Donald Lloyd Telfer

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected death of Donald Telfer, 78 years, of Humboldt, Sask. Don died on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.

Donald Lloyd Telfer was born on March 26, 1943, in Cornwall, Ontario, while his father was posted to Ottawa in the Canadian Army during the Second World War.

The family moved to Humboldt in 1946, and Don was educated by the Ursuline Sisters at St. Augustine School and the Benedictines at St. Peter’s College. During high school, Don worked at the Humboldt Journal then at a paper business in Saskatoon. He was transferred to Edmonton and worked for Shell and Imperial Oil in Alberta, then returned to Humboldt to work at the Journal.

Don married Mary Anne Benning in 1972, and they had three children: Erin (Chad Bautz) of Saskatoon, Peggy (Dominic Rivard) of Prince Albert, and Patrick (Dr. Chassidy Puchala) of Martensville. He is also survived by grandchildren Julia and Kate Bautz, Samuel and Max Rivard, and Gavin and Maxum Carruthers; sisters Carol Ann (Cory) Cunningham of Edmonton and Marge Colvin of Campbell River; brother Paul (Ann Heide) of Ottawa; several sisters- and brothers-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Over the years, Don was involved in several organizations such as the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce, the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation, Society of American Travel Writers, and the Travel Journalists Guild. He was instrumental in creating the Humboldt Christmas Cheer Fund, and the Best of Humboldt history books in 1982 and 2006.

With the encouragement of Air Canada, he embarked full-time on travel writing and photography that took him to some 75 countries, over 100 cities, and every continent but Antarctica. A recipient of numerous awards, his articles were published in newspapers and magazines across Canada, the U.S. and abroad.

Don was a man of faith and was deeply dedicated to his family. He loved his wife, children, and grandchildren dearly. He had many interests and talents. He loved politics, following the news, writing, photography, music, and reading. Don was especially proud of his community of Humboldt.

Don was predeceased by his father Walter (1981); mother Helen (2004); father-in-law Anthony Benning (2000); mother-in-law Mary Benning (2009); brothers-in-law Richard Benning (1991), George Benning (2015), Keith Colvin (2014), Bernard Benning (2018), Elmer Benning (2018), and Edward Benning (2019); and sister-in-law Emma Benning (2001).

“That’s life – birth, life, and death, all in the blink of a heavenly eye.” Donald Telfer

A Funeral Mass was held on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 2:00pm from St. Augustine R.C. Church, presided by Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB. Interment followed at the St. Augustine R.C. Cemetery. Memorial donations may be directed to St. Mary’s Villa Foundation.