Lorne Marvin Helland

Peacefully, and surrounded by family, our dear Lorne has passed away at the ripe age of 90.

Born in Ardill, SK, the eldest of six children on a family farm, Lorne moved to Moose Jaw at age 13 to attend high school. He then studied to become a teacher and began that career in Herbert, SK, where he met the love of his life, Therese. They married in 1954 and had 5 children; Shawna (Stephen), Chris (Deb), Susan (Gord), Mark and Jeff (Janine).  Lorne switched careers early, transitioning to the lumber industry, with Beaver Lumber, Federated Co-op and Calgary Co-op.  He retired in 1992.

Lorne was a gifted craftsman, creating delightful wooden pieces still treasured by all. As his career wound down he discovered his next passion: hiking and cross-country skiing. He became a key member of the Skrastins and Evergreen outdoor groups, where his ski pursuits quickly progressed from recreational to competitive. He achieved many age-class successes at races like the Birkebeiner, World Masters and the Cookie Race, some of which exceeded 50 km in length. Off-snow, he designed and built waxing benches, and hosted many workshops for the Calgary X-C community. Lorne’s mighty ski stride continued into his 90th year.

He was also an avid sports fan, following every game of his beloved Flames and Stampeders.  But first and foremost, Lorne was a family man, cheering proudly at the athletic achievements of his children and later his 8 grandchildren, Nieva, Luke, Sabine, Hayley, Noah, Julia, Liv and Max. Lorne cherished every moment that he spent with his family, and was a powerful role model for us all. 

In spring 2019 Lorne and his dog Benny moved into the The Manor Village of Varsity Retirement Home, becoming very active in the community and forging cherished friendships with residents and staff. 

We shall always remember his huge smile, love of a good joke, humility, discipline and dedication to healthy living and fitness. Lorne never complained about anything, except wearing a face mask during the pandemic. We can only speculate that Lorne suffered his brain hemorrhage shortly after he heard the World Junior Hockey Championships had been cancelled.

Lorne was predeceased by his son Mark in 1983 and his loving wife Therese in 2016. He is survived by his sister, Darolyn.

The immediate family will hold a private gathering on the Bergen pond and ski trails.

Due to the challenging times we must defer a Celebration of Life until a later date.