John Leslie (Les) Sauter
December 8, 1926 - November 26, 2014
As published in the December 8, 2014 World-Spectator
John Leslie (Les) Sauter was born December 8, 1926 at SE-27-10-32 near Fairlight, Sask. He died November 26, 2014 at Brandon, Man.
He was predeceased by his father Charles (Charlie) Sauter and mother, Carlotta Sauter (Davey); brother Ken Sauter; infant son John Leslie Sauter; and wife Iris Sauter (Faulkner).
He is survived by his daughters Colleen Frape and Amy Buehler; granddaughters Kristel Surcon (Frape) and Emily Buehler; grandson Andrew Frape; great-granddaughters Erica, Madison and Mayah Surcon and Rosalyn and Autumn Humphreys; brother Clarence Sauter; and many nieces and nephews.
Les Sauter was a dedicated and much-loved husband, father, grandfather and friend. He met his life partner, Iris Faulkner, in the late 1940s, and they were married in November 1950.
Les and Iris started their family while on the Sauter farm at Fairlight, Saskatchewan. Colleen and Amy were both born there, but Les, a Second World War vet, joined the Air Force in 1955, and so began a decade of military life.
The family lived in Manitoba, Ontario and Mississippi before coming back to Saskatchewan when Les returned to farming in 1964.
Les and Iris bought a home in Moosomin, living close enough to the family farm that Les could travel back and forth between the two. So began a balance between country and town living that lasted several years. Iris worked a full time job in Moosomin where the girls attended school.
Les, a carpenter, builder, and Jack of all trades, picked up jobs and completed projects in and around Moosomin during the winter, but maintaining two homes was hectic and when their girls graduated from high school, Les and Iris moved back to the farm at Fairlight.
Les loved farming. He liked being his own boss and setting his own schedule. He enjoyed the outdoors and he definitely loved the land. He was an avid gardener and took great pleasure supplying his friends and family with fresh produce.
Family times at the farm would sometimes include picking raspberries, making jam, driving the grain truck, combining, picking stones or plucking chickens . . . but there was always fun and laughter as well as hard work.
During that time, Les and Iris kept in touch with friends and family near and far and maintained a busy social life. Les was active in the United Church, the Legion and was an avid curler and fisherman. He had a gift for conversation and could talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
He had a grin and an energy that were infectious and he lived by these rules: Be dedicated to the people you love. Be passionate about the things you believe in. Set goals and live up to them. Don’t be satisfied with less than you can achieve and go for coffee at least twice a day!
Long before they were popular, Les was a model of the environmental three R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Reusing and recycling provide an economic saving and that was always attractive to Les.
He tore down two old houses to reuse the materials to build a cottage, then later moved the cottage into town and turned it into a much larger, more comfortable home. Now that’s cost effective and efficient! No job was too big or too difficult. He had received training in mechanics, electronics and radar operation in the Air Force and could build or fix just about anything.
The many moves while Les was in the Air Force had left a travel bug in both Les and Iris. They enjoyed many trips to California to visit Les’s brother Ken, to Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, Ontario, B.C., Alaska and even a trip to Europe. Often they met with old friends, and always they made new ones.
They also loved the many trips to their daughter Colleen’s cottage at Fishing Lake. Les wasn’t crazy about being in the water, but he loved being on the water. In a boat, with a fishing rod, he was always happy.
Les and Iris retired from the farm, living again in Moosomin and then in Wynyard, Saskatchewan.During the time in Wynyard, Les became interested in locating Sauter Bay, named after his uncle, Ernest Sauter, who had died in active service during the Second World War.
Les made a point of visiting Sauter Bay and placing a commemorative plaque at the site on Lac la Ronge to honor his uncle. Working with the Royal Canadian Legion, he was able to help others identify the geographic locations named in memory of their relatives as well. He was very proud of this work, as he was proud to be a veteran of the war himself.
Les and Iris moved to Brandon, Manitoba in 2006. Their last years were marked with illness. Both were residents of Fairview Personal Care Home for a number of years. Iris predeceased Les by 16 months. Alzheimer Disease led to a slow but steady decline in Les’s health, but he remained a gentleman and a loving father to the end.
He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. A comfort to the family is knowing that if given the choice, Les would not have asked for another day or even another minute. He was tired. After a lifetime of being "Les and Iris," it was hard just being Les.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Fairview for their consideration and care.
Anyone wishing to honor Les’s memory may make a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Canada or Manitoba.
A graveside service was held in the South Cemetery, Moosomin, December 7, 2014 at 1 p.m.
Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com.
Arrangements were in care of Brockie Donovan Funeral and Cremation Services, Brandon, Man. (204) 727-0694.
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