Selmer (Sam) Gilbert Skogen

Selmer Skogen, better known as Sam, died peacefully in his sleep at his long-term care home on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the age of 88. His loving family surrounded him in his final week, and he was fortunate to be holding one of his son’s hands when he took his final breath. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dianne; his children, Bruce (Gale), Natalie, Susan, Murray, Timothy (Jennifer), Carolin, Mark (Rhea), Margo (Trevor), Denise (Greg), and Joanne; 23 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; his sister Ida and brother Alfred (Verna). Sam is predeceased by his parents, Selma and Almer; his brothers, Mervin and Olaf; his nephew, Terry; his son-in-law, Rick; and his grandson, Jared.

Sam was born on the farm near Tribune, Saskatchewan, in 1937. He admits he was a bit of a handful as a child. For example, he and his brothers would cause trouble by pulling the shingles off the house to use in their slingshots. They would also ride their bikes for hours until one of the bulls got loose, and then they would have to hide in or on top of the house until the bull stopped “bellerin’.”

Sam met Dianne in Torquay, Saskatchewan, in 1958, and he became Catholic to marry her in September 1960. Dianne’s father didn’t think his Catholicism would stick, but boy, was he wrong. Sam was a very devoted Catholic, raising all their children in the faith. He was an active and integral member and handyman at St. Mark Roman Catholic Church in Calgary. He joined the Knights of Columbus and was a founding member of the St. Mark’s Council. He served in many positions, including Grand Knight, took his Fourth Degree and served at the assembly level as Faithful Navigator and Commander.

They started their family of ten children in 1961, and despite his antics as a child, Sam turned out to be an amazing role model to family and friends alike. They lived in Torquay, Estevan and Weyburn, Saskatchewan, until 1970, when they moved to Calgary, Alberta, for a better job and life for his growing family. He was an extremely hard-working and industrious man. While Sam may not have had a lot of formal learning, he was incredibly clever and could visualize solutions to mechanical and design problems of all types. In fact, he designed a concrete cutting machine to cut a 12-foot oval hole on the second floor of the Calgary Tower and remove the slab in one piece, a feat that previously could not have been done.

Sam was very hard on his body in his line of work, with several accidents over the years: losing his finger, breaking an ankle and knee, and even falling off a crane and breaking several bones, requiring months of rehabilitation. Despite all this, he continued to work and run his own business until he turned 80.

Over the past few years, Sam has battled cancer and won several times. But the last two years have been difficult with back pain, kidney issues, a stroke, and finally, another round of bladder cancer, which ultimately took him to be at peace with the Lord and all the family and friends who passed before him.

A Prayer Service will be held at St. Mark Roman Catholic Church (5552 Madigan Drive NE, Calgary, AB) on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mark Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honour of Sam to the Alberta Cancer Foundation at https://albertacancer.ca/donate/

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