Binkley's Funeral Service is one of the oldest organizations in the Shaunavon area. Glenn R. Binkley first established it in the spring of 1914. G.R. Binkley started in the funeral profession in 1910 in Souris, Manitoba and obtained his embalming license on September 9, 1913. In 1915 the funeral home was operated by Glenn and his brother Manse under the name of Binkley’s Furniture Company. The furniture business was sold in 1919 and Glenn and Manse continued to operate as Binkley's Funeral Service. In the fall of 1937 Glenn purchased Manse’s interest. The original location was in a large furniture store building on Centre Street. In 1948 Mr. Binkley purchased a two story brick building from the Bank of Commerce. A brick and tile addition was built at the rear of the building and remodeled for a funeral parlor. The funeral home was moved into this location, which it still inhabits today.
In 1957 A.R. (Russ) and Joan Markell purchased a half interest in the business. Russ began working in the funeral profession at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and received his embalmers license on February 4, 1952. Along with the operation of the funeral home, Russ and Joan saw a community need for an ambulance and offered this service from 1957 to 1974. They continued in partnership with Mr. Binkley until his retirement in 1965. Russ spent many years running the business on his own with the assistance of his wife Joan. Russ trained three different apprentices the last of which was his nephew Richard M. (Rick) Schneider.
Rick had his start in the funeral profession in Calgary where he worked for a period of 11 months before he began working at Binkley's Funeral Service in October 1976. Rick received his Certificate of Qualification in embalming on September 30, 1978. In 1979 Rick purchased his first shares of Binkley's Funeral Service and in 1985 when Russ and Joan retired Rick took over as President of the firm. Today, Rick along with his wife Bernadette, continue this proud history of service to families in the Shaunavon and southwest Saskatchewan areas. With the help of a caring and compassionate staff Rick and Bernadette aim to continue this legacy for many years to come.
Funeral Service Association
Throughout the history of Binkley's Funeral Service it has been our goal to take an active and integral part in the development of the funeral service profession. Since its inception Glenn R. Binkley, A. Russ Markell, and Richard M. (Rick) Schneider have taken active roles with the Saskatchewan Embalmers Association and later when the name changed to the Saskatchewan Funeral Service Association. Glenn, Russ, and Rick have all been involved as members of the council of the Saskatchewan Funeral Service Association and Rick as a member of the Legislative Committee. Rick's involvement continued with the Saskatchewan Board of Funeral Homes and the Funeral and Cremation Services Council of Saskatchewan on a variety of committee levels.
Since the Funeral Service Association of Canada was revived in 1978 Binkley's Funeral Service has been a proud member of this very important national association. The Funeral Service Association of Canada is the leading national professional association representing all licensed funeral homes and funeral service professionals in Canada.
In 1991 Binkley's Funeral Service was invited to become a member of Selected Independent Funeral Homes. Selected Independent Funeral Homes, formerly known as National Selected Morticians (NSM) was founded in 1917 and is the oldest and largest non-profit association of independently owned funeral homes in the world, currently consisting of more than 1600 funeral homes in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Membership in the association is by invitation only and is available exclusively to those independently owned funeral homes that practice the highest ethical standards of professional service and community leadership.
At Binkley's Funeral Service we are constantly striving to find new ways to improve our resources and what we can offer to the communities we serve. Our involvement in these leading edge associations gives us the structure to bring positive advancements to those we are privileged to serve.
Community Involvement
In addition to their involvement with various funeral service endeavors and organizations Glenn, Russ, and Rick have been involved in local community events and organizations. In fact Mr. Markell was honored as the Shaunavon Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year in 1999 for his many years of service to the community. His involvement included the Shawnee Jaycees, Knights of Columbus, Town Council and the Elks Lodge. Rick Schneider has also been involved at numerous levels including the Shawnee Club, Salem Lutheran Church Council, Shaunavon Rodeo Association, Town Council, Darkhorse Theatre and Rock Creek Golf Club Executive. To make a community like Shaunavon viable it requires its citizens to be involved in many aspects from business to volunteerism. Binkley's Funeral Service and its staff have always felt a need to be a part of the growth of this fine community and the surrounding area.
