Richard Blackport
February 9, 1928 – June 30, 2024
Richard Albert Blackport passed away peacefully with family by his side at Humboldt District Hospital on June 30, 2024. Richard was born at Sec. 23 Tp. 31 R.21 W2nd, east of Lockwood on February 9, 1928 to Jacob and Mary (nee Fischer) Blackport. They moved to the farm 2 miles south and 5.5 miles east of Lockwood in 1939. He walked both ways to attend Otterburn and Howart schools, later completing Grade 10 by correspondence.
Like his brothers, he was expected to help with morning and evening chores. The cattle had to be brought up from the pasture and chased back there when the milking was done. The garden had to be watered and the wood had to be split, carried into the house and piled in the woodbox. After finishing school, he helped his father and brothers with farming and was hired out to other farmers to stook and pitch sheaves during the harvest season. He went on to own his own farmland and spend time doing carpentry work.
Richard loved sports and played softball with his brothers John, Bill, Ralph and the neighbors, forming the Howat Ball Club. In winter he enjoyed curling with friends. Trapping was another of his interests and from the age of 9 till just a few years ago he never missed a winter of trapping. He would never say exactly, but in a single winter alone he would skin muskrats into the thousands to supplement income. At a young age he constructed a boat out of plywood to get him where he needed to go on the water as his love for fishing began. In 1960, Richard began big game hunting with his brother Bill, in the Nipawin and Thunder Rapids area. He continued to make frequent trips up North, driving the return trip in one day well into his 80’s.
The home farm yard and buildings were always beautifully kept and maintained impeccably. Richard was still tending to a small portion of his grass until just a few weeks before his passing. His last potato crop was harvested at the age of 94. Richard conscientiously cared for the animals on the farm and pampered his cats with attention and treats. Richard lived on the farm up until his passing.
Richard is lovingly remembered by nephew Doug Blackport (Lois Davidson) and family Kate Blackport (Lee Vermeulen) and their daughter Ada; niece Maureen’s family (Lorne) Bartel and Kelsey (Cory) Shiloff and children Alexis, Klay and Colton, Brett (Karly) Bartel and children Nash and Callie, Jolene (Ryan) Dieno and children Emma, Lauren and Levi, Bryce (Rachel) Bartel and children Lincoln, Merit and Nora, and Rebecca (Carter) Lamont and children Slade and Anders; niece Charlene Mackenzie (Jim Brown) and family Jennifer (Julian); niece Lori (Terry) Fogg and family Neil, TJ (Natasha) and children Emmett and Declan, and Logan (Jenn); and nephew Jim’s family Lauretta (Kelly) and children Devlin and Chayzen; Crystal and children Keagan, Wyatt, Michela, Hermonie, Gabby, Billy-Jean and Jacob; and Chas (Jenn) and children Taylor and Owen. He was predeceased by his parents Jacob and Mary Blackport; sister: Katherine “Dolly” Blackport; brothers: John (Edna) Blackport, William (Gudrun) Blackport and Ralph Blackport; niece Maureen Bartel and nephew Jim Mackenzie. A family graveside service will be held in the Lockwood Cemetery at a later date. Memorial Donations in Richard’s memory may be made to the Lockwood Cemetery Fund.
This notice placed courtesy of
Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home & Crematorium
Phone: 682-1622