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He cared about doing a good job, took pride in everything he did, and it showed.

David “Dave” Kim Skolney was born in Wadena, Saskatchewan, on August 26, 1970, to William and Mary Skolney of Wishart. He was the youngest of seven children. He attended Wishart Elementary School before going to high school in Wynyard, Saskatchewan.

David was a mischievous guy when he was younger, always doing something to someone as a joke. As he got older, it was as if he made that into a full-time job! Nobody was immune to his jovial personality. His sudden passing on June 26, 2026, was a great shock to everyone.

Dave met the love of his life, Karen Nygren of Archerwill, in February 1989. They were married by a Justice of the Peace in Melfort and later celebrated with a dance and reception in Rose Valley, Saskatchewan, on July 2, 1993. Together they had four children: Travis, Hailey, Britney, and Brooke.

Dave lived in Wishart with his wife and children from 1994 to 2000 before moving to Kelvington, Saskatchewan, where they lived for 22 years. In 2022, they moved back to the family farm in Wishart. He made lifelong friendships through the years.

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If someone needed help, Dave was there.

Dave loved his family dearly and was the proudest grandpa. No matter the hour of the day, he would come to help his kids, whether it was pushing snow, bringing a bale of hay from Wishart to Kelvington, or responding to an emergency. He always showed up.

Dave worked for Simmons Drilling in Estevan, Saskatchewan, from 1989 to 1996. He then worked for Plains Poultry in Wynyard from 1996 to 1999 before returning to the oil rigs with Nabors Drilling out of Leduc, Alberta, from 1999 to 2017. He also worked for Ken's Water Drilling near Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan. Over the years, he worked his way through the ranks as a roughneck, derrick hand, driller, and Toolpush. He also farmed with his brother Mike, often taking time off work to put in the crop.

Dave loved to work, and he worked hard. He never did anything halfway. It was always all the way or nothing, and he expected the same from everyone who worked with him. He taught work ethic to many men, earning their respect through the knowledge he willingly shared.

Dave also worked for the RM of Emerald for a season in 2023 as a general labourer and for the RM of Big Quill as a grass cutter in 2024 and 2025. He received many compliments from residents throughout the RM for the quality of his work. He cared about doing a good job, took pride in everything he did, and it showed.

Dave was a dependable, hardworking man who used his years of experience and knowledge to keep things running smoothly. He had a vast knowledge of motors and engines and had a real gift for repairing them. He trusted his intuition and, more often than not, was spot on when he heard an engine knocking.

Dave loved to play cards. Three Spot was his favourite winter pastime, spent playing evenings with family and friends. He was competitive and had strategy like no other. He also enjoyed playing cribbage and canasta.

Dave loved farming. He had cows for many years and took great care of them, making sure they always had plenty of hay and fresh straw bedding. He had incredible strength and could manhandle an ornery cow if he had to. He was always willing to help others with sorting cattle, tagging calves, calving, or harvesting crops. If someone needed help, Dave was there.

Dave was predeceased by his parents, William and Mary Skolney, and his brother, Mike Skolney.

He leaves to mourn his wife, Karen; his son, Travis Skolney (Edzel), and granddaughter Elizabeth; his daughter Hailey Webb (Alan), and grandsons Shane, Darren, and Colson; his daughter Britney Skolney (Zaki), and grandchildren Kaazim and Zariah; his daughter Brooke Skolney; and his siblings Donny (Amy), Eugene, Gerry (Joanne), Bernadette (Brad), and Brenda, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and many friends.

Dave left a lasting impression on so many people, and will be dearly missed.