Garth Richard William Riehl

The Logger's Prayer
Lord as I go to work today
I ask protection please.
For I go into the woods
To work among the trees.
As the trees come down around me
And I load them for the haul.
Give me strength and wisdom
As I use my saw.
I always here how dangerous
This job is that I do.
But this is what you gave to me
And I put my trust in you.

Garth Richard William Riehl was born on November 7, 1935 to Clayton and Bessie Riehl in
Durban, Manitoba. He was the oldest of four children.

He left this world on May 24, 2026 in Roblin, Manitoba. Garth was 90 years old.
He received his ninth grade education in Durban, and called the Valley his home for almost
his entire life. On November 15, 1961 he married Elizabeth Isabella Scorgie at the King
Memorial United Church in Winnipeg, MB. They settled up the Sarah Lake Road and
together raised their family of four boys: Alexander, Rick, Kevin and Lonny.

In the 1950’s Garth went to Brandon to take an electrical course in Brandon. His brother
Dennis recalls after he had taken that course he had come home to wire their entire house
all by himself, he was always very talented as an electrician. Eventually, he started his own
business, with one gravel truck hauling four or five yards of gravel at a time. It was an old
International truck and he hauled for the municipality as soon as he got his driver’s license.
He was always so proud of the work he had done helping to build the highway to The Pas,
through all that bog. Garth and Betty had moved a house trailer close to The Pas to be
together while he was working, and that’s why Al was born in The Pas!

From the gravel truck he started a bit of logging. There were no big machines to do the
heavy work back then. Every load of logs that came out of the mountain were loaded in the
bush by hand, brought into Durban to the railcar siding, and the train cars were loaded by
hand. But as Garth was a visionary, in the 1960’s, he was the first in the Valley to buy a
Prentice cherry picker. He was a trailblazer in that regard because soon after, grapple log
loaders were all over the Valley.

There were numerous sawmills that had been built over the years, the very first was
situated where Garth and Betty’s house stand today. In the 70s, the final spot for his
sawmill was found, overlooking the beautiful Swan Valley, with the final version being built
in the 90s.

Garth and Betty bought their trailer and lived in that until the mid 80s when they built their
stunning log house. In 1980 Al finished high school and joined work with his dad, Lonny
started working with Garth before he finished high school and Rock joined as well. Garth
took care of the trucking and the boys took care of the logging. They were an efficient
machine.

Garth was known to most as a businessman. In his early days, he began purchasing large
quantities of land in the Duck Mountain. When he thought he had a sufficient amount, he
negotiated with the Provincial Government of the day a trade deal. His land in return for
hardwood quota in perpetuity. A simply brilliant move. He was able to weather all of the
storms of the business world for decades and took great joy in seeing Lonny diversify the
company to last well into the future.

No doubt he was a great businessman, but he was so much more. As a husband and father
he always made sure his family was provided for as best as he could. Not only by keeping
the freezer full, but by teaching his boys how to take care of themselves, and how to relax.
Garth was not all work and no play. The outdoors truly was his church, his love of nature
impacted every aspect of his life. Hunting and fishing weren’t just hobbies, they were his
way of life. As soon as the boys were done school on a Friday Garth and Betty would be
waiting with the truck and camper packed, ready to go to Steeprock Lake, and occasionally
some of the more Northern Lakes with some of the neighbours. In 1988 they got lucky and
were drawn for a lot at Steeprock and built the cabin. Endless hours were spent there, and
he loved every minute. He even loved waterskiing!

His was overjoyed to be a grandfather and took so much pride in his grandkids. Alexander
the Truck Driver, Joanne the RN, Amelia the School Counsellor, Ben the Pilot and Matty the
Baseball player. That’s evident by the hundreds of pictures adorning their walls.
Waiting for him at the campfire in Heaven are his Parents, Clayton and Bessie; his son Al;
and his wife Betty, as well as his much beloved dog Raven.

He has left so many with memories to cherish: his children, Rick (Ellen), Kevin (Charlotte),
Lonny (Kelli). His brothers Brian (Karen), Dennis (Marlene), and his sister Judy (Gary). His
Grandchildren, Alexander (Kaylie), Joanne (Quentin), Amelia and Violet, Benjamin
(Dominika), Matthew and Kim. Numerous nieces and nephew and his very special dog
Bandit.

The funeral service was held at The Valley Evangelical Covenant Church in Durban with
Pastor Andy Gilkinson officiating at 2:30 pm, June 5, 2026. A procession for Garth’s Last
Ride was held with internment at the Durban Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Jason Yacyshyn and Paul Hrabarchuk.

If friends so desire, memorial donations can be made to the Garth and Betty Riehl Legacy
Fund, in care of the Community Foundation of Swan Valley Inc., PO Box 1509, Swan River,
MB, R0L 0P0. This fund was created to fund a scholarship to a deserving high school
student that exemplifies hard work and determination, to help them chase their dreams.

The Fisherman’s Prayer
I pray that I may live to
Fish until my dying day.
And when it comes to
My last cast,
I then most humbly pray;
When in the Lord’s
Safe landing net and peacefully asleep,
That is His mercy,
I be judged good
Enough to keep.