William "Bill" Preston

To view the recording of the Mass of Christian Burial for Bill please click HERE. 

Bill Preston was born in Rosetown, Sask. on May 3, 1940 to Dent and Lauris Preston. Bill was the oldest of four - Jill, Dick and Tim. Bill loved to go to peoples' homes asking for cookies. To the day he died, he always asked for a cookie after his lunch. At school, he could be seen pushing a piece of chalk with his nose around the floor as punishment for talking too much!! Is anyone surprised?

Growing up, Bill had a best friend, Garry Franklin, who he boasted was the best stone thrower in the school so Bill always felt brave when he was with Garry. Bill and Garry maintained their friendship even though there were miles between them.

Bill loved helping his dad in the hardware store often making deliveries for him. Another love was guiding hunters in the fall and missing school in the morning!!

He also coached his brother's ball team and apparently did a very good job says brother Tim.

After Grade 12, Bill went to the University of Saskatchewan, where he received his BA and a Law Degree. On the first day of class, he was sitting between someone who had completed their Arts Degree with Distinction and another person on the other side who completed their degree with great distinction. When the professor, Dr. Doug Schmeiser, advised the class to look to the left and to the right as only one of them would be graduating, Bill got a bit nervous and quit playing hockey and ball and focussed on passing - which he did!! While at University, Bill roomed with Barry Wilson and Bob Zavislake and the three of them became lifelong friends spending time together at Cypress Hills each summer until recently. Bill furthered his law studies by doing his Masters at Northwestern University, Chicago.

Bill began doing transportation law and had so many stories to tell about the various hearings he went to around the province. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Transportation Hall of Fame in June, 1999. Bill's portrait hangs in the Western Development Museum in Moose Jaw.

Bill's next big love (second to Maureen) was construction law. You might say he found his niche. He loved getting involved in all the issues that arose and he had to be at work by 7:00 am because that's when the contractors started phoning. Bill received an honorary life membership to the Saskatoon Construction Association on April 23, 2010. Through his time working in construction, he gained many friends one of whom was Fraser Sutherland. I say friends, although their conversations were often loud and involved name-calling!!

Bill received the Queens Medal in 2022 for his work on prompt payment legislation.

At the age of 23, Bill was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Almost everyone who knew Bill has a story to tell about rescuing Bill when his blood sugar was too low!! Bill had a life to live and he was not going to let diabetes slow him down. Bill was a member of Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Bill developed renal failure and went on kidney dialysis in 1989. He was extremely blessed to receive a kidney transplant thanks to someone signing their donor card. Bill had a spinal anaesthetic for his transplant surgery which Dr. Lawlor realized was a mistake as Bill talked throughout most of the surgery!!

For 30 years Bill lived a dialysis free life but in 2020 Bill started back on dialysis and was able to be part of the home Hemo Dialysis program. Bill was always very thankful for all the many nurses and doctors that made his life what it was. Special thanks to Dr. Dumaine. If Bill said thank you once, he said it a 100 times!!

Part of the aging journey was the transition to an upper denture. At one point, Bill had 6 teeth removed and we had trouble controlling the bleeding. Dr. Humber was very gracious when we returned to see him and Bill threatened to do unspeakable things to him if this ever happened again. Craig has a good sense of humour and laughter ensued. Thanks to Dr. Lee Gao for ensuring Bill ended up with a beautiful smile

Bill loved sports - he curled, played squash and tennis and when he retired at age 75, he took up golfing. There were a few broken clubs if they didn't do what they were supposed to but for the most part the rounds were uneventful. He was part of a foursome with Bob, Steve and Big Bob and golfed three times a week at Moonlake. Golf was also something Bill and Maureen could do together with others. As Bill's health changed, he became the cart driver and The Coach for Shirley, Daphne and Maureen at Valley Road Par 3 where Dawn and Bryce were awesome hosts even if Bryce did require cookies prior to each outing!!

Bill was a people person - you could not meet Bill without him asking you 100 questions about yourself!! He wasn't content with just saying, "Nice to meet you." He had to know more. Bill had a great and ready smile and some may say it had a cheeky component to it!! His smile and inquisitiveness never left him even when diagnosed with dementia four years ago. The Alzheimer Society was very helpful and Bill really enjoyed the Minds in Motion program. He was amazingly positive as he struggled through decreased mobility and mental sharpness. A walker became his new best friend. Through all of this, he felt the love and support that surrounded him from family and friends.

Bill loved to read - but only current news and never fiction. He loved The Economist and The Globe and Mail and was always ready with questions and thoughts on what was going on in the world when his Thursday coffee group would arrive. Thanks to Peter Tracy, Ron Mackay and Walter Labun for their Thursday visits and discussions and for eating the cookies!!

Bill loved going to Church. Holding hands with Maureen during the service was special to him. He was blessed to sit with Stu and Cindy Smith and Peter and Irene Laroque and Liz Paul who became his church family - helping with his walker and getting his cushion on the seat and help him to stand and sit easily.

Bill is survived by Maureen, his wife of 44 years and his son Dent from his first marriage; sister Jill Sullivan, brothers Dick Preston and Tim (Hilary) Preston; sisters-in-law Patt Steiert , Audrey Steiert and Patty Steiert.; brothers-in-law Tom (Linda) Steiert, Gerry (Beth) Steiert; many nieces and nephews of whom he was so proud; special friends Jonathon, Celeste and Oaklyn Hannay; Victor, Sarah, Remmy and Nolan Valois.

We are so grateful for the many Angels that always appeared just when we needed them. Bill would say, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

In lieu of flowers, we ask that individuals donate to St Paul's Hospital Foundation in support of the By Your Side Kidney Care Campaign and transplant services.

The Vigil of Prayer will be held on Sunday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, February 17 at 11:00 a.m. Both services from St. John Bosco Catholic Parish (1202 Avenue O South, Saskatoon).