GRANT W. PAYNE
September 1, 1933 – October 25, 2020
The eldest child of Johanna Olsen and Wilson Payne, Grant often joked that although he was born in during The Great Depression “I did nothing to cause it, but I don’t know that my birth improved it.” Grant’s childhood was spent on his family farm; it was nicknamed “Poverty Flats”, living in a time without the conveniences of running water or electricity. He remembers as a child his blankets freezing to the wall as he slept. He felt that the constant exposure to those elements especially when sick as a small child gave way to chronic pneumonias and COPD, that anyone who knew Grant well, remembers his cough was a constant companion. His mother Johanna suffered from Type 1 Diabetes, even before the development of insulin. He was excited when she was expecting another child. Sadly, due to the medical conditions of the time and the complicated diabetic pregnancy, Grant’s brother, Carl, only lived a few hours. He has a happy reunion now with the brother he always longed for. As a teenager, Grant gained two sisters and the Payne home filled with love and joy when Wilson and Johanna adopted Joan Rae (Baker) and Wilma Diane (Hrabluik).
Growing up in Cardston during the dirty thirties and during WWII, Grant lived in a time of rations and making due with very little. He developed a hard work ethic, and he worked for paid wages up until age 81. At age 17 Grant went out to work in road construction and worked on big projects including the Alaska Highway. He also worked with his father on building the concrete bridge over the Belly River on HWY 2 outside Standoff.
Grant really had more lives than a barn cat, as he suffered some accidents in work that should have been his demise. He was able to walk away from a motor vehicle crash; when he as a driver for ICG/ Canadian Propane he rolled the 5 ton propane truck on icy roads. He was hoisted up by one arm by a crane when working on the construction of the St. Paul’s Treatment Centre. Also, a fencing machine wrapped a barbed wire fence line around his neck at the Deseret Ranch. He had very close encounters with bears and cougars when working at the Canyon Church Camp in Waterton. He had an anaphylactic allergy to bee-stings and was stung while on a ride high in the mountains and barely got to medical aid in time. Finally, he has been bucked off a horse more times than could be counted. In his way of narrowly escaping a terrible death many times, earlier this year, before the lockdown, he survived pneumonia despite his weakened state and chronic lung condition. He escaped Covid-19 too, as the cases of Covid have climbed higher in his long term care facility; he passed of natural causes unrelated to Covid.
Grant was always a person who would never hesitate to give you a smile and tip his hat, or tell you a story. He entered community “Tall-Tale” storytelling competitions, and won trophies many times. In the 70’s and 80’s he worked delivering vital home heating fuel, propane, to the Kainai people on both sides of the border and that gave way to many lifelong friendships as he learned their stories. When working with his dear friend, Dee Barrus at Alpine Stables in Waterton as a guide, he would tell the visitors on horseback stories of Kootenai Brown and tales of the Kainai people. That was his favourite job by far. He was never as happy as he was on the back of a horse. In the 1970’s he won Endurance Races on horseback.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the cornerstone of Grant’s life. He attended church and temple regularly. In 1955 he served a proselytizing mission to Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. Giving service and helping others was very important to him. He would often lend a helping hand in any way he could. In 2000, he served a work mission to Deseret Ranches, Florida with the love of his life, Marion Wilcox.
In 1958, Marion Wilcox resided in the Boundary Creek area south of Cardston, and came into town to attend church with her family. Somehow she stayed behind visiting and missed going back home with her family. So she asked the dashing young red-headed man for a ride home, and that was the beginning of their 48 year relationship. In the early days of their marriage they resided near Scandia, Alberta, where he worked on the Wilcox Ranch. They had four little girls at that time: Joanna, Karen, Sandra and Karma. He loved horsing around with his all his little kids. Marion was a nurse and they relocated back to Cardston, where Marion nursed at the Clinic and Hospital. Grant always said that he had 4 queens and felt like he had a full house, when many years later their youngest daughter came along, Esther. He valued education and supported all 5 girls through college and was proud of their achievements. As the years went on, his daughters brought into his life son-in-laws, grandsons, grand-daughters and great grandchildren. They were the pride of his heart, the joy of his days and he always found time for each and every one of them, making special memories along the way. His legacy is great as he leaves behind 5 daughters, 4 son-in-laws, 20 grand children (3 pre-deceased), and 32 great grandchildren. His family and friends will miss his laughter and love very much.
A Private Family Service will be held.
Donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Alberta. Interment in the Cardston Cemetery.
To send condolences click here
September 1, 1933 – October 25, 2020
The eldest child of Johanna Olsen and Wilson Payne, Grant often joked that although he was born in during The Great Depression “I did nothing to cause it, but I don’t know that my birth improved it.” Grant’s childhood was spent on his family farm; it was nicknamed “Poverty Flats”, living in a time without the conveniences of running water or electricity. He remembers as a child his blankets freezing to the wall as he slept. He felt that the constant exposure to those elements especially when sick as a small child gave way to chronic pneumonias and COPD, that anyone who knew Grant well, remembers his cough was a constant companion. His mother Johanna suffered from Type 1 Diabetes, even before the development of insulin. He was excited when she was expecting another child. Sadly, due to the medical conditions of the time and the complicated diabetic pregnancy, Grant’s brother, Carl, only lived a few hours. He has a happy reunion now with the brother he always longed for. As a teenager, Grant gained two sisters and the Payne home filled with love and joy when Wilson and Johanna adopted Joan Rae (Baker) and Wilma Diane (Hrabluik).
Growing up in Cardston during the dirty thirties and during WWII, Grant lived in a time of rations and making due with very little. He developed a hard work ethic, and he worked for paid wages up until age 81. At age 17 Grant went out to work in road construction and worked on big projects including the Alaska Highway. He also worked with his father on building the concrete bridge over the Belly River on HWY 2 outside Standoff.
Grant really had more lives than a barn cat, as he suffered some accidents in work that should have been his demise. He was able to walk away from a motor vehicle crash; when he as a driver for ICG/ Canadian Propane he rolled the 5 ton propane truck on icy roads. He was hoisted up by one arm by a crane when working on the construction of the St. Paul’s Treatment Centre. Also, a fencing machine wrapped a barbed wire fence line around his neck at the Deseret Ranch. He had very close encounters with bears and cougars when working at the Canyon Church Camp in Waterton. He had an anaphylactic allergy to bee-stings and was stung while on a ride high in the mountains and barely got to medical aid in time. Finally, he has been bucked off a horse more times than could be counted. In his way of narrowly escaping a terrible death many times, earlier this year, before the lockdown, he survived pneumonia despite his weakened state and chronic lung condition. He escaped Covid-19 too, as the cases of Covid have climbed higher in his long term care facility; he passed of natural causes unrelated to Covid.
Grant was always a person who would never hesitate to give you a smile and tip his hat, or tell you a story. He entered community “Tall-Tale” storytelling competitions, and won trophies many times. In the 70’s and 80’s he worked delivering vital home heating fuel, propane, to the Kainai people on both sides of the border and that gave way to many lifelong friendships as he learned their stories. When working with his dear friend, Dee Barrus at Alpine Stables in Waterton as a guide, he would tell the visitors on horseback stories of Kootenai Brown and tales of the Kainai people. That was his favourite job by far. He was never as happy as he was on the back of a horse. In the 1970’s he won Endurance Races on horseback.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the cornerstone of Grant’s life. He attended church and temple regularly. In 1955 he served a proselytizing mission to Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. Giving service and helping others was very important to him. He would often lend a helping hand in any way he could. In 2000, he served a work mission to Deseret Ranches, Florida with the love of his life, Marion Wilcox.
In 1958, Marion Wilcox resided in the Boundary Creek area south of Cardston, and came into town to attend church with her family. Somehow she stayed behind visiting and missed going back home with her family. So she asked the dashing young red-headed man for a ride home, and that was the beginning of their 48 year relationship. In the early days of their marriage they resided near Scandia, Alberta, where he worked on the Wilcox Ranch. They had four little girls at that time: Joanna, Karen, Sandra and Karma. He loved horsing around with his all his little kids. Marion was a nurse and they relocated back to Cardston, where Marion nursed at the Clinic and Hospital. Grant always said that he had 4 queens and felt like he had a full house, when many years later their youngest daughter came along, Esther. He valued education and supported all 5 girls through college and was proud of their achievements. As the years went on, his daughters brought into his life son-in-laws, grandsons, grand-daughters and great grandchildren. They were the pride of his heart, the joy of his days and he always found time for each and every one of them, making special memories along the way. His legacy is great as he leaves behind 5 daughters, 4 son-in-laws, 20 grand children (3 pre-deceased), and 32 great grandchildren. His family and friends will miss his laughter and love very much.
A Private Family Service will be held.
Donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Alberta. Interment in the Cardston Cemetery.
To send condolences click here