Richard Taras Briggs

Richard Taras Briggs passed away Saturday, August 31, 2024, in Unity, SK at the age of 75.

Richard was born in Unity, SK on May 21, 1949, as the oldest of eight children to Melvin and Nettie (Brich) Briggs. He was raised on a farm south of Unity, where he gained his love of working the land. After high school he attended the University of Saskatchewan receiving Bachelors of Education and Arts and Science degrees. In 1977 he married Karen Fraser and they settled on the Briggs homestead to raise their four children.

Richard was very active in his community, valuing giving back to the place he called home. Through the years he spent his time teaching in and around Unity, woodworking, volunteering in the community with 4-H and Kinsmen, and was a member of Unity Legion and Unity Town Council from 2003-2016. Dad had many hobbies, some he turned into a business. Over the years, Richard and Karen took on several entrepreneurial adventures including R & K Crafts and Briggs Computers. 

Richard’s great passion was travel, no vacation ended without at least one if not two or three other trips already on the calendar. He was privileged to travel to a unique variety of destinations around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, China, Ireland, Germany, and around North America including annual trips to Hawaii, Palm Springs, Fairmont, BC and Canmore in his later years. Richard and Karen created another family of friends at their favourite place Desert Shadows RV Park in Cathedral City (Palm Springs), getting together for happy hour, live music, taco Tuesdays, BINGO nights and shuffleboard with their last trip being in March 2024. After each trip to Palm Springs, you could see how they gained joy and peace from the people and the activities together. Richard often stated the value of traveling and the importance of taking the opportunity to do it while you had your health and not to put it off. 

Richard enjoyed making connections with friends, old and new, and could always be trusted to strike up a conversation with a stranger. He was also known to look for learning moments, he loved to be a mentor to anyone new and willing. He had a wide variety of knowledge and expertise and was eager to share what he could to help others in their lives. Taking up the popular snowbird sport pickleball, Karen and Richard were founding members of the Unity pickleball club. Richard was known to love a good deal, enjoyed spending Saturday mornings visiting garage sales and bartering where he could. Richard was the family historian, gathering information for genealogy charts and documenting stories for future generations. 

The family is exceptionally grateful for the love and support from family and friends, especially these last few months. Also, a special thank you is given to the Saskatoon Cancer Clinic and Unity and District Health Centre nursing staff and Drs. Haider and Williams for the compassionate care provided throughout his cancer journey and final days of his life.

Richard is survived by his wife 46 years Karen; children Joel (Cathy), Chelsa (Darren), Maeghan (Cailen), Adrian (Rebecca); grandchildren Eoighan, Caitlin, Jamie, Brayden, Brodie, Bryson, Ella, Lily, Lachlan, Callum, Mason, Luca and Ciara; sisters Kathleen (Ray), Myrna (Mitch), Lynda, Brenda (Bob) and Sheri (Jeff); brother-in-law Cameron (Susan) Fraser and many nieces and nephews and extended family. Richard was predeceased by his parents Melvin and Nettie. 

A service honouring Richard’s life will be held Saturday, September 7 at 2:30 p.m. at the Unity Community Centre. For friends and family unable to attend in person, the service will be live-streamed. See details below on how to join the live-stream. 

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan, Unity Health Care Foundation or a charity close to your heart.

Martens Warman Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the care and arrangements for Richard Briggs. 

Watch the Livestream Saturday, Sept. 7 at 2:30 p.m.

Click this link to join the event livestream:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MThhODgzYjEtYjk5Yy00MGYxLWFhZmQtNDkyODM0YWI1YTZi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%220ff0473c-39d5-4685-8d87-a3ac2f9b8329%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22be2985cf-6dce-4752-888c-e6df8b8ac174%22%7d

The link should take you directly to the event livestream. A Microsoft account can be used but is not required. If you do not have an account, the app will ask you to enter a name. 

The Meeting ID and Passcode are only needed if entering the livestream manually through the Teams app. When using the link, the Meeting ID and Passcode are automatically used to join the livestream. 

Join the event livestream now

Meeting ID: 279 689 791 062

Passcode: AhwXv3