Reuben Jones Flaig

Reuben Jones Flaig

How do we tell a story 94 years in the making?

I guess we start at the beginning… May 2, 1930, Medicine Hat, AB. Born to John and Agnes Flaig of Grayburn, AB. First of four; siblings followed in 1931, Elmer, 1943, Irene, and 1949, Adeline.

He went to school until grade 8 at Sentinel school about a mile west of their home then stayed home to work on the farm. In 1948, Reuben at the age of 18, moved to the farm in Saskatchewan where he lived alone before the family joined him. He met and married a very young Phyllis Halliday in Tompkins, SK, February 19, 1954, together they made a home and raised Leslie, born June 29, 1955 and Randy, born March 7, 1958. Rueben worked many years for the RMs of Consul, Webb, and Piapot running graders while farming. Reuben passed away peacefully on December 15, 2024.

These are just milestone dates. They don’t tell you who he really was.

As his family expanded with the marriages of both sons and the birth of grandchildren, you could often find him working alongside the boys, wielding the irons at branding or in the swather come harvest. There were many kniffla and sour kraut family suppers where he would sit on the couch and watch the antics of his growing family. Even after “retirement” he could be found around the farm even if it was just to shoot gophers or climbing up the ladders on the “monster of a machine” to ride along combining. How the times have changed in your life time!

As a farmer is a jack of all trades, so was Reuben, helping to build homes and shops from the ground up, welding stock trailers, mechanically keeping it all going, making rope, halters, and saddle blankets.

He was a great grandpa, not only in the generational sense. He took time to move the trailer to the coulee and “camp” when we were young. I remember evenings of him teaching us Whist sitting around the table. Showing up to great grandkids events and offering a bed and breakfast (always oatmeal and bacon!). There seemed to be an open-door policy at Rueben’s house with a cup of coffee or a game of Crokinole and a visit.

He was a reliable co-pilot for long haul journeys and day trips. Traveling to pick up the sheep from Creston, BC or providing a ride to the next safety presentation at rural schools, the hours traveling the country side were many or in later years, hit the road solo with to go to one of the farms for a day or two.

Over the years there was a series of pets - not much for dogs, though there were a few, but always a cat lover and a few special horses come to mind.

Rueben was predeceased by his parents John and Agnes Flaig and his wife Phyllis, daughter in-law Bernice Flaig. 94 years of hard work, passion for the land and community, and love for family will be cherished by his sons Leslie (Janet) and Randy (Dianne), grandchildren Hilary, Courtney (Adam), Carla (Troy), Sasha (Justin), and Justin (Tiffany) and great grandchildren Lahnae, McKayla, Braxton, Paisley, Haven, Ethan, Jaxon, Jaxon, and Zachary, Step Grandchildren Wade, Robynn, Heather, and their families. Brother Elmer and sisters Adeline and Irene and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family extends their gratitude to all who cared for Reuben over the past years, including home care, facility staff, doctors and nurses.

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