Memorable Manitobans: William Allen “Bill” Lenton (1931-2004)

Rancher, community leader.

Born at Miami on 28 June 1931, son of Frank Laxton Lenton (1897-1983) and Ida Mary Medlicott (1899-1972), he started the first bison ranch in Canada, and was later inducted into the Buffalo Hall of Fame at Jamestown, North Dakota. He was one of the founding producers for the pregnant mare urine (PMU) industry which supplied the raw material for the manufacture of therapeutic estrogen. His knowledge of the PMU industry provided him with the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Canada, US, and abroad. He served as Chair of the local Co-op board, Miami Chamber of Commerce, and Miami Junior Rifle Club; director for the National Farmers Union (both provincially and nationally), Manitoba Pool Elevators, and Thompson Miami Development Board; secretary of the Young Farmers Seed Club, member of the Red River Water Board, an elder of the Miami United Church, one of the founding members of the Miami Mule Derby, member of the Canadian Bison Association, and member of the Manitoba PMU Producers Associations. He was married twice, first to Myrtle Ivy “Myrt” Baldock (1929-1994) with whom he had four children, and second to Patricia Leona “Pat” Lafreniere (1928-2013). He died at Morden on 20 November 2004.

Sources:

Obituary [Myrtle Ivy Lenton], Winnipeg Free Press, 24 November 1994, page 41.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 23 November 2004.

Obituary [Patricia Lenton], Winnipeg Free Press, 12 December 2013.

William Allen Lenton, Ancestry.

This page was prepared by Lois Braun.

Page revised: 14 October 2020

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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