Boehm, David Chagnon, Daniel Chagnon, Bradley Hamilton. Memorial donations may be made to the Shellbrook and Districts Health Services Project, or to the Parkland Terrace Foundation. Interment was in the Veteran's Section of the Shellbrook Cemetery.