Don Hamilton

Don was born to his parents Lawrence and Almira Hamilton at the family home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on June 18th, 1927. He was the youngest of the 3 children born into the family, providing him with two older sisters who were Olive and Audrey.

Don attended public school and then later a technical school, both in Saskatoon.

On May 17th, 1952, Don married Gwendolyn Utigard, who would be his loving wife for 59 years. They had two children – Larry, their son, born in 1956 and Wendy, their daughter, born in 1961.

Don worked at a number of different occupations including Bell Boy at the Bessborough Hotel, milk deliveries with a horse and cart, delivering magazines and deep-frying donuts for sale. After these jobs, Don found lasting employment as a bookkeeper with Sask. Transportation Company in 1951 and worked there for 35 years until 1986, when he retired. Don was also a long-term landlord, renting to tenants that he had a very good relationship with.

Don was actively involved with the Saskatoon Aquarium Society for many years and took a term as President of the Club. At one time, he had many aquariums on shelves with different species of fish in his basement.

Tragically, their only son Larry passed away suddenly from cancer in 1985. This was a very difficult time for Don.

Their daughter Wendy was married in 1989, and her family consisted of 3 boys who were close in age. As they grew up, these grandchildren were a great delight to Don and his wife and a great deal of time was spent with them at home, in restaurants, and even a trip to Disney World.

After being married, Don and his wife first lived in a basement suite, then in a small house on 6th Street that they had bought from his parents. In 1968, they purchased a brand-new duplex in Eastview, which was a new large subdivision under development. There, they raised their family and lived for 54 years. 

In 2011, he suffered the loss of his beloved wife Gwen due to complications from a stroke.

In 2022, Don was forced to move out of the duplex due to mobility challenges and relocated into assisted living at the Bentley (formerly Emmanuel Village). Three years later, in July of 2025, he had to move once more to a personal care home – named the Beacon House – where he resided until his passing.

Don Hamilton passed away early on Monday, March 30th, 2026, at the Royal University Hospital, after being admitted to emergency the day before with low blood pressure. He had a good and long life of 98 years, having lived through the Great Depression, World War II, as well as the introduction of cellular phones, the personal computer, and the World Wide Web.

He was predeceased by his father, Lawrence Hamilton in 1975, his mother, Almira Hamilton in 1983, his wife Gwendolyn in 2011, his sister Olive (Craig Walden) in 2004, and his son Larry in 1985.

He is survived by his sister Audrey (Arnold Jochmaring), daughter Wendy (Wendell Friesen), three grandchildren: Jared, Colin and Troy Friesen, and one great grandchild, Kaycee.

Funeral services to be held at the Saskatoon Funeral Home chapel on Monday April 6th, 2026 at 2:00 PM.