Mrs. Mildred Norheim (née Lonsdale), died peacefully in palliative care in Rosetown Hospital on January 28, 2015 at the age of 93 after suffering a stroke.
Mildred was born December 7, 1921 at Matador, SK. to Rose and Donald Lonsdale. She attended Layton School, high school in Kyle and worked for Driscoll’s store to pay for boarding. She took nurse’s training on the job in Weyburn and North Battleford. She worked as a Psychiatric Nurse in North Battleford before marrying Harold Norheim of White Bear in 1943. After living a short time in Grande Prairie, AB., and in the town of White Bear, Mildred and Harold settled on the Norheim family farm south of White Bear. They built a life, a home, and a family together, starting and ending the delivery of six children on October 7, 1944 and 1963. Mildred loved her family, her cats, gardening, singing, knitting, and arguing politics. Her children and grandchildren loved her Grandma sweaters and her cinnamon buns! Mildred was an accomplished woman and homemaker; she loved to read, sew, and listen to CBC radio. She participated in community groups by serving as the Lutheran Ladies president, by sitting on the school board, and by being an active member of The Farmers Union.
Mildred was a devoted mother; she helped with homework, involved her kids in hockey, figure skating, baseball, 4-H, dance, curling and fit in everything else asked of her that these activities required. Mildred always was a gracious hostess serving many breakfasts to hunters Harold brought home, sharing meals with bachelor neighbors, whipping up snacks for evening card players, and hosting family and friends for gala holiday dinners. Mildred and Harold built and moved into a new home in Kyle in 1983. Less busy with farming, they enjoyed their neighbors in the Kyle community and visits with an ever-growing number of grandchildren. After the death of her youngest son, and four years of devoted care of Harold in the Kyle Health Centre after his stroke, Mildred managed life well on her own until dementia prohibited her determined independence. She moved to Alberta to live with daughter Beverly and son-in-law Dr. Leonard Krush. Two and a half years later she moved to the Good Sam Senior’s Home in Hinton, Alberta to be near son Donald and daughter-in-law Vicki. In April 2013 Mildred returned to live at the Kyle Health Center near her daughter Barb and son-in-law Sim. Recently, Mildred relished family visits, summer days at the Lake, car rides and ice cream desserts, her music and singing - singing at church services and whenever else the spirit moved her to sing.
Mildred is survived and lovingly remembered by her children and their spouses: Lesley Norheim of Saskatoon, SK., and family Lee & Chelsea Norheim and Lacey Norheim; Donald & Vicki Norheim of Hinton AB, and family Jennifer & John Hagens of High River and children Emily, Ben, Daisy and Kate, Erika & Grant Dunlop of Edmonton, AB. and Ashli Norheim of Black Diamond, AB. and daughter Azalea; Eva Norheim of High River, AB. and son Carson, Barbara & Sim Stephenson of Kyle, SK. and family Travis & Natasha Stephenson of Calgary, AB. and children Hunter and Elliot, Tiffany & Curt Koethler of Regina, SK. and children Grady and Nash; Beverly Krush of Okotoks, AB. and family Noland & Shauna Krush of Calgary, AB. and children Haakon and Freyja, Alison & Clint Hirst of Calgary, AB. and children Tjais and Danika, and Aaron & Candace Krush of Calgary, AB. and children Clara and Aiden; Laurie & Gary Mitchell of Lethbridge, AB. and family Mathea and Kiara; sister Marjorie "Peggy" Thompson of Saskatoon, SK. and family Clif & Peggy Thompson of Saskatoon, SK., Gary and Kim Thompson of Calgary, AB. and Lynne Thompson of North Battleford.
Mildred was predeceased by her son David 1991; husband Harold 1995; son Dale 2010; son-in-law Leonard Krush 2010; and brother-in-law Tommy Thompson 2005.
A funeral service was held at the Kyle Elks & Community Hall at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 31 followed by refreshments. Reverend Jim MacNaughton officiated. Memorial donations may be directed to the Kyle District Healthcare Foundation Inc. P.O. Box 153, Kyle, Sk. S0L 1T0. To send online condolences please visit shanidarfuneralservices.com. Arrangements entrusted to Pierre A. Charpentier.