Ronald “Joe” Carter
July 7, 1939 – March 1, 2025
It is with great sadness that the family of Ronald “Joe” Carter announce his passing on March 1, 2025. Joe was born in 1939 in Nampa, Idaho, U.S., to Mildred and Skiler Carter. He was the youngest of twelve siblings. His father worked as a farm laborer and during Joe’s childhood and early school years the family relocated several times to communities in Idaho and Oregon. By the time Joe was 14 years old, he had quit school and was working full time to help support the family. His teenage years were spent working in a slaughterhouse in Boise, Idaho.
In 1960 Joe joined family members living in southern California. He began working as a heavy equipment operator for Riverside County (Thermal, Coachella, Indio, Palm Springs area). There he married and started a family, his daughter Denise, was born in 1962, and his son Scott, in 1966.
Joe spent 46 years in the California desert, sometimes working multiple jobs involving hard, physical labor in desert temperatures. He had many jobs throughout his life and besides his work as a heavy equipment operator, he co-owned an auto service business and later owned and operated a landscaping business. In 1981 he also spent the summer in the Fairbanks, Alaska area mining for gold.
In 2004 Joe retired and in 2005 married Sharon. In March of 2006 they moved to Middle Lake, Saskatchewan, CA, and in 2007 Joe received his Canadian Permanent Resident status. He soon stepped into the role of “blade man” for Kirsch Construction.
Joe loved his family and friends, both in the U.S. and Canada. In the last couple of years his happy places were in his chair with his feet up, TV remote close by, while talking on the phone. He loved fishing on Shannon Lake, visiting with family and friends, and playing Mexican Train and Rummy Tile. Until his retirement as “blade man” at the age of 83, he always looked forward to time spent on the road in the grader. For Joe, to work was to live!
During his 85 years, Joe survived several heart attacks, two heart bypasses, multiple surgical procedures, a cancer bout, and COPD. In all of these situations, his faith in God and God’s timing never wavered. He was thankful for each new day and the good Lord blessed him with an unexpected, pain-free, peaceful passing on March 1, 2025.
Joe was predeceased by his father, Skiler; mother, Mildred; and eleven siblings: Ruth, Edward, Charles, Myrtle, Louella, Evelyn, Bonnie, Skeet, Darold, Wesley, and Frances. Joe is survived by - his wife, Sharon; children: Denise (Tony), and Scott (Espie); grandsons: Devon (Brittney), and Mason (Rikki); and three great-grand-children; sister-in-law Wendy Kondrat (Dennis); brothers-in-law: Brian Unverricht, Ed Unvericht (Lori), and Ken Herman (Sharon); and many U.S. and Canadian nieces, nephews and friends. The Funeral Service was held at Faith Lutheran Church, Middle Lake, Saskatchewan, on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., officiated by Pastor Jakob Valsson. Music Ministry was provided by Sharon Rodney on the piano. The memorial luncheon immediately followed the funeral service at Faith Lutheran Church Basement. Memorial Donations Joe’s memory may be directed to Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (PO. Box 2414 1200-2300 Younge St., Toronto, ON, M4P 9Z9, www.heartandstroke.ca), Bethany Pioneer Village (PO Box 8, Middle Lake, SK, S0K 2X0) or Faith Lutheran Church (PO Box 179, Middle Lake, SK, S0K 2X0).
This Notice Is Courtesy Of
Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral & Cremation Services - Humboldt, Saskatchewan
(306-682-4114)