Obituary of Joseph Benjamin Masson

Joseph Benjamin Masson was born on June 18, 1922 and grew up on the family farm just east of Metiskow, AB. His parents were Ed and Daisy and stepmom Agnes. His siblings were brothers Eugene and August (Bud). Joe received his basic schooling in Metiskow and in 1946 & 47 he attended the Vermilion School of Agriculture where he earned his agriculture diploma. In the mid 1950's a young school teacher moved into Metiskow and Joe's attention turned from farming to getting to know her. Joe and Enid Lambert were married on August 4, 1956 in the Rat Lake Church. The following spring they purchased the Sammy Mears farm near the hamlet of Cairns. 1957 was a busy year for Joe and Enid with the move to their new home in the spring followed by the birth of their first son, Edward, in August. A second son, Murray, was born in June of 1960. Joe spent the rest of his life on the Cairns ranch which he named Dusty Valley. With Enid's help he built up a herd of top quality purebred Shorthorn cattle of which he was very proud. The Dusty Valley Shorthorn bloodlines were well known across Western Canada and garnered their fair share of red ribbons at cattle shows. Joe enjoyed showing his Shorthorn cattle and the camaraderie of his fellow cattle breeders. Every March for many years Joe would pack up 3 or 4 bulls, feed and show supplies and haul them to the Calgary Bull Show and Sale. He also showed his cattle at the Edmonton Farmfair and Calgary Stampede cattle shows. A win he was very proud of was when his purebred Shorthorn steer was named World Shorthorn Congress Grand Champion Steer at the 1980 Calgary Stampede. Joe's love of farming was second only to his love for and devotion to his family. His greatest pleasures came from his farm, watching a new born calf nurse his dam and seeing the tilled soil produce a bumper crop of oats. He continued to be involved in all aspects of the farm well into his eighties and helped his sons farm until he could no longer climb into the cab of a tractor. Joe played baseball in his youth. When asked he would grin and say he enjoyed playing but was never the star player. He also enjoyed curling and spent many a winter evening throwing rocks at the Cadogan curling rink. He also helped coach the local boys baseball teams when his boys were learning to play. In his later years Joe spent many an hour watching baseball, hockey and curling on the television or reading western novels written by Louis L'amour. He will be remembered most for his work ethic, his love of Shorthorn cattle and all things related to his farm. He was a lifelong learner and adapted to many changes in his lifetime. From farming with horses, to a steam tractor running the threshing machine, to his modern International tractor and pto powered combine. From milking cows by hand, to studying pedigrees and raising top quality purebred cattle. Ninety three years young, Joe passed away quietly in his sleep in the afternoon of April 5, 2016 at the Continuing Care unit of the Provost Medical Centre. He will be missed and loved forever by son Ed and his wife Connie, son Murray, grandson Ben and numerous nieces and nephews. Joe was predeceased by his wife Enid on October 17, 2015.