Richard Joseph Hughes

Richard Hughes

June 29, 1942 – November 9, 2022

Richard Hughes was born on June 29, 1942 in Prairie River, SK. His parents were Albert and Thelma Hughes. Albert was killed in the Second World War and Thelma in a car accident in 1949, leaving three small children for grandparents Joe and Emma Ward to raise.

Richard had an older sister, Valerie (Wells) deceased and a younger brother Percy of Tompkins.

He went to school in Tompkins until he quit and went to work on the Minor Ranch at Abbey at age 15.

While still in school, he worked at the PFRA helping Russel Simpson, Jankes and Caseys. He used to ride his bike out to Simpsons after school.

While working at Minors, he spent time in Newfoundland and Williams Lake BC as well as at Abbey.

In 1968 he married Connie Watson of Abbey and started his own land breaking business. He broke farm land from Govenlock to Kindersley and when looking for work he stopped at Orrin and Mary Flaherty’s. He asked Orrin if he had any breaking to do and Orrin said he would like to sell the place due to his poor health.

In 1973, they moved to the Flaherty place at Sidewood and started raising Hereford cattle. Over the years they managed to add to the land base enough to give up on the Breaking Outfit.

Richard is survived by his wife Connie, sons Joe and wife Reanne and daughters Miranda & Amber, Jeff and wife Erin and daughter Alice.

He is also survived by his brother Percy and wife Jerri Ann and their two children and families, his late sister Valerie’s children and grandchildren. As well as cousins and many friends.

As a young man, Richard played hockey and curled. He enjoyed the bonspieling to the fullest. He liked to race stock cars and skidoos and to do some coyote hunting. He always rode a “green” horse and enjoyed heeling calves and was very good at it. He took in as many brandings as he could fit in.

In later years he took up golf and cards. He loved to Old Time dance and having a shot of whiskey with his friends.

He has been in the SWIHF for the past 2 years due to dementia. He was well cared for there and loved the staff and table mates.

He passed away on November 9, 2022 at the SWIHF in Maple Creek.

His burial will take place in Tompkins in the spring of 2023.

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