Dennis BOYD

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

BOYD: On May 5, 2018, Dennis Edward Boyd, 74, passed away peacefully in the company of loved ones. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on June 24, 1943, to parents Mike and Martha, he was the youngest of three siblings. Dennis will be greatly missed by Margaret, his wife of 40 years, his sister Ruth, children Neal (Christine), Drina, Ryan (Susan), Meighan (Fredrik), his grandchildren Brooke, Rory, and Ada and many extended family. He was predeceased by his parents Mike (1981), Martha (1984) and his brother Norman (1995). From the very beginning Dennis showed a great creative aptitude for all things mechanical, following in his father’s footsteps, especially with motors, often constructing missing elements which were needed but unavailable. The family enjoyed tales from Dennis’ childhood celebrating his confidence and sense of right and wrong. At three, he was roused from his afternoon nap after an encounter with a much older neighborhood bully had been reported to the local police. After meeting the pint-sized underdog, the police left the scene in fits of laughter. At four he escaped the clothes-line tether and walked alone to surprise his father mid repair job several miles away. No pushover, this boy! After graduating from West Kildonan Collegiate in Winnipeg, he pursued studies in several areas. Professionally, Dennis held a Journeyman’s certificate in Auto Mechanics, a Certificate of Education in Industrial Arts from Red River College, a Bachelor of Arts from Bemidji State College, and a Bachelor of Education from Brandon University. As the first certified A/C technician in this part of the province, he taught the course to others for their certification. Dennis’ career with the Brandon School Division spanned 37 years. It was in this environment that he was able to combine his love of problem-solving and creativity in all media (wood, welding, and autos) with teaching and mentorship. At Neelin High School and Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School he taught multiple generations of students, some of whom even became teaching peers. Dennis was instrumental in the initial construction of Crocus Plains and the latter addition in 1987 which incorporated the new vocational area of Autobody with Power Mechanics. This doubled the size of his shop where he worked closely with many valued colleagues and friends. Alongside curriculum content, students were offered life lessons such as: “If you have time to lean, you have time to clean” or “clean up after yourself, your mother isn’t enrolled in this course”. Dennis taught the general public Auto Service and Repair through Assiniboine Community College for many years. He also fostered a unique working relationship of mutual respect with local businesses and automotive professionals in the region, which was of great benefit to his students and which continued long after he had retired. Meeting former students was always a source of pride for Dennis, as he was able to appreciate the effort and dedication many students applied beyond his classroom in reaching their goals, and he was immensely proud of all their hard work regardless of where their careers took them. Outside the classroom Dennis approached life as a great opportunity for learning and sharing. He held a pilot’s license for several years, loved cross-country skiing in the Brandon Hills, and was an enthusiastic fan of zydeco and jazz music. His summers were mainly spent camping in the many wonderful parks of Canada and northwestern United States. He loved the Badlands of North and South Dakota and waxed lyrical about the roadside geology of each trip, buying books on the topics to add to his ever- expanding library. However, no spot held a higher place in Dennis’ heart than Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. He was able to share this experience of Waterton and the UNESCO World Heritage site Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump with a group of enthusiastic students on a week-long camping school trip. Today, all his children are avid campers or embrace the vitality of nature in their work or hobbies. Latterly, Dennis loved cruising to the warmer climates of the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and Hawai’i and experiencing the midnight sun of Northern Europe, learning all he could as he went. As the children moved further afield, vacations were a way for the family to reconnect enjoying each new experience together. He even got to have a pint in the Port Isaac pub, site of “Doc Martin” fame, and became familiar with the beautiful city of Stockholm, Sweden which he and Margaret visited several times. Dennis’ interests always had an aspect of creativity and problem-solving. Whether it was adding a second floor to the home, building a kit car, building and refinishing furniture, tinkering in his workshop or helping in the community, he was quietly involved and always available to lend a hand, answer questions, or provide knowledge and guidance if asked. His care for the world around him was often unassuming and humble. In the spirit of “leaving the world better than you found it”, a phrase Dennis used often and tried to live by, his family hopes that friends will remember him by making a donation to the charity of their choice. A celebration of Dennis’ life will be held at the Victoria Inn on Thursday, June 14, 2018 from 7 - 9 pm.“At the end of life, what really matters is not what we bought but what we built; Not what we got but what we shared; Not our competence but our character; And not our success but our significance.Live a life that matters. Live a life of Love.”

As published in Brandon Sun on May 12, 2018