May 15, 1935 — Aug. 31, 2023
Donald Perry Litle passed away on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton after a lengthy battle with complications from a major stroke.
Don was born in Fort Macleod on May 15, 1935, and throughout his life he always gave it his best. At age 16, Don left school to make his own way hiring on as a truck driver, and at the age of 20 he got on with Banister Pipelines and never looked back. From then on for 50 years Don lived pipeline, his world was the right-of-way. He travelled the line from northern Alberta to the Arctic, and south to the U.S. border. He worked on the TransCanada pipeline from northern Alberta to the Maritimes. Getting that pipe in the ground was a hard job. He could work 12 to 24 hours a day, seven days a week through 40 below winter weather and the hot dusty summer days. He worked in rain-flooded ditches, and for him it was all in a day’s work.
Don was a family man and always took his family along with him when he could. His kids went to schools across Canada and grew up knowing how big their country was. There was a time (in the first Trudeau era) when the oilfield suffered, so Don did as many Albertans did. He turned to the land. True to form he set up a huge hog operation, and for about 10 years of his life he was in Bashaw. The oilfield came back in a big way. The hog operation was dissolved, and Don was on the road again doing what he loved. Like Johnny Cash, Don walked the line, laying pipe from Fort McMurray to the U.S. border, and from southern B.C. into Manitoba.
Don finally retired at the age of 75 and settled in his hometown of Fort Macleod. It was a well-earned rest. He spent his winters in Arizona meeting up with old pipeline buddies, and he always drove there and back because he loved the open road.
Don is survived by his wife Dianne; daughters Kyleen, Dawn (Ray Tait), and Kelly; and sons Curtis (Marion) and Darryl (Deni). Don was predeceased by his son John. He leaves six grandchildren, Niki (Chris), TJ (Angela), Alysha (Gordon), Ryan, Dayris and Dayna; and six great grandchildren, Chris, Gemma, Paige, Charlie, AJ and Rowan. He will be greatly missed.
A celebration of Don’s life will be held from 2:30-4:30 p.m., on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at the Fort Macleod Royal Canadian Legion, 159 23rd St., Fort Macleod.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 100-119, 14th St. N.W. Calgary, AB. T2N 1Z6.
Condolences may be sent through www.edensfuneralhome.com.