THOMPSON - Clifford Durwin "Kip" Thompson, 1927 - 2017. Clifford Durwin Thompson was born on May 2, 1927 in Dauphin, MB. He was the son of Harold and Olive (nee Shannon) Thompson. He grew up in Dauphin and at a very young age started working with the Canadian National Railway. Clifford was a true pioneer of northern Manitoba. His employment with the CNR spanned 18 years prior starting his entrepreneurial career with the building of the Gold Trail Hotel in 1958 in Ilford, MB. He went on to build the Waskiowaka (Little Churchill River) Fishing and Hunting Lodge in 1962, then build a winter road freighting business called Ilford Northern Construction in 1970. This was followed in 1982 by the formation of a fishing and hunting resort called the Silsby Lake Lodge Fly-In. All of this was accomplished while providing political contributions to his community as the Mayor of Ilford, MB, as the founding member of NACC (Northern Association of Community Councils) and assisting the late Adam Dyck (Chief) with the formation of the War Lake Band to which Clifford did serve once as an Interim Chief. Clifford was involved in all aspects of Northern Manitoba's growth and development for many years. He was recognized for his many achievements as the recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Award for the Order of Manitoba. While working for the CNR in Fort Qu'Appelle, SK, Clifford met the love of his life, "Mickey" who was working as a telephone operator. An extremely energetic and ambitious couple, they worked together on all of their many business ventures and were proud parents of sons. Kip and Mickey retired in 2010 and made their home in Yorkton where he remained following her passing in 2012. Eventually Kip became a resident of the Theodore Health Centre where he passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 9, 2017 at the age of 90 years. Clifford was predeceased by his wife, Emily "Mickey" Thompson (nee Scheller); his son, Kirk Thompson; his parents, Harold and Olive Thompson; his brother, Norman and sisters, Hazel and Florence. Left to mourn his passing are his sons, Norman, Robert (Janet), Shane (Tracy), Dean and Todd (Katherine) as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. A Celebration of Kip's Life was held on Friday, November 24, 2017 from the Chapel of Christie's Funeral Home in Yorkton, SK with Terry Tompkins officiating. The organist, Carla Laycock, led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "Abide With Me", "Amazing Grace", "Just As I Am" and "Beyond the Sunset". The Cremation Committal will follow in the Yorkton Memorial Gardens, Garden of St. John, with Shane and Todd Thompson serving as his urn bearers. Friends so wishing may make donations in Kip's name to the Saskatchewan Alzheimer Association or to the charity of one's choice as tokens of remembrance. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
