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Road dedicated to long time reeve Joseph Beckman

The longstanding service of the reeve of the Rural Municipality of Battle River No. 438 has been recognized with a road named in his honour. Joseph Beckman Road was dedicated at 9 a.m. Thursday morning in the rural municipality.

The longstanding service of the reeve of the Rural Municipality of Battle River No. 438 has been recognized with a road named in his honour.

Joseph Beckman Road was dedicated at 9 a.m. Thursday morning in the rural municipality. The road is located about four kilometers to the west of Battleford intersecting Highway 40.

Beckman has been reeve for an incredible 55 years. Since 1965, no one has run against him in an election. Out of approximately 650 council meetings, Beckman has missed only two meetings.

Beckman has farmed his entire life in the RM. In addition to his council work, his service has included time sitting on the Table Mountain board, the Battleford Union Hospital board, the Battleford Fire Protection Services board, the Sask Wheat Pool board and the United Grain Growers board. 

He was awarded the Lt. Governor’s Award for outstanding service to rural Saskatchewan at SARM in 2014, and was awarded the Canada 150 award by the Hon. Gerry Ritz.

According to Betty Johnson, RM administrator, the naming of a road is the most prestigious award a municipality could bestow on a member of council.

The road itself is of particular significance to Beckman, as he had been hired by the RM to spot-gravel the road prior to his going on council.  

Beckman’s family was on hand for the dedication, with the placing of the sign reading “Joseph Beckman Road” near the Highway 40 intersection.

“Those are a lot of kind words – far above any expectations I would have ever had,” was Beckman’s reaction.

He thanked the council and staff at the RM for their help over the years. “Things have always run smoothly, I’ve enjoyed my time on council, and we’ve also been very fortunate.”