Lem Shuttleworth - a boy from the prairie

This afternoon, I attended the funeral for Lem Shuttleworth. Lem, the MLA for Hamiota constituency from 1949-1959, served as Minister of Public Utilities and Power Commissioner from 1953-1958. In this capacity he oversaw the Campbell government's program of rural electrification - an important milestone in Manitoba History.

From 1956-1958, Lem Shuttleworth also served as Minister of Agriculture. A farmer, Lem was born in 1910 on land homesteaded by his great grandfather ten miles southeast of Minnedosa. All his life, he worked hard on behalf of farmers and agriculture in Manitoba. He served on the Board of the Grain Comissioners starting in 1965, and from 1972-1977 was the first chariman of the Canadian International Grain Institute.

Lem also contributed to various Delta Waterfowl projects and wildlife activities in the Minnedosa area.

A major contributor to agriculture, Lem Shuttleworth was inducted into the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame.

As Rev. Shawn Ankenmann said at the funeral "Lem was a little boy from the prairie who grew up and went on to do so astonishing things."

We will miss you, Lem. I extend my condolences to family and friends.