Edgar was born June 11, 1924 to Harold and Annie (nee Butterwick) Bedson of the Fenner district 23 miles southeast of Coronation. In 1925 Edgar moved with his parents to a farm 20 miles north of Coronation.
Edgar started school in March 1932 and finished in June of 1938.
Edgar started farming with horses. He enjoyed the horses and cutting grain with a binder but he disliked stooking.
In the winter of 1947 and 1948 Edgar worked in a bush camp north west of Cochrane.
Edgar skidded logs and hauled them to the sawmill with a team of horses which he enjoyed very much.
The following years Edgar and his brother Jim increased the farming and cattle and always had both work and saddle horses.
In 1951 the Brownfield 4-H Baby Beef Club was organized and Edgar was very instrumental in helping in any way he could.
Edgar would help with the timing for the 4-H speak offs and was assistant leader for many years, a ring boss and what ever needed done at Brownfield.
In 1958 Edgar helped build the Brownfield Curling Rink and also helped to maintain the ice for many years.
In 1959 Edgar took over from his Dad and was the secretary of the local ‘Mutual Telephone Line’.
In 1961 Coronation started an Annual Fair Day with horse show and gymkhana which Edgar helped run for over 30 years.
In 1964 Edgar sold his land at Brownfield and bought a place north of Castor.
Edgar helped with 4-H Beef Clubs in Castor for 15 to 20 years and the cutter parade at the Winterfest in Castor for 23 years.
He was predeceased by his father Harold Bedson on December 19, 1959 and his mother Annie Bedson on Sept. 22, ’90.
Edgar is survived by one brother Jim (Susan) Bedson of Brownfield; one sister Joyce (Paul) Neilson of Halkirk; eight nephews; seven nieces; many, many great nephews and nieces; a very special friend Molly Schnell of Calgary as well as numerous other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services for the late Edgar Bedson were held in the Brownfield Rec Centre on Wednesday, December 18, 2002 at 2 p.m. with Pastor Fred Thomson officiating.
Tom Wraight gave a loving tribute in memory of Edgar.
Candice Thomson played the piano for the congregational hymns "Amazing Grace" and "The Old Rugged Cross".
Kimberley Dunkle sang the solo "The Touch of God’s Hand".
The interment followed the funeral service in the Fairfield Cemetery, Brownfield with honourary pallbearers "All of Edgar’s Family and Friends" and the active pallbearers were Wilfred, Tim, Mark and Eric Neilson and Harry, Bill, Ralph, and Chub Bedson.
Family and friends then gathered together for a time of fellowship and sharing in the Brownfield Rec Centre with the luncheon prepared and served by the Fairfield Baptist Ladies and the Brownfield U.C.W.
Should friends desire memorial contributions may be made in Edgar’s memory to the charity of the donor’s choice and would be appreciated by the family.
Parkview Funeral Chapels "Families Serving Families" were entrusted with care and funeral arrangements.
Eulogy
by Tom Wraight
Most of Edgar’s life involved animals. Edgar really enjoyed working with young people. Our kids always thought he was kind of a wonder man as he always had time for them.
He participated in gymkana and also showing light horses successfully.
Besides the Coronation Fair, Edgar was involved with the Castor Winterfest from day one and also with Castor Ag Society, rodeo, horse pull.
Over 30 years ago Edgar and Molly started helping Bob Vigen’s and our family when we pulled Simmental floats, with a four horse hitch.
We did this for various groups throughout central Alberta. Edgar helped decorate the horses and helped drive.
In 1980 Edgar purchased purebred Percherons. Some of the colts he raised were sold all over western Canada and one went to France.
A mare he raised “Beaverly Hill’s Mark’s Barb” was one of the four Percherons bought by Disney World France.
A three year old stallion from this mare went on to place first in his class of 29. At the World Percheron Congress in France in 2001.
This was no doubt the highlight of his horse career. When he learned this, the feather in his hat stood up with pride.
A mare he sold to Pattersons of Dawson Creek brought them many ribbons and trophies as well.
Edgar was a member of the East Central Ploughing Club and was a valued worker.
Throughout the years Edgar helped with horse sales in Lacombe, and Olds.
He had a sense of humour as evident in the Brownfield history book. “I was born on the farm because I wanted to be close to my Mother.”
In 1993 Fred McDiarmid and myself started taking an eight horse hitch to Irricana. Edgar always helped until two years ago when his health would not permit.
In 1998 Edgar and Bob Barnes operated the grader when we put an eight horse hitch and grader in the Calgary parade. He was nicknamed High Blade Bedson after his nephew Bill.
In 1999 he helped make equipment used in the 30 horse hitch. During this event he made sure all the lines were fed properly while hitching and kept tangle-free for the drivers.
For sleigh rides, parades, wagon trail events, he was always a willing part of the team. His last outing of this type was with Tom Davidson and myself in September near Consort.
Thanks Edgar for sharing your life with us. Hopefully in your new home there will be many blacks and greys.
Farewell my faithful friend, rest in peace.