Lyle Gottlieb Christian Mund

It is with great sadness that the family of Lyle Mund announce his passing. Lyle went home to be with the Lord on November 18th, 2021 at the age of 81 years.

Lyle Gottlieb Christian Mund was born in Saltcoats, SK on May 9th, 1940. Having lost his own father at age two, he had a special relationship with his grandfather, Peter Sjoquist, spending his summers farming alongside him on the family farm. He attended Dressler and Thingvalla schools, then Central Collegiate in Regina, and Grade 12 at Scona Composite in Edmonton, AB where he met the love of his life, Margaret (Lockhart).

In 1962, Lyle and Margaret and their eldest two children (Graeme and Laureen) moved out to the Mund family farm in Churchbridge, SK, where over the following years they added another three children (Brent, Leiflynn, and Leigha) to the family. He farmed (grain and cattle) full-time as well as worked at the potash mine in those early years. Lyle could not completely retire when he sold the land, instead he continued on as a hired farm hand until age 79. He had a special understanding of horses and could lead his herd anywhere without needing a bridle.

Lyle enjoyed spending time with family and friends; he made family time a priority and loved having his grandchildren spend their summers out at the farm. He and Margaret treasured their trips to visit grandchildren throughout Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Alberta. In recent years he looked forward to wintering in Yuma, Arizona, where they enjoyed hiking in the desert and daily visits with friends over coffee and fresh baking.

He served in many volunteer positions including Church of God treasurer for 26 years, Gideons, Credit Union Board, Churchbridge Co-op Board, Churchbridge Recreation Board, Langenburg Hospital Board, School Trustee, and Lion’s Club.

He was predeceased by his parents Mildred (Sjoquist) and Gottlieb Mund.

Lyle leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 62 years, Margaret and their children Graeme (Donna), Laureen (friend Tom), Brent (Vivian), Leiflynn (Murray), and Leigha; their grandchildren Michael, Braden, Madeline (Bruce), Merredith (Steven), Sara (Kohlton), Anthony, Amalie, and Estelle; and their great-grandchildren Kai, Cahli, Vannah, Adaleigh, Brucie, and Maxence; his beloved sister Valerie Mund (Mike); his cousin Wilfred Mund who was like a brother to Lyle; his nieces and nephews; and many dear friends and relatives.

Tribute to Lyle

Lyle – “The Good Guy”. That is how he would announce his arrival. “It’s the Good Guy” and when he answered the phone he would say “How are things in your corner”? Hospitality was one of his many gifts. Lyle always stood on the outside step as people drove up to welcome them to their home. Once inside you were welcomed to a fresh brew of Tim’s. He actually had an official Tim Horton’s coffee maker. Even in Lyle’s last days on the farm, he drew up strength to get to the door to greet visitors when he saw them drive up to the yard.

Family was everything to Lyle. His sister Val speaks of how they never ever fought as siblings. He always had the happiest, most content smile when surrounded by family and friends. Lyle had a saying that “more is better”. That applied to wall-to-wall kids and when he had a mittful of cards that counted against him. More is better!

His granddaughter, Sara summed up how all the grandkids felt about coming to the farm. They lived for it. The “funnest” place on earth. No wonder there was a saying “What Happens at Grandmas stays at Grandma’s”. Every grandchild learned to drive on the farm with Grandpa. First on the lawn tractor and then in the car, when their eyes barely could see above the steering wheel. He was the calmest, most patient teacher. There was hunting for shed buck antlers, pulling grandkids on the inner tube in the ditch attached by rope to the car, hayrides, lessons on timing thunder, and the list goes on.

The grandkids cherished how Grandpa was never too busy for them and he made each one feel special and valued. Grandpa was proud to have tough little granddaughters. You had to be tough to be on the farm! Sara took that quite seriously, she thought maybe she would have to go back home and miss all the fun if she didn't toughen up! Grandpa taught Sara & Merrie how to shoot a rifle. When Merrie was young, he bought her a rifle. She was surprised and so amazed that it was hers! Laureen was not impressed with the gift, but Grandpa gave Merrie a wink and said it could be put away for now and to bring it out for target practice when appropriate. 

Grandpa could do anything, never too busy for his grandkids and just couldn’t say “no” to his grandkids. No request to involve Grandpa was too ridiculous. Case in point – Michael convinced Grandpa to ride bikes down the hill to the Calgary YMCA. Michael didn’t have money, so they had a drink of water and came home. Michael was too tired to ride up the steep hill, so Grandpa tied his belt from his bike to Michael’s bike to pull him up the hill. There was also the time when Grandpa had a bad cold but was stomping through the slough cutting 25 cattails to send on the bus with the Dressler’s who were going to Calgary because Michael had told his classmates he could get enough that each classmate could have one.  

When Braden was a teenager, he wanted to restore Graeme’s old jacked-up Buick Skylark. The fact that it had a tree growing right through the middle of the car did not deter Grandpa. He did not want to crush Braden’s dream although by the end of the week the only thing restored was the tree back to nature.

Anthony once commented on how special it was that Grandpa would plow snow into a big pile for the kids to make a snow fort or arrange hay bales to play in.  He loved his time playing video games with Grandpa.

No wonder the grandkids loved coming out to the farm. In Maddy’s words “I hope heaven has a spot that looks like your farm”.

Then there were those van trips with the grandkids to Deep River and back to the farm. Maddy describes that amazing blue van with velvet captain seats that spun around to face the back creating a tiny living room where she played cards with cousin and aunties. In her words, “Who thought I was amazing enough to drive across Canada to visit me and bring me back to Saskatchewan?”

Dad used to say, “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself”. He could “farm fix” anything. When I bought my first car, Dad took 4 narrow rims, sliced them up and welded pieces together to make 2 wide rims for the back wheels. And then found a couple old generator housings to weld under the rear coils springs to jack up the car for those new wheels!

In Yuma he collected more and more tools and he was the “go to guy” for others to drive up to his makeshift garage.

He was an “acts of service guy”. Volunteering for jobs at church, the community, including chaperoning at the Highschool dances. Proudly greeting students at the door with wads of cotton batten in his ears because the music was so loud.

Always there to help a family member, neighbor, or friend like mastering landscaping skills for West Nile Control. Brent and Vivian appreciated Lyle greatly for helping them to renovate their building in 1993 to start their clothing and footwear business.

In the early years, it was hard to get Dad to stay very long when he came for a visit. He always wanted to be at the farm. Then one winter Mom & Dad went south and Yuma became their winter destination for the next 13 years and, yes, Dad made sure they packed enough Tim’s to get them and everyone who stopped by for coffee through the entire winter.

His girls had a way of wearing him down.  He always said “What a little girl wants a little girl gets! He was a great listener with everyone. Perhaps the most patient listener for Leigha who once talked non-stop all the way from Yorkton to the 2-mile corner.

Birthdays and Christmas were always special even when money was tight.

Lyle could be a tough Clint Eastwood kind of guy who loved tough guy western movies, but you could catch a tear falling from his eye every time he watched Anne of Green Gables. He had a tender heart especially for the love of his life, Margaret. His eyes would sparkle when he teased her or held her in his arms when they were dancing. Together they raised their children with a deep faith and strong values. They shared the same with all their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Lyle was a man of integrity and faith. He led by example and shared that with all who knew and loved him.