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Binkley's Funeral Service is one of the oldest organizations in
the Shaunavon area. Glenn R. Binkley first established it in the
spring of 1914. G.R. Binkley started in the funeral profession in
1910 in Souris, Manitoba and obtained his embalming license on
September 9, 1913. In 1915 the funeral home was operated by Glenn
and his brother Manse under the name of Binkley’s Furniture
Company. The furniture business was sold in 1919 and Glenn and Manse
continued to operate as Binkley's Funeral Service. In the fall of
1937 Glenn purchased Manse’s interest. The original location was
in a large furniture store building on Centre Street. In 1948 Mr.
Binkley purchased a two story brick building from the Bank of
Commerce. A brick and tile addition was built at the rear of the
building and remodeled for a funeral parlor. The funeral home was
moved into this location, which it still inhabits today. |
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In 1957 A.R. (Russ) and Joan Markell purchased a half interest in
the business. Russ began working in the funeral profession at Moose
Jaw, Saskatchewan and received his embalmers license on February 4,
1952. Along with the operation of the funeral home, Russ and Joan
saw a community need for an ambulance and offered this service from
1957 to 1974. They continued in partnership with Mr. Binkley until
his retirement in 1965. Russ spent many years running the business
on his own with the assistance of his wife Joan. Russ trained three
different apprentices the last of which was his nephew Richard M.
(Rick) Schneider.
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Rick had his start in
the funeral profession in Calgary where he worked for a period of 11
months before he began working at Binkley's Funeral Service in
October 1976. Rick received his Certificate of Qualification in
embalming on September 30, 1978. In 1979 Rick purchased his first
shares of Binkley's Funeral Service and in 1985 when Russ and Joan
retired Rick took over as President of the firm. Today, Rick along
with his wife Bernadette, continue this proud history of service to
families in the Shaunavon and southwest Saskatchewan areas. With the
help of a caring and compassionate staff Rick and Bernadette aim to
continue this legacy for many years to come.
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Throughout the history of Binkley's Funeral Service
it has been our goal to take an active and integral part in the development of
the funeral service profession. Since its inception Glenn R.
Binkley, A. Russ Markell, and Richard M. (Rick) Schneider have taken
active roles with the Saskatchewan Embalmers Association and later
when the name changed to the Saskatchewan Funeral Service
Association. Glenn, Russ, and Rick have all been involved as members
of the council of the Saskatchewan Funeral Service Association and
Rick as a member of the Legislative Committee. |
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Saskatchewan
Funeral
Service
Association
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Since the Funeral Service Association of
Canada was revived in 1978 Binkley's Funeral Service has
been a proud member of this very important national
association. The Funeral Service Association of Canada is
the leading national professional association representing
all licensed funeral homes and funeral service professionals
in Canada.
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 In
1991 Binkley's Funeral Service was invited to become a member of
Selected Independent Funeral Homes. Selected Independent Funeral
Homes, formerly known as National Selected Morticians (NSM) was
founded in 1917 and is the oldest and largest non-profit association
of independently owned funeral homes in the world, currently
consisting of more than 1600 funeral homes in North America, Europe
and the Pacific Rim. Membership in the association is by invitation
only and is available exclusively to those independently owned
funeral homes that practice the highest ethical standards of
professional service and community leadership.
At Binkley's Funeral Service we are constantly
striving to find new ways to improve our resources and what we can
offer to the communities we serve. Our involvement in these leading
edge associations gives us the structure to bring positive
advancements to those we are privileged to serve.
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Chamber of
Commerce's Citizen of the Year in 1999 for his many years of
service to the community. His involvement included the
Shawnee Jaycees, Knights of Columbus, Town Council and the
Elks Lodge. Rick Schneider has also been involved at
numerous levels including the Shawnee Club, Salem Lutheran
Church Council, Shaunavon Rodeo Association, Town Council,
Darkhorse Theatre and Rock Creek Golf Club Executive. To
make a community like Shaunavon viable it requires its
citizens to be involved in many aspects from business to
volunteerism. Binkley's Funeral Service and its staff have
always felt a need to be a part of the growth of this fine
community and the surrounding area.