Edward passed peacefully on May 8th, 2026 at the age of 95, as his family shared a meal exchanging stories about the memorable man their father, grandfather and husband was.

The 3rd child of Martin and Eva Risling, Ed was born April 16th, 1931 in Scott, SK. He met and married the love of his life, Helen, and raised his family on his childhood farm.

He had great respect for tradition, but embraced technology where it could benefit the farm and the family. While passionate about his beloved horses that he worked the land with, he also integrated motorized machinery to keep the farm productive and current.  From photography and videography to radios and turntables, if it could enrich the life of the family, Edward would invest in it.  In 1976 Edward built another home in Battleford in his beloved river valley. He enjoyed planting and harvesting from his fruit trees in the yard, daily walks along the river and chats with neighbours and others he met along the way as he went for the mail, to the hardware store or to exchange library books.

Ed was a well respected farmer, community member and volunteer. He would canvass for charity, was indispensable at the North Battleford Western Development Museum in restoring woodwork or farm equipment and was a willing volunteer at the Pioneer Hall.

Ed used his handyman skills to build beautiful homes for his children and he had a steady stream of grandchildren bringing everything from a broken bike chain to a cracked wagon tire to Grandpa for fixing. Ed’s passion for woodworking meant the family has beautiful bedroom suites or other heirloom furniture built by his hands to remember him by.

Family was always Ed’s first priority. His greatest joy was loading all the grandkids up for day trips in the motorhome to Aquadeo beach, fishing trips to Canoe Lake or hosting family get togethers and meals during holidays. He had time for each of his grandchildren, teaching them to cross country ski, skate, do their own repairs, build a project, or even just sit quietly in nature, observing wildlife. He was firm but fair, with an abundance of patience and willingness to teach life skills from driving a vehicle to filleting a fish. There was no greater joy for the grandchildren than being taught to drive the farm truck or the combine by Grandpa. He believed in letting one learn life lessons by doing, and you could count on Grandpa to keep your shenanigans a secret, because he was a willing participant or the instigator!

Music and dance was woven through Ed’s daily life. His children and his wife played a variety of instruments and were taught at bare minimum to dance polka, waltz and foxtrot. Ed and Helen were members of several dance clubs and enjoyed their evenings with the other “regulars”. When the band would strike up a polka, Ed would let out a “WOOP”, grab his forever partner Helen’s hand and skip to the dance floor.

Edward’s legacy is his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They are continuing to run the family farm with innovation and careful stewardship for the land. His love of animals and outdoors, the DIY skills to start and finish a project and so much more has been passed down to the next generations. You can see the patience he had with the smallest to the tallest in helping them explore their world, learning to do at anything they set their mind to, the kindness and willingness to help others and his thirst for knowledge has all become family traits.  Ed’s definite opinion on everything from clothes to T.V. shows, love of homemade desserts, ice cream and Kit Kats…all of who Edward was has created a lifetime of stories for us to share with each other over the next many years.

Left to cherish Edward’s memory are his beloved wife of 71 years, Helen, his son Richard (Bonnie) and grandchildren Courtney, Kyle and Celina, son Mervin (Karen) and grandchildren Evan, Brent and Trina and grandchildren Tanya, Brennan, Lonni and Blake.  He was also blessed with 10 great grandchildren – Sadie, Zander, Austin, Sophie, Sawyer, Chloe, Harlie, Mark, Haley and Matthias.  Edward is predeceased by his parents Martin and Eva, siblings Emelie, Lena, Helen, Elizabeth, Rita, Ralph, Donald and his eldest daughter Marilyn.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of Battleford District Care.

There will be a private internment and Celebration of Life at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family asks you to consider donations to the BDCC Resident Council of the Battleford Regional Care Recreation program.  E-transfer to bdccresident@gmail.com, drop off at the BDCC admin or mail to BDCC Rec. Dept, Box 69, Battleford, SK, S0M 0E0

• Date : 2026-05-13
• Location : North Battleford, SK