Celebration Of Life

2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 6, 2026

Golden Age Centre

Tisdale, Saskatchewan

Ken was born to Bill and Jeanette Yelland on April 7, 1957 in Tisdale, Saskatchewan. He joined the family as a brother to Joan and was followed soon after by brothers Clifford and Gerald. He was raised on the family farm in the Forester area and went to school in Tisdale. Ken was an observant and curious child. He was born with an interest in tractors and farm machinery that would stay with him all his life. After graduating high school in 1976, Ken went to Saskatoon to study agriculture mechanics and graduated from SIAST Kelsey Institute. He worked hard to obtain his certificate of journeyman status in heavy duty repair and loved his work. Ken began working at John Bob Farm Equipment in 1987 and he remained there for his entire career.

Although Ken was a quiet person, when he got talking about tractors and combines, he could tell you everything you needed to know and even more. It was said that Ken had probably forgotten more about mechanics than other people have ever learned.

Ken became a father to his son Bradley in 1982 and then daughter Leslie in 1985 and nothing made him happier. He was so proud of his children and talked about them all the time. As the kids grew up, they spent a lot of time at Marean Lake with their Dad, Grandpa and Grandma Yelland and many other family members. Ken enjoyed being with the kids whether it was fishing, swimming, golfing, or playing cards and board games. He would take them water skiing and try his hardest to make them fly off the tube behind the boat. Ken’s favourite activity was taking the kids to the booth for ice cream although everyone knew it was really for him as those ice cream trips continued long after the kids were gone.

Ken was so happy when he became a Grandpa and enjoyed his role of spoiling his six grandchildren. While the gifts he brought were appreciated and treasured, it was his presence that meant the most. Grandpa Ken always made the effort to attend birthday parties, holiday celebrations and any other activity that the grandkids were involved in. He would be there amongst the kids and toys with his camera in hand and captured many memories over the years. Ken had numerous photo albums full of pictures of his kids, grandkids, extended family, friends and all kinds of machinery and cars.

Ken would spend the summer months at his cabin at Marean Lake and going fishing whenever he could. He always enjoyed people and was usually found visiting family, old friends and making new friends over a cup of coffee.

After his retirement in 2018, Ken continued his work helping the Will family during the busy seasons on the farm. It was his way to keep doing what he loved with family and coworkers he truly enjoyed spending time with.

Ken passed away peacefully on May 7, 2026 while surrounded by his family.

He was reunited with his parents, Bill and Jeanette Yelland and his nephew Darren Will.

Ken will be remembered and greatly missed by his son Bradley Yelland (Kim) and their children, Matthew, Taylor and Ryinn; daughter Leslie Woolsey (Darrick) and their children, Morgan, Kiptyn and Hayven; sister Joan Will (Karl); brother Clifford Yelland (Bonnie), brother Gerald Yelland (Beata); nephew Michael Will (Paula) and their children Kate and Livia; niece Leah Yelland (Jesse); and nephew Adam Yelland (Kimberly) and their son Oliver along with many extended family and all of his friends.