Posted by John Borst on Sep 20, 2017
William (Bill) Beatty, age 90 years, passed away surrounded by his family on September 19thafter a long battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis.
 
A Memorial Funeral service to celebrate Bill’s life will be held Monday, September 25th at 11:00 a.m. in the First United Church with Rev. Erin McIntyre and Alice Bloomfield officiating.  Interment will follow in the Dryden Cemetery.
The following is a brief description of Bill’s many volunteer activities drawn from his obituary. The full text can be accessed at http://www.stevensfuneralhomes.ca/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=4378884&fh_id=14031
 
Bill was an active member of his community, and a long-time member of the Dryden Rotary Club, serving as President in 1987.  He was also a member of the Dryden Kraft Investment Club for nearly 60 years and enjoyed the camaraderie of the members.

Bill served as President of the original Dryden Flying Club.  He got his private pilots license from the Winnipeg Flying Club and owned his own aircraft, an Aeronca Champ CF-LSG.  Bill, Tommy
Maunsell and Gordie Hill all did the course and got their licenses together. One of Bill’s
favourite memories was flying back to the Dryden Flying Club for the first time with Gordie Hill.  Bill was a member of a 4-person committee “to study the feasibility of having a commercial airport in Dryden”.  This developed into The Dryden Airport Commission and brought about jet service to Dryden as well as the completion of a brand new airport terminal in 1984.  He served 19 years on the commission, six years as Chairman.

Bill co-chaired with Ron Thorburn, the Trees for Canada program for the local Boy Scouts, Cubs, and Beavers.  Several thousand seedlings were planted in Dryden with help from Dads, Moms, and grandparents.  The results are now viewed with pride by the participants of that program.
 

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