Dale Kenneth Beck

Dale was born on February 29, 1952, in Fillmore, Saskatchewan, to the late Thomas Gordon Beck and Kathleen Grace Acker, while the family was living in Tyvan, Saskatchewan. As a leap year baby, Dale took special pleasure in celebrating his real birthday every four years.

Dale is survived by his loving wife, Johanne (née Rousseau) of 46 years; his children, Andrew (Gina), Angela (Norman) and Aaron; and his beloved grandchildren Aria and Haydn. Dale was predeceased by his sister Myrna (Michael) and is survived by his siblings Gordon (Lee), Don (Kathy), Karen and Keith (Cecile) and many nieces and nephews.

Dale and his siblings grew up in Tyvan, where their father bought grain for 18 years. A happy and hectic household saw six children share rooms. They were involved in all kinds of sports and activities. One by one, the older siblings moved out to be on their own. Thomas, Kathleen and the youngest children moved to Qu'Appelle in 1968 where they lived for seven years until Tom retired in 1975.

In the fall of 1969, Dale began studying physics (his first love) at the University of Regina, then the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus. He graduated with a B.A. in 1972. He then switched to the Faculty of Education and acquired a teaching certificate in 1973, followed by a B.Ed in 1974. He taught sciences and physical education in Avonlea, Saskatchewan, from 1973 to 1976, when he was accepted into law school at the University of Saskatchewan.

Dale and Johanne were married on September 1, 1979. They first made their home in Moose Jaw and later moved to Regina in 1984. Dale graduated from law school in 1979, articled at a private firm in Moose Jaw and was admitted to the bar in 1980. He remained with the same firm — eventually named Acton, Wheatley and Beck — until 1984, when he joined the Civil Law Branch of Saskatchewan's Department of Justice, where he would spend most of his career. 

In 2009, Dale was appointed Director of the Office of Residential Tenancies and Chair of the Provincial Mediation Board, an appointment he held until retiring on August 31, 2017. Within a few months, he returned to public service as Acting Chief Coroner for Saskatchewan during a review of the Office of the Chief Coroner, serving until August 31, 2018. Dale’s work was always very meaningful to him and never failed to excite and fulfill him. It brought many wonderful colleagues into his and Johanne’s life, many of whom number among their friends. It was also an inspiration to his family — two of his three children followed in his footsteps and are now practicing lawyers.

Outside work, Dale had no trouble finding productive ways to spend his time, having come from a family of putterers. He was always active in the community, especially in athletics. Dale coached sports during his early years of teaching and later coached his niece’s soccer team in the late 1970s. Over the years, he coached, participated in and officiated many sports, including skiing (both downhill and cross-country), swimming, cycling, running and hiking. He loved being on the water — whether paddling canoes or kayaks, racing in dragon boats (sometimes in memorable lime green tights) or sailing. He also volunteered with the boards of Sask Sport, the Canadian Sport Centre, Swim Sask and the Marlins Swim Club.

Dale loved the outdoors and regularly explored the wilderness of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario with both friends and family. Whether paddling through remote lakes, hiking forested trails or setting up camp, he felt at home in nature. One of his proudest achievements was canoeing and camping in the Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park.

Dale and Johanne shared a love of travel. They journeyed extensively both before and after retirement. A long-awaited trip to Australia and New Zealand was cut short by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they made many other memorable voyages. A highlight was a 35-day Oceania cruise that, including air travel, took them around the world. They also explored the Caribbean, Alaska, the Baltics, the Panama Canal, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

Dale had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and was curious about many things. His family fondly remember how often he said the word “fascinating.” He was a devoted fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Toronto Blue Jays. He loved playing cards, especially bridge, which he learned from his in-laws, Paul and Jeannine Rousseau. Later, he and Johanne enjoyed playing bridge with their children, Andrew and Angela, a favourite pastime when they were at their home in Ottawa. They began spending about half of each year in Ottawa in September of 2020 to be near their grandchildren.

Dale requested that there be no funeral to mark his passing. His wishes included being cremated and having his ashes spread from a canoe on a beautiful lake in Saskatchewan.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to a charity of your choice or to the Alzheimer’s Society would be appreciated.

The family would like to thank the staff members of the Saskatchewan MAID Program and of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services for all their kindness.