Edward "Bill" William Mills

January 8, 1926-August 27, 2023

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of an amazing man. Bill passed away peacefully on August 27, 2023.

Bill was born in Colonsay, SK in 1926 to Winona Skidmore and Hopkins Mills. He was the second of their 3 children a year younger than Norm and a year older than Maisie. When the children were very young, Winona found herself on her own due to circumstances beyond her control. In subsequent years, she married and had several other children, but unfortunately, Bill had little contact with them. Norm, Bill and Maisie lived with their grandfather for a time, but when he retired, he could no longer afford to keep the children, so he moved to a place near Prince Albert and reluctantly placed them in St. Patrick's Orphanage, where he visited them once a month. In the orphanage, Bill developed skills in beekeeping, book binding, gardening and serving as an altar boy. But he was a small kid, and he had to learn quickly how to take care of himself in an institutional setting. Fortunately, he excelled academically so much so that even though he spent almost his entire grade 8 year in the hospital with kidney failure he managed to pass with honors. In those days, however, only those who opted for the priesthood were eligible for high school, so Bill left the orphanage and joined Norm in the workforce. He became a messenger boy, and he rode his bike up and down the hills of Prince Albert to deliver telegrams some of which were addressed to John Diefenbaker. At 14, he began training as an operator for the CNR; and determined to do well, he became proficient at typing, coding, and communicating with wired and wireless telegraphy. He also sustained his close relationship with his grandpa, the one person who had stood by him throughout his childhood.

As soon as he was old enough, Bill joined the Navy with the intention of working in the ASDIC (anti-submarine sonar detection) division, but he was denied the opportunity because he did not have Grade 11. Not one to give up easily, Bill challenged the Navy officials to let him write the entrance exam and his score was so high that he was welcomed into ASDICs. While he was in the Navy, he volunteered to work during Christmas and other holidays so that others could go home to their families. He rarely took time off because he had nowhere to go. On one occasion, however, he was sent to Winnipeg on leave, and when he met a Navy League volunteer named Beth Dover, it was love at first sight. When the war was over, Bill was able to complete his Grade 12 and enroll in Commerce at the U of S. Beth and Bill married in 1949, and with $10 in their pockets, they ventured off to Churchill, MB where Bill worked many overtime hours as a Manager/Wire Chief for CN Telecommunications. But he was not alone Bink, their big boxer dog would accompany him, sit in her own chair and return home to get Beth for lunch every day. Bill loved that dog, and she was his constant companion for many years.

When Barb was born, they decided to move from Churchill, and they bought a house in Melville. Bill, a lifelong car enthusiast, also bought a brand new green 1955 Chev Belair, which was his pride and joy.

In 1965, Bill, Beth and Barb welcomed Brenda; and for the next 25 years, they made Melville their home. He quickly got involved in the community, and during his time in Melville, he served on City Council, the hospital board, the K of C, the Figure Skating Club and the Catholic School Board. In his spare time, he sold Fuller Brush door-to-door, built a cabin and boathouse at Melville Beach in the Qu'Appelle Valley, took a four-year Certified Management Accountant Course by correspondence, traveled to Great Britain, and became a part-time Snowbird in Kissimmee, Florida where Beth's relatives had Park Model trailers.

Bill retired in 1986, and they sold their house and cabin and moved to Saskatoon. Bill developed strong friendships with a group of mall walkers and several CN pensioners. He also delved into Nightingale-Conant audio books and "The Great Courses" learning programs. In 1990 and 1991, he suffered two aneurysms, and he traveled to London, ON for brain surgery. At 66 years old, he made the decision to quit driving, and he said that it felt like "getting his legs cut off." From that point on, all travel involved flying; and his son-in-law Cam (and occasionally Beth) became Bill's chauffeurs. Bill was devastated when he lost Beth in 1999, but he courageously carried on. After Beth died, he let it slip to Barb that he had never had a birthday party in his life, and as a result, when he turned 75, the family surprised him with a big gala and from that time on, January 8th became an anticipated annual celebration for his family and many friends.

Norm was a great support to Bill after Beth died, and during that time, Bill also reconnected with his half-sister, Margie and his half-brother Gordon. On Margie's 75th birthday, the families of her children Dan (Judy), Jack (Brenda) and Peggy (Paul) hosted a party that brought together Maisie's children Diane, Lorna, and Brian (Anne); Norm and his son Adrian, Gordon and his wife Marlene and Bill's kids and grandkids. It was the beginning of many joyful gatherings of Bill's extended family.

Bill’s other support was his deep faith in God. He had a great devotion to the Virgin Mary and he trusted in her intercession. The Rosary and the Chaplet of Mercy were integral to his daily prayer life. And in his later years, Bill was most grateful for the faith communities that he found with the Ursulines and with his friends at St. Anne’s Place and at Trinity Manor.

Bill was happiest when he was with his children, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren. He took an interest in each one and he played an active role in their lives and their educations. They are privileged to have been shaped by a man who loved them deeply; and who modeled steadfast faith, determination, integrity and lifelong learning. Bill is survived by his daughters, Barb (Cam Wotherspoon) and Brenda; his grandchildren, Pamela (Dave Buttinger), Chad (Megan Tokaruk) and Elizabeth (Taylor Cowley); Jesse Lambert, Dakota Lambert and his great-grandchildren, Emmarae, Jade, Olivia Buttinger and Everly Cowley.

Bill's final celebration of life will be at Holy Spirt Parish in Saskatoon on Thursday, August 31, 2023.

Lunch and program will be at 12pm and the funeral mass will begin at 1:30pm.