Bill was born December 22, 1935, the only son of William Reed and Asta Hotvedt. He was born in Prince Albert and raised on the farm at Shell Lake. He attended his school years in Shell Lake which held many happy memories, he never did take school too seriously. In his senior years he made both the baseball and curling teams.
After graduation, he became a full-time farmer working with his Dad’s land with his brother-in-law Henry Hotvedt. In 1958 he rented Henry’s farmland and in 1965 he purchased it. During his farming career he saw many changes. He wasn’t fond of farming with horses. As he would say “I didn’t appreciate looking those horses in the ass everyday”. Haying could be a nightmare especially if they raked up a hornet’s nest.
He picked many a rock by hand, first with horses and a stone boat, then a tractor and stone boat, and finally with a rock picker. The transition to more modern machinery made farming much less labour intensive.
We met at Donald and Cathy Lutz’s wedding dance in 1964 in Shell Lake. We were married in 1966 and celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary in June.
He loved the outdoors, did a lot of hunting and fishing. His early years of hunting were a labour of love. He would go up north, camp for a couple of weeks, walk for hours, most days not even seeing a track, or following a track all day with no results. Not to mention getting lost and camping out all night with the wolves howling.
He enjoyed camping and fishing. We would pack up after I was done work and had a couple of days off, and head up to Delaronde. We had lots of good fishing and fun times. Later we travelled to Nemeiben Lake, a place he really liked. Apparently, the trout were supposed to bite early in the morning so we would be up bright and early. Make the 20-mile trek up the lake in search for trout. We caught our fair share of burbot.
Bill has had a good long life, something he was very thankful for. He will be missed but never forgotten.

 

Bill is lovingly remembered by; his wife: Colleen, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren:
Kurt (Noreen) and family: Bryce (Rachelle), Taylor, Lane (Tara) – Remi and Kaisen, Dylan

Janet (David) Clark and family: Clayton (Taliah) – Emerson and Ellie, Lowen (Demyra) – Myles and Mason, Jodie (Daniel) Carrier, Jennifer, Daniel
His sister: Fay Brewer
Numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends

Bill was predeceased by: his parents: William and Asta Reed (nee Hotvedt), his maternal grandparents: Olaf and Helene Hotvedt (nee Jakobsen), his paternal grandparents: Arthur and Kate Reed (nee Ingram), his sisters and his brothers-in-law: Alice (Clifford) Burrows, Katie (Henry) Berg, Mabel (Henry) Hotved, his brothers-in-law: Lloyd Brewer, Robert Prafke, Calvin Prafke, his sisters-in-law: Marie Argue, Linda Scobie, his parents-in-law: Keith and Paulina Prafke

Donations maybe made in Bill’s memory to the Idylwild Lodge Auxiliary.

A graveside was held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Shell Lake Cemetery.

Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, R. Mark Muir Funeral Director, Spiritwood, SK (306) 883-3500.

 

• Date : 2026-08-04
• Location : Spiritwood, SK